Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Best place to take an excerpt from...

This is topic Best place to take an excerpt from... in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by x__sockeh__x (Member # 3069) on :

I'm going to a Young Author's meeting kind of thing in May, and there's an anthology where we each get part of our work published in it, and they sell the anthology to the members.

The one thing that bothers me is that the maximum word count is 300 words. I mean, I know it's for 'young' authors...but really. That's extremely short. The story I was hoping to take with me came out to about 1,200 words.

I've decided that since chances are, I'll be doing an excerpt, where should I take it from? I think the opening, but not much happens in it. Or should I just abandon ship and write some poetry? Speaking of poetry, what's the format for writing a Haiku? I know I learned it once, but I can't remember.

Edit: Just had to fix a spelling error.

[This message has been edited by x__sockeh__x (edited February 16, 2006).]

Posted by ethersong (Member # 3216) on :

Eh...Haikus...Don't know why you'd want to write a three lined structured poem. Don't really know the structure either...

If I had to slice 300 words out of a story I would take the most interesting part--the one that a person could read and, even if they didn't have a clue what was going on, would want to go read some more.

But if I were you I'd just write some poetry. But that's just me. And don't try to do a Haiku...those are like..the things that teachers make you write in Middle School and tell you is poetry. I'd just try to wait until I was inspired to write something and write a poem from the heart, regardless of structure (but, then again, poetry structure tends to come easy to me).

If you don't have any poetry already written that you want to turn in, don't try to write stuff specifically to turn in...I find that I really can't write as well when I am thinking about the people who are going to read it. The one time I tried to do that, I got frustrated and wrote a decent poem about how nerve-wracking it is to write for to be critiqued.

But really, do whatever you feel up to doing.

Posted by benskia (Member # 2422) on :

Hi.

The bit that worries me about what you just said though is:

"and they sell the anthology to the members"

This sounds like they get you guys to write something for their "anthology" and then sell it straight back to you?

Or is this usual in writing clubs?

Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :

A Haiku is Japanese poetry, not something middle school teachers made up. It's a three-line poem where the first and third lines can only contain five syllables, and the second line, only seven.

It's a bit of a challenge, but kind of fun when you get it right. I wrote a whole series once ("Series". Right. More like "handful") on writer's block. They make me smile every time I go back to read them.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

Another essential aspect of the haiku is the brevity of the subject material. They typically express some essential impression of a single moment of time, usually located during a specific season. Haiku also tend to center on nature.

These more "poetic" rather than lyric requirements are usually ignored in western schools both because of an overemphasis on formal requirements for "poetry" and because an emphasis on nature and transitory experiences runs counter to modern western literary ideals.

Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :

Depends on your ambitions. If you want to be a poet, write poetry. If you want to write fiction, do it here too.

300 words? Wow. Maybe I should take that back.

But I won't. It's very difficult to write a 300-word story, but it is possible. Or maybe you could excerpt it: set up the story, make it obvious that you really know your stuff.

Good luck.

Posted by x__sockeh__x (Member # 3069) on :

quote:
The bit that worries me about what you just said though is:
"and they sell the anthology to the members"
This sounds like they get you guys to write something for their "anthology" and then sell it straight back to you?

It's set up with the School Division, I doubt it's a scam. 'Sides, it's pretty cheap ($3.00), and a good place to test my skills.

Posted by Marva (Member # 3171) on :

300 words puts it in the realm of flash fiction (less than 500 words). I do it all the time for challenges on my other workshop site. It's quite useful to teach you how to cut the fat out of your writing.

There are even drabbles which are 100 words. It can be done.

Good luck.

Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :

quote:
If I had to slice 300 words out of a story I would take the most interesting part--the one that a person could read and, even if they didn't have a clue what was going on, would want to go read some more.

That's exactly right. Then, once you've done that, go back to your original story and cut everything that comes before it. That way you can submit the FIRST 300 words, as well.

Posted by Avatar300 (Member # 1655) on :

quote:
And don't try to do a Haiku...those are like..the things that teachers make you write in Middle School and tell you is poetry

Your rejection of
The great and noble Haiku
Fills me with sadness.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

See? Formalism at the expense of poetry.