Hi Fellow Writers, does anyone know of a short story being successfully expanded into a novel? I'm currently thinking I could do something with my short story posted on this site 'Dogs of War'.
I've always been lead to believe that short stories and novels are very different beasts (pun!) and never the twain should meet, however, does anyone know of an instance where this has been successfully achieved?
Many thanks
Mark
I have been writing a novel based on a piece of flash fiction of 200 words, and it's working really well. It's the idea that you expand, and the sentiment, perhaps, not the piece itself.
All novels start as a small packet of ideas, after all, and then grow outwards. The fact that this packet is a story already isn't an issue.
Excellent responses, one and all! I guess the secret here is to come up with a premise that can be sustained over many chapters.
And I love the idea of Stanley Kubrick waving a huge cheque in front of good old Arthur C. - I guess even the most principled of artists can be bought!
Well, I will have a go at a frame-work for a novel and then come up with another chapter for posting and see if the idea has wings. If it doesn't then at least I would have created another thousand or so words and that can't be a bad thing.
Thanks again for your support everyone. Let's keep that story-telling faith.
Mark
Hi Mark.
I'd say it certainly could, yes. Your story reads like a scene from a bigger story anyway.. it could easily be an opening scene with the story of how he was developed as a weapon told alongside the main plot.
What wouldn't work would be to stretch that one scene over a full novel, but I don't think that's what you're planning anyway.
Good luck with it.
Mark.