Fiction 142 [M] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] - Classroom A - Classroom BLesson 5: Revising the Story - 2500 - 3000 wordsNow it's time to study our own stories; consider the critiques given by fellow writers and roll up our sleeves. This is the "craft" part of fiction writing. We examine our work and use all the tools we've accumulated in our studies and exercises to make it meaningful and readable. The story is no longer for us, but for others to read and enjoy. Focus on what is part of the story and what is not. Don't let a clever line stay in your story simply because it's clever. In the short story, every sentence should contribute to the overall effect. Anything else is a distraction. Don't be afraid to make major changes if they occur to you. Changing a few words, correcting punctuation or adding a little detail is not a revision -- it is making minor changes. Make sweeping changes, big changes, cut characters and scenes, add scenes, change the ending -- make a major change. Ask yourself what the essence of the story is and if there is a better way to communicate what the story has to say. Next week, your story will be reviewed by the critics. Yes, you will all get a chance to write brief, magazine-style reviews of each other's short stories.
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