I thought that after writing, three novels writing a short story would be simple. I would easily crank out a short story each month to submit for publication or a contest. Little did I know that while the literary components of a short story are similar to those in a novel, writing them is a different skill set. The pacing is different. The characters are different. What happens behind the scenes is different. So much has to be accomplished very quickly, like running the 100 meter dash versus running a marathon. You’ve got to jump at the gun and get those characters moving. The situation must be complex, intriguing, and resolvable in a quick amount of time, and don’t forget the ironic twist! That being said, I have found Ashley Lister’s How To Write Short Stories and Get Them Published to be a valuable resource for creativity, style, technique, and practice. Just like prepping for a sprint, short stories require practice, drills, and persistence. The race doesn’t always go to the swift, but to those who keep writing.

As a writer attempting to secure a contract with an agent or publisher, I often need reassurance, advice, and hope from experts in the field. Julia Cameron is one of these experts. Her book, The Artist’s Way, has been a source of inspiration since I first read it several years ago. I’ve recently read Living the Artist’s Way, which discusses using writing for guidance. Julia suggests, in addition to writing daily morning pages, writing any time I have a question that I need guidance on. It can be worldly or personal, practical or philosophical. In Living the Artist’s Way, she tells her audience, “Guidance comes to us through our own hand” (9). This is an empowering message. We do not have to wait for a sign from the universe; we can sit at our desks, ask the universe a question, and write what comes to mind. Who knew writing could be so powerful?