You will enjoy this short video of Kurt Vonnegut’s advice on writing a short-story. The eight writing tips are pithy, wise, and apropos to just about any kind of writing, not just short stories. Not sure I agree with the one about “suspense.”
Here are some interesting tidbits about Mr. Vonnegut I pulled for you from a Wikipedia article. You can read the full article here.
- He majored in chemistry at Cornell University.
- His mother committed suicide when he was 21-years-old.
- He was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II and the experience influenced his writing.
- He was awarded the Purple Heart for what he called a “ludicrously negligible wound.”
- After the war, he attended the University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology and worked for the City News Bureau of Chicago.
- He worked in Public Relations for General Electric, wrote for Sports Illustrated, was a volunteer firefighter, and managed the first United States Saab dealership.
- He raised three of his own, and four adopted children.
- He attempted suicide in l984.
- An asteroid was named in his honor in 1999.
- He taught at Harvard University and City College of New York.
- He did the illustrations for two of his books and designed an album cover, which is now part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame traveling exhibition.
- He was politically outspoken, a lifetime member of the American Civil Liberties Union, and held unconventional views on religion.
- He wrote 14 novels.
- In 2007. Vonnegut died at the age of 84 from massive head trauma after falling down a flight of stairs.
Interesting stuff. Have you read his books or did you know these things about the man?
Robin Coyle 