Writers Tricks of the Trade Issue 3 Volume 9 | Page 39

My work experience in Seattle banking inspired my second novel, "Confessions of a Preda-
tory Lender," also available as an audio book. Christy and Megan—single, gorgeous, and fun-
loving—come to the big city of Seattle to make their fortune in mortgage lending. After passing
officer training, they're certain that their dreams of wearing designer clothes, driving Europe-
an imports, and living on a houseboat will come true. What could go wrong? Quite a bit, actual-
ly...
I found the inspiration for "Euphoria" from life around me. Too many friends and neighbors
have sons and daughters addicted to drugs, just as in my fictional story of Lyzzie. She was done
with Krayne, but he wasn't done with her. When her ex comes back into her life, Lyzzie is torn.
She was never able to resist Krayne or the drugs he provided. And now she has more to lose--
her marriage, her home, and her future. What will she choose? And what will it cost her.
Writing is a lonely pursuit, and so I work part-time at a local college, where I get to enjoy
the students and faculty members.
S HORT S TORY A DVICE FROM K URT V ONNEGUT
Short stories offer instant gratification for authors, as opposed to spending months or years—
sometimes even decades—writing a book. While these are not etched in stone, his advice has
merit. In a short story, you only have a short space to get the beginning, middle and end out.
There is no room to waste words or tangents, but yet a short story must be infused with your
own style. So, consider the tips he offered.
V ONNEGUT ’ S EIGHT ESSENTIAL TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A SHORT STORY :
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things--reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to
them--in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your
story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Read-
ers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could
finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
F ALL 2019
P AGE 35
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE