5 Ways Short Story Writing Has Boosted My Productivity

By Linnea Gradin

 

For many aspiring authors, finishing and publishing their first novel is their ultimate goal. Completing it promises an immense sense of accomplishment, but the road there is often long and arduous, so it’s easy to get stuck on the way. Add to that the pressure of putting everything you want to say into a single story, and the fear of the blank page can start to hinder your writing progress.

 

It’s for this reason (and many others) that I’m a huge proponent of the short story. Below, I’ve outlined five ways this shorter format can help you beat procrastination and become a more effective writer — both in terms of skill and routine.

 

1. Building a consistent writing habit

 

When it comes to writing, simply getting words down on paper on a regular basis is an invaluable skill in and of itself. The length of a short story feels more attainable, allowing you to actually get started.

 

Frequent calls for submissions are another way in which short stories can help you create a consistent writing habit. With novels, it’s easy to push things indefinitely, especially as the sheer size of the undertaking looms large. With short stories, you’re facing a smaller task and you’ll often have monthly or quarterly submissions — such as WoW’s flash fiction and essay contests, or even weekly short story competitions like Reedsy Prompts — to stay on top of. When you have some places to submit to regularly, it becomes much easier to establish part-way goals and keep up with a consistent writing routine.

 

2. Exploring your creativity and experimenting

 

The short story format also comes with the exciting possibility of exploring multiple avenues of interest. Unlike novels where you commit to a single idea over a longer period of time, each story you write can tackle something new, giving you the freedom to experiment with wilder ideas. If it doesn’t pay off, there’s always the next story.

 

If you’re someone who’s driven by curiosity, this is a great way to build positive associations to the writing process. When you allow yourself to follow where your curiosity leads and tell all the different stories floating around in your mind, you get a chance to push your own limits. And as you experiment with genres — from literary fiction and fantasy to horror and romance — and play with the format, writing consistently becomes significantly easier.

 

3. Completing arcs and finishing projects

 

There’s also a lot to be said for the feeling you get when you actually finish something. With short stories, you get to experience the dopamine release much more often. Of course, with novels, there’s the promise of delayed gratification to keep you going, but with shorter pieces, the finish line seems that much closer. Before you know it, you can’t wait for the next time you get to sit down and write just to experience the heady feeling of accomplishment again.

 

4. Honing your writing skills

 

The creative process is subjective, and writing a short story isn’t necessarily easier than writing a novel just because it’s shorter. The challenge of the short story lies in the fact that you’re forced to tell a complete story within a limited word count. You can’t spend pages and pages on world building or character development, so every word needs to be chosen with purpose and care. Forcing yourself to kill your darlings until you’ve boiled your writing down to something sharp and (hopefully) insightful will inevitably make you a more intentional writer.

 

5. Overcoming perfectionism and fear of rejection

 

Lastly, one of the wonderful things about short story writing is that there are so many ways to get your work published, whether in online magazines or print journals. Unlike the process for pitching your book, short stories can usually be submitted directly.

 

Of course, with more frequent submissions you also stand a greater chance of facing rejection. But it’s a little bit like ripping the band-aid off. It always stings a little, but after a while you start to develop thicker skin and can even start to learn from it. You were rejected but the world didn’t end, and perhaps you even got a couple acceptances, building up your platform in case you end up querying literary agents down the line. With less pressure on yourself to deliver a perfect first draft, you’ll find that it becomes easier to write without worrying about any writing flaws.

 

*

 

As you get more writing miles under your belt, perhaps that longer piece will start to feel more approachable. Whichever format you choose, just remember to let curiosity lead the way and you’ll find yourself longing to get back into the writer’s chair.

 

***

 

Linnea Gradin is a writer for Reedsy — a digital marketplace connecting authors with the industry’s best publishing professionals and providing answers and information on all things writing and publishing related, from how to find a ghostwriter to how to make an audiobook.

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Leave a Comment Creativity, Linnea Gradin, narrative arc, perfectionism, productivity, short story writing, writing habits

Wayne Scheer, 2nd Place Winner, Summer 2014 Flash Fiction Contest

Welcome to Wayne Scheer, our 2nd place winner in the Summer 2014 Flash Fiction Contest for his entry, "Blind Date, 1960." If you haven't read Wayne's award-winning story yet, then you should click here to do so.

 Wayne has locked himself in a room he shares with his computer and a turtle. (Wayne’s retirement, not the turtle’s.) To keep from going back to work, he published hundreds of short stories, poems and essays online and in print. He’s been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes and a Best of the Net. Wayne lives in Atlanta with his wife and can be contacted at waynescheer[at]gmail[dot]com.

WOW: Congratulations, Wayne, on winning 2nd place. Tell us where you got the idea for "Blind Date, 1960."

Wayne: Although the actual story is fiction, it's more autobiographical than I care to admit. Where the actual idea for this story came from, who knows? There's a magic land where plot ideas grow on trees, and every once in a while, I go there and pick a ripe story idea. That's as good an explanation for where story ideas come from as I can muster.

WOW: Oh, so you are one of the lucky writers with access to magic land. (winks) Without giving it away, the ending has a bit of a twist and a touch of humor (actually throughout). Is this a pattern you follow in a lot of your stories?

Wayne: I try not to think in terms of patterns. I go where the story and character lead me. I like writing humor, so a lot of my stories are funny, or I at least use humor to relieve the gloom. But sometimes humor isn't appropriate. The same with plot twists. Often they are necessary to a story, and other times they feel gimmicky.

WOW: Great points. Not to mention, you have had a lot of success! You've been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes. What has that been like? Can we read any of those stories online?

Wayne: Many of my stories are online, but to be honest I only remember one story that was nominated and that's probably no longer available. I'm not the most organized person in the world.

WOW: According to your bio, you are retired and write quite a bit! What is your writing routine like?

Wayne: I wake in the morning and go straight to my computer. Of course, that doesn't mean I write all day—I spend a lot of time critiquing stories written by others, playing computer chess and checking baseball news—but I also spend a good deal of time revising old stories and writing new ones. I've also joined a poetry writing group, where I write a poem a day, and I'm in a flash fiction group, where I write a flash story a week. “Blind Date” was probably an under 400-word story originally that was shaped through the years. Many of my stories have been written and revised over time.

WOW: The groups sound great, and they really seem to encourage you to produce new material all the time. What's next for you in your writing life?

Wayne: I've put together one collection of flash stories—Revealing Moments—which includes, “Blind Date.” I'd like to compile another anthology, maybe include some longer stories and poems. Other than that, I want to continue writing whatever feels right and whatever feels like fun for as long as I can.

WOW: Thanks, Wayne. Best of luck to you! 

Hey flash fiction writers, we have another contest open. To check out the details and enter before 2/28/2015, go to the contest page. 

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Leave a Comment online writing, Pushcart Prize, retirement, short story writing, Summer 2014 Flash Fiction Contest

2013 Fall Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up, BRYAN MOONEY

Today we have one of our runners up from our 2013 Flash Fiction Contest, Bryan Mooney. His beautiful and touching story, Charley, brought tears to the eyes of all of our judges and we are very happy to have him here today sharing his thoughts about writing and authoring, as well as some very helpful advice for our Muffin readers. If you haven't had a chance to read Charley yet, click here to check it out, then come back for our chat. This is one you won't want to miss!


Bryan’s Bio: Bryan is originally from the Midwest, but over the years he has travelled the globe extensively, before moving to the sunny beaches of South Florida. Critics and reviewers have compared his most recent romance novels, Love Letters and A Second Chance, to those written by Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts. He writes of love lost and love found, with strong female role models. Bryan’s books have consistently ranked in the top five in his category, on Amazon.com bestsellers list. His long awaited book A box of Chocolates was just recently published and now available in paperback and eBook format.
Where is Bryan’s most inspirational location to hatch a new novel? “Oh that has to be Key West,” he was quoted in a recent interview. “Hemingway hung out there and wrote some of his best works in the low key place in the sun. But my all time favorite place to get lost in, has to be on one of the thousands of Greek Islands.”

His love of the Greek isles shows in his work. His most recent romance novel, A Second Chance is set on a remote Greek island. It is the story of a man traveling to a family reunion, who mistakenly disembarks from a ferry boat, onto the wrong island. He is stranded on the idyllic paradise for a week, waiting for the next ferry and checks into the only hotel on the island. The romantic hilltop retreat, he soon discovers, happens to be run by - his first love.

When not penning romance novels on the beach, he and his wife Bonnie travel the world. Bryan enjoys sailing, gourmet cooking, ballroom dancing, photography, tennis and he loves to incorporate these activities into his novels. Look for Bryan’s latest novel, a Christmas Love story coming soon. For more information and a preview of his novels click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/Books-by-Bryan-Mooney


WOW: Welcome to The Muffin. Please share a little about yourself with our readers.

BRYAN: I grew up in a small town in the Midwest and come from a large family of nine, six sisters and two other brothers. Family reunions are a really big affair, as one can imagine, with the family growing larger and larger every year. My family is my biggest support group and also are my toughest critics.


WOW: Holy cow! Nine children? I’ll bet those reunions are quite an event. I see you have written several romance novels as well. Is that your writing ‘love’ or are their other kinds of genres and areas you enjoy dabbling in? If so, which ones and why?

BRYAN: At heart, I am a hopeless romantic. It seems, no matter what I try to write, love is always at the core of any of my stories. Readers have compared my books to the likes of Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts. I also write mystery thrillers such as The Potus Papers and Indie- A Female Vigilante that have been compared to James Patterson.

I like writing romance and mystery thrillers so as to keep my writing fresh and vibrant and to bore either myself or my wonderful readers.

My latest book, Christmas in Vermont - a Very White Christmas, which was recently released has been cited by readers as one of my best. It is the touching and heartwarming story of a Marine veteran and a schoolteacher who travel to Vermont to experience Christmas and find the true joys of Christmas. (Muffin readers can find my all books at tinyurl.com/Books-by-Bryan-Mooney )

WOW: Thanks for sharing the link to your books. Let’s talk about your beautiful short story ‘Charley’, which placed in our 2013 Fall Flash Fiction contest. I don’t think any of us made it to the end with dry eyes. Can you share your inspiration for this story and how it came to be?

BRYAN: A few years ago, one of our closest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy and radiation therapy. We suffered through it with them, all of their ups and downs.

One night while waiting for our wives to finish shopping, I asked her husband how he was doing. He told me that now their life, their dreams, their hopes, and fears were now divided into life before cancer (BC) and life after cancer (AC). I was so shaken and touched by his comments that I had to figure out some way to express how I felt while still maintaining their privacy. It was then I wrote the story - Charley.

The response from readers, like yourself, to that two-page short story was so overwhelming I made it the first story in my recently published book of short stories, entitled, A Box of Chocolates. Last year's WOW contest winner, The Mountain, is also included in the same book as well as many of my other award winners and many of my personal favorites such as The Painter from Syros and The Lemon Trees.

WOW: What a beautiful tribute to your friend. I hope she continues to fight and is able to beat her ‘Charley’. Do you have a writing schedule or routine? Any tips you can give our writers-in-progress?

BRYAN: I have found that my most creative time to write is early morning. Some writer friends of mine say that they won’t stop writing until they have written so many thousands of words or so many pages. The key is to just do it, write a paragraph, a page or two. If I can do that then I am very happy.

To your readers who want to write, I suggest that they do what works best for them and try to stick with it. Maybe write just on the weekends, early morning or even at midnight, just do what works best for you but don’t wait and don’t stop, even if it is just a page or a paragraph. Tell your story. Hemingway said once "today was a success, I wrote a word."

Finally, get the story down on paper first, -John went to the store and saw her, standing there… Then after you finish writing the book go back and polish and rewrite it - so the above sentence is transformed into:

The tall stranger in his tattered jeans and white t-shirt and worn sneakers came into the small general store behind her, close enough to smell her jasmine scented perfume. He imagined himself back in Paris and briefly closed his eyes as he touched the long scar on his arm. When he reopened them, she stood there in front of him, watching him. A small smile came over her face.

WOW: Fantastic advice. I hope our readers are making notes. ;) You have so much experience and knowledge with writing and authoring. As we come to a close, do you have any pearls of wisdom you’d like to give us?

BRYAN: My best advice to writers in progress is to keep writing, don’t stop; don’t over edit and don’t forget to read. Read books, lots of books, newspapers - to keep current, books for ideas and stories and techniques. You will slowly develop your own style and writer's voice. Maybe try writing short stories.

I also keep a journal where I write a two-page synopsis of a potential book so I don’t forget it. I am always referring back to it and adding to it.

Lastly, I can’t tell you how many people have approached me at book signings to tell me they want to write that one big book. My advice is that the best thing to do is practice, practice, practice.

I wrote nine full-length books before I had one that was publishable. That book, Love Letters, has been ranked in the top ten in its category on Amazon.com since its release three years ago. As Nike says - Just do it. Start and keep going. What do you have to lose?

The best of luck to all of your readers and I want to thank you for the opportunity to share these thoughts with you and with them.

Xxxxxxxx

WOW: Very valuable pearls, Bryan, thank you so much. And thank you for being here today. We can’t wait to see what else you bring out for readers. Congratulations again!

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1 comment Bryan Mooney, Chynna Laird, Fall 2010 Contest Runner Up, Fall 2013 Flash Fiction Contest, short story writing

Beginning a Story: What Has to Be There

by Alexkerhead www.flickr.com

Writing is subjective as many of us know. One person may love a book; another reader may not. It's why Agent A rejects your novel, but Agent B brags about it all over social media. But I still believe there are certain things that the beginning of any solid fiction piece should do, whether you are writing a five-book series or a short story for children. I taught these same principles to my elementary students when we learned about what makes a good beginning. Here's the simple list:

• The beginning catches the reader's attention.
• It sets the time and place.
• It introduces the main problem in the story or the point where life changes for the main character (inciting incident).
• It makes the reader want to keep on reading.

It seems if I'm teaching these four basic principles to elementary students--that as experienced writers, we should understand and even master these criteria for a good beginning in our fiction. But I've read hundreds of drafts of stories and novels (including my own!), and these four points often elude even the best writer. Why is that?

One, I think we are often too close to our story .We think our readers just really need to know A, B, and C about our main character before we show the inciting incident at the beginning, so that the reader truly understands the depth of the problem. This is usually NOT TRUE. We need to give readers more credit and present them with an interesting or exciting beginning that starts at the inciting incident. They will catch on to our character's flaws and back story as the story moves forward.

The second problem is almost the opposite. Many times we know our story so well, we forget to put important information down on the page. For example, you know your story takes place in New York City, 100-years into the future after aliens have invaded Earth. But does your reader know that when he is first introduced to two main characters sitting in a pizza place, discussing what to eat for lunch (right before an alien attacks them)? The setting details don't need to slow the pace of the beginning down--that's the last thing you want to do; but you can write hints here or there in dialogue tags or in the dialogue to set the reader up. Some writers think it's cute or interesting to keep readers in the dark for the first few pages or even the first chapter. This only works in a VERY FEW well-structured books. If the reader is confused, he or she will put down your book and pick up another with a better beginning. An agent will offer that other writer a contract--trust me.

So, look at your beginning. Does it meet those four criteria mentioned above? Ask your beta readers, critique group members or peers if the beginning works. After all, it is one of the most important parts of your book or short story. If readers can't get past it, they won't make it to your brilliant ending.

Margo L. Dill is teaching writing short fiction for children and teens in an online class, starting June 4. Sign up now at the link to take this class. Margo is the author of the YA novel, Caught Between Two Curses , and the middle-grade novel, Finding My Place.  Find out more at http://margodill.com/blog/

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4 comments fiction writing, Margo L. Dill, novel writing, short story writing, writing beginnings

Nichol Hines, Flash Fiction Runner Up for Twisted

"Twisted" is an awesome flash fiction piece that will have you smiling and thinking how clever our Fall 2013 Flash Fiction runner-up, Nichol Hines, is! If you haven't checked out Twisted yet, click here now to check it out. 

Nichol has three goals in life:

Become a published author.
Learn to speak conversational Mandarin.
Learn to play the cello.

Surprisingly, opening herself up to rejection has been the easiest to achieve. Up to now, she has worked on a variety of stories in various forms and was very proud to have let a story go out into the world--and out of her control.

She is currently focusing on writing her very own fractured fairytale; so if you like her writing, or just want to say “Hi,” you can message her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @DarlingNichol

WOW: Congratulations on placing as runner-up in the WOW! contest with your piece, "Twisted." It's so funny and clever! Where did you get the idea for this piece?

Nichol: It came out of a writing exorcise, the kind you get when you have writers' block. The suggestion was to tell a story that personifies something, and to come up with a story told from that perspective. They suggested things like houseflies, or dogs, etc., but I took it a step further, and thought a story from the perspective of a sports bra would be funny. Then I had to figure out just what kind of story a sports bra would have to tell, and it flowed out really quickly from there.

WOW: I love that! Do you find it hard to write humor? (Your bio is humorous, too!) Do you have a couple tips for people trying to write humor?

Nichol: I like wit and humor in the things I read and watch, and I like to think of myself as a fairly witty and humorous person (probably more so than other people see me, but so be it); so in some ways, writing humor is easy because my mind always looks for the joke or the witty remark.

The hard part about writing humor is making sure it fits into the story you are writing. It's just like in real life. Just because you have the perfect joke, zinger, or comment, it might not be the appropriate time or place to share your moment of brilliance, and you have to let it go and move on. It can be hard because sometimes you are just that funny, but it is inevitably the right way to go.

WOW: One of your goals is to be a published author. This story is now published! What other goals for your writing do you have?

Nichol: Sending out a story was one of the hardest things I've ever done because it meant it was no longer my baby, and it was out of my control. No more polishing, no more tweaking, it had to fly or fall on its own merits. So with that first roadblock managed, I'm going to send out some longer stories that I've been sweating blood and tears over.

WOW: Good luck! We'd love to hear from you on Twitter if you get another published! You are also active on social media (Twitter and Facebook). Do you use these as a writer? (Follow any writers/editors/agents, etc?)

Nichol: Social media has its pros and cons. On the upside, in face to face situations, I find it very hard to initiate conversations. Once I get going I'm fine, but Twitter and Facebook allow one a bit of space, and the ability to stay in your comfort zone. Also you avoid actually seeing someone reject you, and double upside, you do not have to control your own face (crying in public is usually frowned upon).

The downside is that anything that has ANY entertainment value can also become a time-suck; and when you are a hardened procrastinator like myself, the wonders of the Internet, as a whole, are dangerous, unless I have a deadline.

WOW: What are you currently working on in your writing life?

Nichol: I'm submitting some serious work to a few literary magazines, and I'm working on a YA novel about a fairy who wants to be a fairy godmother, but is no good at magic. And I'm always coming up with new ideas. The hard part is just focusing on one story at a time.

WOW: Yes, I think that happens to many writers! Too many stories, not enough time. What's your writing routine like?

Nichol: I don't have a regular writing routine, per say. It's not just a matter of procrastination, although I'll admit to that being a factor; but in reality, I thrive under the pressure of a deadline. So my most productive writing and reviewing is when I have an external deadline.

For example with short stories, I look to where I want to submit and use their submission dates as hard deadlines. This leaves me no wiggle room to charm my way into an extension, and it's do or die, with the responsibility falling on my shoulders. I also take classes, or join specific writing workshops, because then I am accountable to others, AND I get priceless feedback from a variety of sources.

WOW: Those are all great ideas for keeping yourself on track and productive. Thanks for sharing! Best of luck to you.

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1 comment editing flash fiction, Fall 2013 Flash Fiction Contest, short story writing

Five Reasons Why You Should Write A Short Story

Many writers fantasize the day they accept the Pulitzer Prize or Newberry Award for their novel they slaved over for years. Few authors daydream about receiving two contributor copies after having a short story published. Yet, writing short stories can improve your writing skills and increase your marketability.

SENSE OF COMPLETION
Writing short stories gives you a sense of completion. Writers often complain, “It took me years and years to get my novel just right.” Novels are like spaghetti sauce, simmering for days; whereas short stories are like the noodles—boiling and ready in twenty minutes.

Completing a manuscript gives a feeling of accomplishment. Just like an artist enjoys displaying a finished painting, most writers love to share their work. How wonderful it feels when a complete piece can be revealed for enjoyment or critique. In any profession, it is important to experience accomplishments, such as an architect who views her new building  or an author seeing her work in print from beginning to end.

PUBLICATION CREDITS
Getting anything published is hard work. You must be dedicated to rewriting, rewriting, and more rewriting. You have to research the market, learn proper manuscript format, and write a brilliant cover letter. Getting a short story published is like playing a good game of miniature golf—it’s not as easy as it looks, but with knowledge, skill, and practice, you can do it.

Many markets exist for your short stories from magazines with a circulation of 200,000 to hard-back anthologies to your writer’s group newsletter. Contests for shorter works fill writing websites and magazines, and many of these are paying markets or have a modest monetary award accompanying first through third place.  A lot of magazines do pay in copies, but some give you a check.

EXPAND YOUR RANGE
Short stories present an opportunity to work on different genres. For example, a writer’s group sponsors a Halloween short story contest. Most of the members work on other genres throughout the year, such as westerns, romance, or mysteries. For this contest, each person creates a spooky story. The writer’s group does not publish the winning entries, and members are free to submit their ghostly tales to other contests and magazines.

Many writers start out in one particular genre. They begin writing what they love to read. Because people have read romance or science fiction all their life, they decide to try these genres with their novels. But what if there’s a mystery inside these authors, ready to spill out if it is just allowed? A short story is the perfect place to expand into the mystery genre.

WORK ON THE CRAFT
You can use short stories to strengthen your writing skills. Maybe you need to work on writing realistic dialogue or fitting all five senses into your description. Perhaps you want to use flashbacks, but can’t seem to make smooth transitions. Or a friend, who critiqued your opening chapters, said your main character was typical and boring.

Try working out these problems in a short story, focusing on improving those particular weaknesses.

A CURE FOR WRITER’S BLOCK
Writing a short story may help you overcome writer’s block. When writing a long piece, sometimes you find yourself in a rut and become frustrated. You avoid working on your manuscript and may waste time cleaning out your files or e-mailing your long, lost cousin. Why not do something more productive and write a short tale?
 
Writing something different can give you the oomph you need to continue with your novel. Your subconscious has a chance to take over and solve your plot problems. Just make sure to keep paper handy to jot down ideas for your novel.

The next time you ponder, “Why should I waste time writing a short story?” Remember what they can do for you. Short stories can improve your writing skills, enhance your marketability, and bring you a step closer to publishing that great American novel.


Margo is teaching a short fiction class for children's and YA writers, starting on April 11. It's a NEW class! For more information, please see this link: http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html#MargoDill_WritingChildrenTeensShortFiction

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5 comments Margo L. Dill, short fiction writing, short story writing, writing inspiration

What Makes a Story Scary?

I can think of a few things that scare me: rejection letters, unpaid bills, and me in a thong. But I'm talking really scary, the things that send chills up your spine when you read a short story. It takes a certain type of writer who can plow the depths of darkness, build suspense, and twist a story ending so the reader doesn't see it coming.

What are some other elements scary stories need in order to be truly scary? Here are a few tips from a great book on horror writing, aptly named On Writing Horror, by the Horror Writers Association.

Suspenseful Beginnings:

You might launch your story with the mud having already filled up the entire basement and swallowed the plumber, but it's far creepier to show the mud growing mysteriously over time before the plumber kicks the bucket. You want to find a starting place close enough to the action to be compelling but distant enough to allow for suspense; that's a delicate (and difficult) balance to strive for in every story.

Find the Thing that Frightens You:

Giving a strategic glimpse of what frightens you can lessen the effect of writing about that thing's impact on you, and it can, at the same time, increase the impact of that thing (whatever it is) on your readers. Find the single facet of that thing that frightens you--that which most everyone can relate to--and use that one facet as a weapon to frighten your readers.

End with a Twist:

An ending that defies expectation and adds a new twist can make for a memorable story, but please remember, I said twist, not gimmick. The gimmick, that which is utterly unexpected because there has not been even a telepathic hint of its possibility, risks totally blowing the suspension of disbelief and ruining all your previous hard work.

Those are just a few excerpts from On Writing Horror. If you are a horror writer, it's a great reference book that you'll want on your shelf.

The popularity of horror novels and stories attest to the fact that most of us love a scary story. They get our blood pumping, our adrenaline rushing, and bring out our most primal instinct: fear.

Here are a few things that make a story scary for me:

• The fear of what could happen
• The probability that it will happen
• Believability, even if the subject matter may seem unbelievable
• If the story is true

In celebration of Halloween, I'd like a treat from you. And this is not a trick question. Excuse the pun, couldn't resist! What frightens you? What makes a story scary to you as a writer or reader?

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2 comments horror writing tips, scary story, short story writing