Approaches to criticizing short fictionWhere could I get a sports fiction short story published?From short...
What's a good word to describe a public place that looks like it wouldn't be rough?
Can polymorphing monsters spam their ability to effectively give themselves a massive health pool?
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
Getting a UK passport renewed when you have dual nationality and a different name in your second country?
What's the most convenient time of year in the USA to end the world?
Using loops to create tables
Can you earn endless XP using a Flameskull and its self-revival feature?
QGIS: use geometry from different layer in symbology expression
Using only 1s, make 29 with the minimum number of digits
Compound Interest... with Wizard Money
Everyone is beautiful
Number of FLOP (Floating Point Operations) for exponentiation
Quenching swords in dragon blood; why?
Why did Jodrell Bank assist the Soviet Union to collect data from their spacecraft in the mid 1960's?
Could flying insects re-enter the Earth's atmosphere from space without burning up?
Eww, those bytes are gross
Are there any monsters that consume a player character?
How does Internet communication work on a coaxial cable?
Pendulum Rotation
Why is button three on trumpet almost never used alone?
Can we use the stored gravitational potential energy of a building to produce power?
The vanishing of sum of coefficients: symmetric polynomials
Why do members of Congress in committee hearings ask witnesses the same question multiple times?
A starship is travelling at 0.9c and collides with a small rock. Will it leave a clean hole through, or will more happen?
Approaches to criticizing short fiction
Where could I get a sports fiction short story published?From short fiction to a novelWhere to publish Edgar Allan Poe style fiction short story?Getting short fiction publishedCan I make money from short fiction?Publishing short fiction stories?What is trending in literary-fiction short stories?How to creatively handle intoxication when you yourself haven't experienced such a thing?What to look for when criticizing poetry?What is in scope for criticizing technical writing
What is a reasonable scholarly approach to breaking down short pieces of prose? Is it word choice? Is it structure? Is it themes, and how well they are used? Use of symbolism and its efficacy? Meter, rhythm, style, verbosity? Are these all on topic? Do you have a rigorous guide you use to approach short fiction when providing feedback to other writers?
fiction short-story criticism feedback
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
add a comment |
What is a reasonable scholarly approach to breaking down short pieces of prose? Is it word choice? Is it structure? Is it themes, and how well they are used? Use of symbolism and its efficacy? Meter, rhythm, style, verbosity? Are these all on topic? Do you have a rigorous guide you use to approach short fiction when providing feedback to other writers?
fiction short-story criticism feedback
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
add a comment |
What is a reasonable scholarly approach to breaking down short pieces of prose? Is it word choice? Is it structure? Is it themes, and how well they are used? Use of symbolism and its efficacy? Meter, rhythm, style, verbosity? Are these all on topic? Do you have a rigorous guide you use to approach short fiction when providing feedback to other writers?
fiction short-story criticism feedback
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
What is a reasonable scholarly approach to breaking down short pieces of prose? Is it word choice? Is it structure? Is it themes, and how well they are used? Use of symbolism and its efficacy? Meter, rhythm, style, verbosity? Are these all on topic? Do you have a rigorous guide you use to approach short fiction when providing feedback to other writers?
fiction short-story criticism feedback
fiction short-story criticism feedback
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
asked 2 hours ago
bruglescobruglesco
1,154326
1,154326
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
For me, a short story is a story. It follows the three-act structure, but it requires some inventiveness to compress that into a short space; in some cases to a line or two.
I don't care about metre or rhythm, a short story is not poetry. Nor do I care about "style", it is engaging or it isn't. Same for "theme".
Because it is compressed, unlike a novel (IMO) every line demands scrutiny and must advance its act. This puts more pressure on word choice and impactful action and at times evocative symbols. Where it is okay in a novel to describe something for a few paragraphs that isn't terribly important to the story, that kind of thing should be squeezed out of the short story. The same goes for idle conversation, in a novel you might like to hear two characters sparring or joking in a conversation that has no bearing on the plot, it is just "fan service" in a way, people like to read about some pair having some fun. But you wouldn't write a while chapter of that, and it a short story, the same conversation might be the equivalent of a chapter; there isn't room for it.
No, I don't have a rigorous approach to short fiction, just that it cannot be flabby, it should evolve logically and recognizably through the three acts (or four, or five if you like Shakespeare's style).
Just like any other story.
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
add a comment |
I think all of what you just mentioned is on-topic for that type of critique. I also like to see if the author is looking for any specific critiques. For example, are they interested in hearing about everything but are specifically unsure about whether the story flows well? Is there a character whose dialogue they think might be stilted or strange? If I have a direction to look in, I'm much better at offering suggestions or commentary.
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "166"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f42875%2fapproaches-to-criticizing-short-fiction%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
For me, a short story is a story. It follows the three-act structure, but it requires some inventiveness to compress that into a short space; in some cases to a line or two.
I don't care about metre or rhythm, a short story is not poetry. Nor do I care about "style", it is engaging or it isn't. Same for "theme".
Because it is compressed, unlike a novel (IMO) every line demands scrutiny and must advance its act. This puts more pressure on word choice and impactful action and at times evocative symbols. Where it is okay in a novel to describe something for a few paragraphs that isn't terribly important to the story, that kind of thing should be squeezed out of the short story. The same goes for idle conversation, in a novel you might like to hear two characters sparring or joking in a conversation that has no bearing on the plot, it is just "fan service" in a way, people like to read about some pair having some fun. But you wouldn't write a while chapter of that, and it a short story, the same conversation might be the equivalent of a chapter; there isn't room for it.
No, I don't have a rigorous approach to short fiction, just that it cannot be flabby, it should evolve logically and recognizably through the three acts (or four, or five if you like Shakespeare's style).
Just like any other story.
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
add a comment |
For me, a short story is a story. It follows the three-act structure, but it requires some inventiveness to compress that into a short space; in some cases to a line or two.
I don't care about metre or rhythm, a short story is not poetry. Nor do I care about "style", it is engaging or it isn't. Same for "theme".
Because it is compressed, unlike a novel (IMO) every line demands scrutiny and must advance its act. This puts more pressure on word choice and impactful action and at times evocative symbols. Where it is okay in a novel to describe something for a few paragraphs that isn't terribly important to the story, that kind of thing should be squeezed out of the short story. The same goes for idle conversation, in a novel you might like to hear two characters sparring or joking in a conversation that has no bearing on the plot, it is just "fan service" in a way, people like to read about some pair having some fun. But you wouldn't write a while chapter of that, and it a short story, the same conversation might be the equivalent of a chapter; there isn't room for it.
No, I don't have a rigorous approach to short fiction, just that it cannot be flabby, it should evolve logically and recognizably through the three acts (or four, or five if you like Shakespeare's style).
Just like any other story.
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
add a comment |
For me, a short story is a story. It follows the three-act structure, but it requires some inventiveness to compress that into a short space; in some cases to a line or two.
I don't care about metre or rhythm, a short story is not poetry. Nor do I care about "style", it is engaging or it isn't. Same for "theme".
Because it is compressed, unlike a novel (IMO) every line demands scrutiny and must advance its act. This puts more pressure on word choice and impactful action and at times evocative symbols. Where it is okay in a novel to describe something for a few paragraphs that isn't terribly important to the story, that kind of thing should be squeezed out of the short story. The same goes for idle conversation, in a novel you might like to hear two characters sparring or joking in a conversation that has no bearing on the plot, it is just "fan service" in a way, people like to read about some pair having some fun. But you wouldn't write a while chapter of that, and it a short story, the same conversation might be the equivalent of a chapter; there isn't room for it.
No, I don't have a rigorous approach to short fiction, just that it cannot be flabby, it should evolve logically and recognizably through the three acts (or four, or five if you like Shakespeare's style).
Just like any other story.
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
For me, a short story is a story. It follows the three-act structure, but it requires some inventiveness to compress that into a short space; in some cases to a line or two.
I don't care about metre or rhythm, a short story is not poetry. Nor do I care about "style", it is engaging or it isn't. Same for "theme".
Because it is compressed, unlike a novel (IMO) every line demands scrutiny and must advance its act. This puts more pressure on word choice and impactful action and at times evocative symbols. Where it is okay in a novel to describe something for a few paragraphs that isn't terribly important to the story, that kind of thing should be squeezed out of the short story. The same goes for idle conversation, in a novel you might like to hear two characters sparring or joking in a conversation that has no bearing on the plot, it is just "fan service" in a way, people like to read about some pair having some fun. But you wouldn't write a while chapter of that, and it a short story, the same conversation might be the equivalent of a chapter; there isn't room for it.
No, I don't have a rigorous approach to short fiction, just that it cannot be flabby, it should evolve logically and recognizably through the three acts (or four, or five if you like Shakespeare's style).
Just like any other story.
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
answered 1 hour ago
AmadeusAmadeus
52.6k467171
52.6k467171
add a comment |
add a comment |
I think all of what you just mentioned is on-topic for that type of critique. I also like to see if the author is looking for any specific critiques. For example, are they interested in hearing about everything but are specifically unsure about whether the story flows well? Is there a character whose dialogue they think might be stilted or strange? If I have a direction to look in, I'm much better at offering suggestions or commentary.
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
add a comment |
I think all of what you just mentioned is on-topic for that type of critique. I also like to see if the author is looking for any specific critiques. For example, are they interested in hearing about everything but are specifically unsure about whether the story flows well? Is there a character whose dialogue they think might be stilted or strange? If I have a direction to look in, I'm much better at offering suggestions or commentary.
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
add a comment |
I think all of what you just mentioned is on-topic for that type of critique. I also like to see if the author is looking for any specific critiques. For example, are they interested in hearing about everything but are specifically unsure about whether the story flows well? Is there a character whose dialogue they think might be stilted or strange? If I have a direction to look in, I'm much better at offering suggestions or commentary.
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
I think all of what you just mentioned is on-topic for that type of critique. I also like to see if the author is looking for any specific critiques. For example, are they interested in hearing about everything but are specifically unsure about whether the story flows well? Is there a character whose dialogue they think might be stilted or strange? If I have a direction to look in, I'm much better at offering suggestions or commentary.
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
answered 1 hour ago
N. DoskerN. Dosker
712
712
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Writing Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f42875%2fapproaches-to-criticizing-short-fiction%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
