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I wrote 53 short stories in 2008.
I met my goal of one short story per week. I like meeting goals. I learned much during the year. I guess that is the summary: I liked doing this and I learned much. I didn't write short stories while taking my walk (I walked 550 miles from Northern Virginia to Chattanooga, TN from September 15th through November 4th), but was able to catch up after I stopped walking.
Writers and writing. Well, this isn't a surprise as I spend lots of my time doing this.
Men and boys - This isn't a surprise either. I have two brothers, no sisters, three sons, one grandson, and no daughters. I do have one daughter-in-law, the most wonderful daughter-in-law in the world.
Life in the south - I lived there most of my life. I lived in California a few years and wrote story set in the Central Valley of California where my father was raised.
I look at photographs on flikr.com. Story ideas come to mind after viewing a few dozen photos.
I look at classic stories (one source is the Old Testament), find the core of the plot, and use that plot with different specifics.
Take an oft-used story plot and use an opposite ending.
Writing a 2,000-word story was hard the first few attempts.
Writing a 1,000-word story was very hard.
Writing 5,000- to 10,000-word stories came much more naturally at first.
By year's end, I could type for two hours and write a short story that was 2,500 words long (plus or minus 200 words).
I will probably write more short stories in 2009. I probably won't write one per week, but who knows? This is fun and I am learning. What more could I ask?
Oh yes, being paid for some of these stories would be nice. Anyone out there have any suggestions of someone who would pay me and publish these stories?
While writing these stories, I have read four books on fiction and short stories. These are: