After finally getting my hubby to sit down and listen to the ending I'd planned -- he's into non-fiction so It's a pain to harness him to his seat for fiction -- he told me the twists were getting way too confusing. As I listened to his description of what was flying past him, I came up with a much simpler ending. Yet the reader will still be left wondering how one phone call ties into the end. I can fix that, of course, but I'm not sure I want to. Am I nuts?
Jurassic Park is my 2nd favorite novel, and this has nothing to do with my huge giant well-documented crush on Jeff Goldblum. And Hunter S, Thompson was a genius. Can I safely assume you are a Warren Zevon fan as well?
Sorry it took me so long to reply to your question, Benjamin. I don't log in here very often. The horns are a permanent fixture, the unfortunate result of an incident involving a goat upon which I can't elaborate until the judge lifts the gag order. Suffice it to say that it's legal in three states, so what's the big deal?
Hey, lemme tell you something in all seriousness: if I in any way really got you off your ass, you lazy bastard, and got you moving towards this, then I am well fucking proud. I am gonna dine out on this for months. Hell of a story, man, really. Just a hell of a story.
Jeez, you're coming to me for advice? Man, you must be hard up...
I guess the main thing would be just to devour as many flash-fictions as possible. Go to Powder Burn Flash, The Flash Fiction Offensive, A Twist of Noir, Flash Pan Alley. Google "flash-fiction" and see what comes up. Get your mitts on a copy of Out of the Gutter.
Then, I dunno, just write some, I guess. Personally speaking, I think a good flash-fiction is like a joke: quick set-up, then punchline. Ba-da-beep, ba-da-boop. Most of the ones I've written have come to me more or less fully formed, although I did revise 'em a bit. And I'll tell ya, I don't think I've written one without at least one more kinda just popping into my head. These things are like Ruffles once you get on a roll. Even if they don't quite work, you should at least have a line or two--some dialogue, a pithy description--that you can use for something else.
I came to these stories as a writing exercise, something to loosen up with. So try it like that. The first ones I wrote were just me trying to see if I could write a full story in only 100 words. Most of 'em were crap, but they did meet that goal. And then I found some that in themselves were perfectly good stories.
Okay, enough blah blah blah out of me. Get to work.
Thank you for taking the time to read my simply written blog and "get it"! I hope you will read my book when I finally get it finished... I have a self-imposed deadline to finsh writing by the end of June. Wish me luck!
Benjamin Sobieck's Comments
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Sounds like you're doing amazing! When you're near the end of your book and your mind blanks for a fierce ending, what tricks do you employ?
Thanks for befriending this mystery author!
I guess the main thing would be just to devour as many flash-fictions as possible. Go to Powder Burn Flash, The Flash Fiction Offensive, A Twist of Noir, Flash Pan Alley. Google "flash-fiction" and see what comes up. Get your mitts on a copy of Out of the Gutter.
Then, I dunno, just write some, I guess. Personally speaking, I think a good flash-fiction is like a joke: quick set-up, then punchline. Ba-da-beep, ba-da-boop. Most of the ones I've written have come to me more or less fully formed, although I did revise 'em a bit. And I'll tell ya, I don't think I've written one without at least one more kinda just popping into my head. These things are like Ruffles once you get on a roll. Even if they don't quite work, you should at least have a line or two--some dialogue, a pithy description--that you can use for something else.
I came to these stories as a writing exercise, something to loosen up with. So try it like that. The first ones I wrote were just me trying to see if I could write a full story in only 100 words. Most of 'em were crap, but they did meet that goal. And then I found some that in themselves were perfectly good stories.
Okay, enough blah blah blah out of me. Get to work.
Best regards
Brian
Best regards
Brian
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