The renowned Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse 5, proposed eight commandments for writing the perfect short story. I think they’re useful for any work of fiction.
- Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
- Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
- Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
- Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
- Start as close to the end as possible.
- Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
- Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
- Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
Vonnegut qualifies the list by adding that Flannery O’Connor broke all these rules except the first, and that great writers tend to do that.
What do you think? Do you disagree with any of his rules, or have any of your own to add? Let us know in the comments below.
Thanks for posting these. I’m going to be working on a series of short comic book stories soon…all of these rules will be worth keeping in mind for those as well.
Thanks for being a “cheerleader’ I will keep you posted!
Kathy
Hi Lynne,
I’m so glad to know that great writers break all the rules!! As a new writer,I must say I love your blog and website and the services you are providing..YES I am inundated with information from all over I joined the National Assoc of Memoir Writers..Linda Joy Myers (“Don’t Call Me Mother” memoir) and have been participating in webinars. Learning about writing is as labor-intensive as finding the time/discipline to write(enjoyed Judy Collins’ article too!) So now I am struggling with the discipline it takes to DO THE WRITING in the midst of fulltime job, family,life,etc… Anyway, am starting by writing out scenes (memoir) and am thinking about posting some ..getting ready to do that blog. Thanks for listening and for all your help!!
Kathy
Thanks for your comments, Kathy. I have the utmost respect for you trying to write in the middle of all you do. I will be cheering you on. Keep me posted as you follow your artistic path.