Short Stories
'The Crossing'
Rose Tremain, in awarding 'The Crossing' first prize in the 2003 Bridport International Short Story Competition, wrote, "This is a beautifully plotted, impressively coherent story, set in Africa, about the fate of an old woman, once a level-crossing keeper, now made redundant and left to a bitter, solitary life in a lonely house scorched by the winds. It is both a powerful drama, with a classic Mark Twain 'snapper' ending, but also a moving meditation on the world's indifference to those who have been left by the wayside in life's journey. Told neatly and quietly, it never strives for effect. It would make a very original and compelling short film."
'The Crossing' is available to read in the Menu sidebar on the left.
Rose Tremain, in awarding 'The Crossing' first prize in the 2003 Bridport International Short Story Competition, wrote, "This is a beautifully plotted, impressively coherent story, set in Africa, about the fate of an old woman, once a level-crossing keeper, now made redundant and left to a bitter, solitary life in a lonely house scorched by the winds. It is both a powerful drama, with a classic Mark Twain 'snapper' ending, but also a moving meditation on the world's indifference to those who have been left by the wayside in life's journey. Told neatly and quietly, it never strives for effect. It would make a very original and compelling short film."
'The Crossing' is available to read in the Menu sidebar on the left.
Jon's short stories have won prizes and been shortlisted in many of the UK's top national and international competitions. 'The Crossing' won the 2003 Bridport International Short Story Competition, and 'Bendera Beach' won the Royal Society of Literature's 2004 VS Pritchett Prize.
Writing Short Stories
It is far more difficult to write a good short story than a novel. In a short story, every word, every phrase, counts. The layout, the timing - nowhere can there be a blemish. Yet some short stories, like 'The Crossing', appear on the screen first time, as if they were pre-formed in my mind, while others, like 'Bendera Beach', are the result of hours of careful work.
I have a set of rules which I try to follow:
The story has to be 'about something' - moral, educative, or thought-provoking - which leaves the reader still thinking when the tale is told.
The start must create a 'situation' [Steven King's idea] which is remarkable, which entices the reader in....
....while, at the end, the ideal story has an unexpected twist.
Atmosphere has to be created through carefully-crafted description, while....
....at the same time, the tale must have pace, must get on with its business....
....yet life should be allowed to carry on around the edges.
A story needs only two strong characters.
A good story has humour: the very best makes the reader cry, then laugh outright.
It is far more difficult to write a good short story than a novel. In a short story, every word, every phrase, counts. The layout, the timing - nowhere can there be a blemish. Yet some short stories, like 'The Crossing', appear on the screen first time, as if they were pre-formed in my mind, while others, like 'Bendera Beach', are the result of hours of careful work.
I have a set of rules which I try to follow:
The story has to be 'about something' - moral, educative, or thought-provoking - which leaves the reader still thinking when the tale is told.
The start must create a 'situation' [Steven King's idea] which is remarkable, which entices the reader in....
....while, at the end, the ideal story has an unexpected twist.
Atmosphere has to be created through carefully-crafted description, while....
....at the same time, the tale must have pace, must get on with its business....
....yet life should be allowed to carry on around the edges.
A story needs only two strong characters.
A good story has humour: the very best makes the reader cry, then laugh outright.
Jon's stories can be read on-line at ShortBread and at Short Fiction