Antonio Nelson’s 9 Steps for Story Writing

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Aspiring short story writers can use Antonio Nelson’s 9-step method to craft compelling stories by experimenting with different techniques.

IDEAS

Nelson’s 9 Steps for Story Writing are a good framework for writing short stories.

• The first step is to write about something that has happened to you.
  • Real life experiences can be a good starting point for stories.
  • You can change the details of your experiences to make them more interesting.
  • Many famous short stories are based on the author’s own experiences.
• The second step is to write the same story from a different point of view.
  • It is important to try different points of view to find the best way to tell the story.
  • You can write a story from the point of view of an inanimate object.
• The third step is to create a ticking clock.
  • A ticking clock is a countdown to a particular event.
  • It creates tension and suspense in the story.
• The fourth step is to create props or objects.
  • Objects can have symbolic meaning in stories.
  • It is important to choose objects that are necessary for the story.
• The fifth step is to create a transitional situation.
  • A transitional moment is a point in a character’s life when they are moving from one mode of existence to another.
• The sixth step is to add a world event.
  • This helps the reader connect to the story.
  • It can also be a good marketing tool.
• The seventh step is to add binary forces.
  • This creates tension and conflict in the story.
• The eighth step is Frytag’s Pyramid.
  • This is a way to structure a story’s plot.
• The ninth step is to experiment.
  • This means trying something crazy or different.

INSIGHTS

• Nelson’s 9 Steps provide a solid framework for crafting short stories, but flexibility and experimentation are key to making them truly unique and engaging.
• By drawing on personal experiences, exploring diverse perspectives, and incorporating elements like ticking clocks and symbolic objects, writers can add depth and intrigue to their narratives.
• Transitional moments and world events can ground the story in a relatable context, while binary forces create compelling conflict and tension.
• While traditional plot structures like Frytag’s Pyramid can be helpful, writers should not be afraid to deviate from them and experiment with different narrative approaches.
• Ultimately, the most memorable short stories are those that surprise and resonate with readers through their originality and emotional impact.

QUOTES

• “So recently I stumbled upon this wonderful article in Tin House’s Writer’s Notebook 2.”
• “It was basically a schematic or a blueprint for how to put a short story together, even if you’ve never written one before, and it was kind of genius.”
• “The author was Antonio Nelson, who has published seven short story collections and also published in this very tiny little magazine you’ve probably never heard of, The New Yorker.”
• “So I figured, hey, this is somebody who I should really listen to about how to construct a short story.”
• “I started my career writing short stories, I published a collection of short stories with Press 53, and I’ve won some big short story contests too, like Shenandoah and Third Coast, and I got one published in the Chicago Tribune as well.”

HABITS

• John Fox reads literary magazines like Tin House to discover new writing techniques and inspiration.
• He analyzes the work of successful authors like Antonio Nelson to understand their methods.
• He tests out new writing techniques by applying them to his own work.
• He revisits his writing with a critical eye, editing and refining it over time.
• He seeks feedback on his work and uses it to improve.

FACTS

• Antonio Nelson has published seven short story collections.
• Alice Munro recently passed away.
• The TV show “Queen’s Gambit” was very popular.
• The TV show “The Bear” is about cooking.
• Hilary Mantel wrote a short story collection called “The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher.”
• There have been many stories about chess cheaters in recent years.
• Flannery O’Connor wrote a short story called “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”
• Joyce Carol Oates wrote a short story called “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
• Raymond Carver wrote a short story called “Cathedral.”
• John Updike wrote a short story called “A&P.”
• Jennifer Egan wrote a novel called “A Visit from the Goon Squad.”
• Jamaica Kincaid wrote a short story called “Girl.”

REFERENCES

• Tin House Writer’s Notebook 2
• Antonio Nelson
• The New Yorker
• Press 53
• Shenandoah
• Third Coast
• Chicago Tribune
• James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
• Philip Roth’s “Goodbye, Columbus”
• Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried”
• Alice Munro’s “Boys and Girls”
• Queen’s Gambit
• Jorge Luis Borges’s “The House of Asterion”
• Cinderella
• Run Lola Run
• The Bear
• Brokeback Mountain
• A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Minority Report
• Hilary Mantel’s The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher
• In Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor
• Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates
• Cathedral by Raymond Carver
• The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
• Frytag’s Pyramid
• John Updike’s A&P
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
• Girl by Jamaica Kincaid

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Read Antonio Nelson’s work to study her approach to short story writing.
• Write a story about something that has happened to you, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
• Experiment with different points of view to find the one that best suits your story.
• Create a ticking clock to add tension and suspense to your story.
• Choose objects that are meaningful to your characters and that play a significant role in the plot.
• Identify a transitional moment in your character’s life and use it as a turning point in your story.
• Incorporate a world event to ground your story in a specific time and place.
• Create binary forces to generate conflict and tension between your characters.
• Consider using Frytag’s Pyramid or the seven-point plot structure to shape your story’s plot.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different writing techniques and styles.
• Read widely in the short story genre to learn from other writers.
• Share your work with others and get feedback.
• Keep writing and don’t give up!