For beginners.

Most of my stories begin with an idea. It might be something about a character (a man who speaks to animals, for example), or about a setting (an imaginary island in the Pacific), or a plot (a contemporary story that borrows the basic elements of Jason and the Agronauts). When I get an idea, even if I'm not sure it's a good one, I jot it down in my notebook. ( I always carry a note book called 'My Idea Book) Sometimes I get more ideas as I write, sometimes not. Sometimes I get a whole story all at once, complete with all elements.


2  Incubation
Sometimes I know everything about a story, right from the beginning, but more often I just have an idea or two. So I write it down, then go back to whatever I was working on before. The idea sloshes around in my subconscious with all the other ideas I've had, with all the things I notice as I go about my life, with all the interesting facts I learn as I read or watch television. Some of my best ideas have improved by being left alone in my mind for a while.


3)Writing
As the idea tumbles around in my brain with other ideas, thoughts, memories and facts, it often "sticks" to things.  Once I had two or more characters ( most of my short stories have only two or three character) and a good idea of where the story is going to go, it's time to write. Usually, I try to just begin at what seems like a good place, and keep on going until I get to the end. Sometimes, I need to take a break and work on a different project for a while. Other times, I find it better to skip ahead in the story, write a later scene, and then go back and fill it in. But usually, I start at the beginning and go on until the end .In addition, I revise a lot until I feel it's ready for publication.

I then make three copies of it, put it into three envelopes and send them off to three publications   hoping for a positive reply.


Well there you have it and good luck on your writing

Mike Kersting