Give it a short

American writer Ray Bradbury once concluded that if you were to write a short story every week it would be impossible to write 52 bad ones in a row Viewing this period of social distancing as an inward journey Murzban F Shroff the author of Breathless in Bombay stories and Waiting for Jonathan Koshy novel says that it is important to first note the difference between a short story and a novel A short story is a slice of life while a novel is a whole universe At the same time a short story is not an anecdote I call it a more promiscuous form of writing Here the reader is discerning unsparing and doesnt want to be entertained but illuminated he saysKnow your formatMurzban F ShroffShroff who has received several Pushcart Prize nominations identifies two kinds of short stories close to home close to the bone narratives where the writer mines into their own life fictionalises it and delivers psychological insight and the exploration of an alternate universe He adds It is very important that an epiphany or a message is delivered in the beginning or a remote sense of it You have to be dramatic and awaken empathyCut to the chaseNeil DSilvaAuthor and screenwriter Neil DSilva who has six books to his credit including the bestselling title Mayas New Husband suggests sticking to the bare minimum He says You dont need to describe your characters too much adjectives are okay but it is vital that you get your character into the meat of the conflict as soon as possible For most readers the takeaway from short stories is their uniqueness Not only should the conflict be unique but also the way your character deals with it should be out of the ordinaryResearch is keyK Hari KumarAt the core of any story is an idea that is bulletproof says screenplay writer and author K Hari Kumar That idea he says will come to you only by listening to people or reading up Thanks to the Internet news archives from all over the world are accessible You can find out news articles pertaining to your idea Mark those which you might use to tell your story quotes facts figures etc If a personal experience has inspired your idea then your content will be more engaging he says Kumar whose horror fiction title Indias Most Haunted Tales of Terrifying Places released last year also adds that visualising the story before writing it is critical mdashDont rush it because there is no deadline Write as it comes to youSense of structureRochelle PotkarWriter and poet Rochelle Potkar whose first book of short stories titled The Arithmetic of Breasts amp Other Stories dug into the vagaries of the human mind advises writers new to the form to think about the beginning middle and the end These can be shuffled the way you want it ie if you start with the ending your narrative takes the form of a flashback while if you start with the middle you build suspense The form entails a maximum of 10000 words So the first draft can be written in one sitting The first draft is the one you forgive it needs to be chiselled Generally if you know the ending you are clear about the beginning she saysThere must also be space for surprises And always let your work be reviewed by someone other than your peers Potkar shares adding The feedback must be constructive You need to be ruthless while editing and honest about the gaps in your writingGet publishedMeghna PantIf your story has received good feedback from your peers why not publish it for the world to see Writer Meghna Pant tackled this seemingly daunting domain in her most recent book How To Get Published in India where she has tips for short story writersIdentify the right publishers to see which among them is publishing short stories their requirements vary annually Check their websites for submission requirements In your submission package to a publisher or agent you will need a query letter a book synopsis highlight a theme and four to five of your most hardhitting stories three sample stories and your bio she says Pant also adds that for publishers to take you seriously you need to build credibility and start with literary journals and anthologiesCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates