Lecture Notes: Antonio Nelson's Blueprint for Writing Short Stories

Introduction

• Reference: Tin House's Writer's Notebook 2
• Author: Antonio Nelson, an acclaimed short story writer (published 7 collections and in The New Yorker)
• Personal experience: Testing out Nelson's method with success

General Perspective on Writing Advice

• Preference for flexible guidance rather than overly prescriptive rules
• Nelson’s 9 steps provide a creative framework while guiding the writing process

Nelson's 9 Steps for Writing a Short Story

1. Write About Personal Experience

• Use personal events for depth and significance
• Modify real-life events to enhance stakes and interest
• Examples:
  • James Baldwin’s "Sunny Blues"
  • Philip Roth’s "Goodbye, Columbus"
  • Tim O'Brien’s "The Things They Carried"
  • Alice Munro’s "Boys and Girls"
• Personal Example: Writing about attending a chess tournament

2. Experiment with Different Points of View

• Try various perspectives to find the best fit
• Important to choose a POV with a stake in the story
• Example: Jorge Luis Borges’ "The House of Asterion" (a minotaur’s perspective)
• Personal Example: Female lead in a chess-themed story

3. Create a Ticking Clock

• Introduce a time constraint or deadline to build suspense
• Examples:
  • Cinderella’s midnight
  • "Run Lola Run"
  • "The Bear" series
• Personal Example: Countdown to a chess tournament

4. Introduce Significant Objects

• Objects should have emotional or plot significance
• Avoid clichés; choose unique objects
• Examples:
  • Frodo’s ring
  • Philosopher's Stone in "Harry Potter"
• Personal Example: A championship football ring as a symbol of championship mindset

5. Create a Transitional Situation

• Transition in character's life e.g., job change, move
• Can be subtle or significant
• Examples:
  • "A Good Man is Hard to Find"
  • "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
• Personal Example: Character enters a chess tournament for the first time

6. Incorporate a World Event

• Connect the story to an external event for reader engagement
• Helps with storytelling and marketing
• Example: Hillary Mantel’s collection "The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher"
• Personal Example: Cheating scandal at a chess tournament

7. Add Binary Forces

• Create opposition or conflict, often through character contrasts
• Examples:
  • "Good Country People"
  • "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been"
  • "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver
• Personal Example: Utilize protagonist-antagonist dynamics

8. Utilize Freytag’s Pyramid

• Structure story using traditional plot arcs
• Consider alternatives like the seven-point plot structure
• Example: "A&P" by John Updike as a non-traditional plot
• Personal Example: Chess story following rising action to climax

9. Experiment

• Encourage creative risk-taking and deviation from norms
• Strategies for experimentation:
  • Hermit Crab fiction: Adopt different forms (e.g. recipe, PowerPoint)
  • Meta-fiction: Break the fourth wall
  • Unreliable narrator: Alter truthfulness
  • Formal restraints: Specific word usage constraints
• Personal Example: No formal experimentation but maintain openness to new possibilities

Conclusion

• Encouragement to try Nelson’s steps and innovate in storytelling
• Anticipation for new creative stories from learners
• Reminder of community support: Subscribe and like