By Tracy Crump
Chicken Soup for the Soul has been around an
incredible 24 years and is considered the best-selling trade paperback series
in publishing history. Its longevity is due in part to the diverse writers who
contribute to its varied titles.
How could you become one of those writers? Try
dissecting this chicken and see what makes it tick.
Head
Most writers know the head—I mean opening—must hook
the reader. But you can find many ways to effectively kick off a Chicken Soup
story.
· Dialogue always adds interest and catches your reader’s
attention, but since characters have not been introduced yet, it can cause
confusion. If you use this method, be sure it’s clear who is speaking. Few
Chicken Soup stories begin with dialogue.
· Setting can ground the reader in time and place, but it can
be boring if you’re not careful. Hold to the maxim that it’s taboo to open with
a weather report. Give just enough detail that readers picture the scene.
· Shocking statements grab a reader’s attention and
make him want to read on. Just be sure the statement is relevant and stay true
to your story.
· A question can draw readers in. But be sure that if you ask a
question at the beginning, you answer it by the end.
Tail
The closing of a Chicken Soup story is almost as
important as the opening. You must resolve any conflicts, answer any questions,
and bring it to a satisfying conclusion—without belaboring the point. As my
friend Marylane says, “Tie it up with a bow. Your story is your gift to the
reader.”
·
· End with a lesson learned. Most Chicken Soup stories include the
takeaway in the closing.
· Conclude with a repeated line or twist on a repeated line used
throughout to connect the end to the rest of the story.
· If the story is humorous, or sometimes even if it isn’t, close with a punch
line to leave the reader happy.
Body
Finally, you need something to hold this chicken’s
head and tail together. The middle or “guts” of the story must provide a
conflict or struggle for the main character (which is probably you) to overcome.
It draws the reader along keeping her wondering what is going to happen and how
the protagonist will triumph.
Now that you’ve successfully dissected a Chicken Soup
story, you can construct one of your own and send it flying (I mean submit it)
to Chicken Soup for the Soul.
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As co-director of Write Life Workshops, Tracy Crump
conducts workshops and webinars that encourage others to “Write Better, Write
Now!” Storytelling is her specialty, as evidenced by two dozen stories
published in anthologies, including nineteen in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She
edits The Write Life, a free e-newsletter with story callouts, that has
inspired many writers to move forward with their writing. Her love of teaching
also takes her to conferences where she helps writers hone their craft. Tracy’s
numerous articles have appeared in national magazines such as Focus on the
Family, ParentLife, Mature Living, and Light & Life. She has
been a magazine columnist, written for newspapers, and published around fifty
devotionals. Recently she has taken her “Stirring the Pot: Writing for Chicken
Soup for the Soul” workshop on the road and is loving it. Website: www.TracyCrump.com FB Profile: https://www.facebook.com/TracyKirkCrump
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTracyCrump/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TracyCrumpWrite
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