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I WAS ME

First I was me,

Selfish as can be,

Wanting everything from A to Z

And wanting it all for me.

Then I became we,

A part of an us.

I learned to share, give and take

I learned how to trust.

Next I was you,

Believe me it's true.

I would rather give than receive,

It was you I wanted to please.

Now I am them,

A family man.

Giving my children,

All that I can.

If you look real close,

It is easy to see,

I am older and wiser,

And no longer a me.

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Short Stories on a Poetry Site

Blog Posted by Joe Flach: 11/6/2012 10:26:00 AM

I know this is a poetry site. And, I have posted over 800 poems here; but, sometimes I also like to write short stories. I have posted a couple of those here throughout the years – the real short ones that fit within the character constraints – under the “narrative” form.

I just recently posted a Short Story titled, “Straight to Hell – A Short Story”.

One of my friends challenged me to put it into rhyme and make it a poem, but I don’ think I want to do that. I like writing poems, and many of my poems do tell a story, but, somehow, I think fitting a story into rhyme makes it less genuine; less real; less personal; less natural. It’s like you force the story into a form and the form becomes more important than the story itself. I don’t know – what do you think?

Besides, I like variety and doing nothing but poems, I think, gets kind of boring – although I do write a lot of poems.

And, being that this is a poetry site, I suppose most of you don’t come here to read short stories, but, I put it here anyway for a few of you to stumble upon. Thank you to those of you who have and left a comment behind.

So … are there other short story writers here, as well. Which do you like to do more?

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Joann
Grisetti

Date: 11/6/2012 5:41:00 PM

I also have written short stories, about a dozen, but they are not so good.

Sharon
Smith

Date: 11/6/2012 2:48:00 PM

I recently posted a series of poems here, which go together to form a short story. Within it I used different kinds of poetry, free verse to represent the "real life" parts of the story, and various different forms to describe the various visions my lead character has. I found that using the different poetic forms in this way helped to show the different points of view within the story. I have written other short stories, but none hat I would call poems. If anything, I found that the structure of the poem really helped me to keep focused and not to digress from he main storyline.

Joe Flach
Date: 11/6/2012 3:44:00 PM

Thanks for sharing, Sharon. I like the idea of mixing forms, especially as a character development tool. I may just have to steal that idea from you some time soon.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 11/6/2012 2:19:00 PM

joe, I used to love story books. I read countless novels growing up. then the video age came to us, and I started watching more movies than ever. I got more involved with my job, with poetry, with Soup. So now I have no time for novels and not even for short stories. When I see an especially long poem , I feel like cringing. But usually I can tell right away reading it, if it is one I will really want to finish. That said, if I happen on your short story, I will give it a read. Time is just such a luxury these days. I think if it were not for this "new age" of DVR, internet, etc. I'd still be reading a few novels a year!!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/6/2012 11:13:00 PM

you are better than me, Joe. That's really cool what you did!!!

Joe Flach
Date: 11/6/2012 3:42:00 PM

I hear you , Andrea - and I think it is a little bit sad that that is the direction our culture is going. I too, have found it difficult to dedicate time to a novel or, even, short stories - but when I force myself to sit down and read I am so happy that I did. To help motivate and pressure me into reading more books, I even started a Book Club in my area. We read one book a month and I find the pressure to be prepared for each meeting forces me to dig in and get it done. I am soooooo glad. We have been at it for 10 months now andI have read at least 8 terrific books I would not have otherwise picked up - 2, I could have missed without missing. ;-)

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 11/6/2012 11:27:00 AM

I am a published short story writer, Joe. And I love fiction. It allows me to stretch, so to speak. Now, that being said, fiction is forced, too. What's that, you say? What I mean is that fiction requires its own fine tuning. We've all read things that lack grit or are too slow paced. Perhaps, the dialogue stumbles along. There should be a balance between narrative and action. Sentence lengths should vary for good flow and reader interest. I always ask myself, did I develope my character in this scene? Did the plot move forward? Then, of course, there are genre considerations... enough red herrings, for example, in a mystery. Now, I also love poetry. It is a quick write. There is closure after its completion. There is a sense that I have created something that is often personal, a type of creative non-fiction. Fiction requires me to hold on to the characters, carry them around for as long as it takes to write the story (often over 3,000 words). I have to move the plot and characters forward. Right now, with the time I have, it is very hard for me to organize my fiction (sketches, plotline) I plan to finish Segments of Orange (soon!) a work in progress that I've been dragging my heels on due to research and questions. I want Orange to go back to school. Apparently, Vietnam vets really didn't pursue many careers after their service. And (d'oh!) I thought that vets in received some kind of education fund if they'd been injured in the line of duty. No??? I can use my imagination, it is fiction, but I always like to try to stay realistic, where I can. So, I am not quite sure how to write myself out of a corner... ooops...Wow. I am going on. Looking forward to reading your short story! Hugs, Cyndi, lol, the windbag...

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 11/6/2012 7:38:00 PM

JOANN, WILL SOUP MAIL YOU. YOU MAY HAVE SAVED MY STORY. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS REPEATEDLY WITH NO AVAIL. HUUUUUUGS!

Joann Grisetti
Date: 11/6/2012 5:40:00 PM

Education after service - GI bil passed after WWII to help vets get a degree and a better job.

Charles Henderson
Date: 11/6/2012 11:52:00 AM

Cindy, all other things being equal, what is a good range of length for a short story to be. In order to get a good scenario across, satisfy the reader, and yet not be at all intrusive timewise as is sometimes a long novel. In the same vein, are the acceptable lengths variable for different age groups, not including school age up to k-12.

Joe Flach
Date: 11/6/2012 11:48:00 AM

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Cyndi. I love your perspective and thought process. Good luck with Segments of Orange and your other writings. You have inspired me to try more things with my writing.