Thrusters and reversals

I've been reading a lot about novel writing, since I am, in fact, writing a novel. But I think much of what I’m learning can be applied to short fiction, even very short (under 500 words) fiction.

My favorite book on the subject, and the one that's helped me the most, is called, "Between the Lines," by Jessica Page Morrell.

Two of the concepts Morrell describes in “Between the Lines” are the ideas of thrusters and reversals. A thruster is the opening scene or final scene in a chapter that pushes the reader forward. A cliffhanger is a subset of thruster, intended to pull the reader into the next chapter, just to find out what happens.

What about very short stories? Is the first paragraph or set of sentences a thruster? Does it pull the reader into the story, straight into the action? In a 500-word story, every word counts. You can't afford to leisurely stroll into the story. You have to jump in with both feet.

I don’t think cliffhangers really apply in very short fiction, because you have to end your story after 500 or 1,000 words, or somewhere in between. But even in a longer short story, a scene could end on a cliffhanger, torturing the reader until he turns the page. Of course, like any techniques, something like cliffhangers should be used with care.

Morrell describes a reversal as something changing in a scene, and I think that means attitudes, circumstances, perceptions...many things.

Even in a 250-word story, is your character changed in some way? Is some idea, notion or hope dashed or fulfilled by the end of the story?

Morrell says, “In your own stories, suspect every scene and chapter where your protagonist is unchanged by the events. Emotional reversals are a constant in fiction, occurring within every scene along with obstacles or conflict.”

If you’re on the lookout for an excellent writing book, I recommend “Between the Lines.” I believe that my writing, both short and long, has become stronger and more meaningful by putting into practice much of what she teaches in the book.