It’s no secret I’m proud of the friends I host on Help From My Friends Friday. I’m particularly proud of this week’s guest. Francelia Belton has known her mind since she started writing. She loves short stories and has stayed true to her passion. You might want to remember her name. Please welcome Francelia Belton. ~ Donnell
P.S. Be sure to take advantage of the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
Short Story Writing is the Life for Me
By: Francelia Belton
Author Francelia Belton
I know there are many people who want to write the next great American novel or have a bestselling series, but not me. I have and always have wanted to be a short story writer. Which is funny because I love stories in all their forms. I devour novels and binge watch television shows and movies. I even love how sometimes a song can tell you a story.
But the short story is my favorite medium. I think it was because I remember watching hours and hours of old television programs like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, or The Twilight Zone, and Amazing Stories, or Tales from the Darkside, and The Outer Limits. I was glued in front of the television when I wasn’t reading or playing outside with my friends. Now, it’s true that these are all television programs, but to me, they are the short story of the visual medium. And many of those episodes were based on or adapted from short stories.
For instance, “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl was a 1958 episode on Alfred Hitchcock Presents. One of my favorite Stephen King short stories, “The Word Processor of the Gods,” was an episode of Tales of the Darkside in 1984. And one of the most famous Twilight Zone episodes ever was based on a short story by Lynn Venable, “Time Enough to Last” in 1953, in which a book lover gets his wish of having all the time in the world to read, but it comes at a terrible price. Many a reader understood the despair of this unlucky character.
With a short story, you only get a tiny glimpse into a
character’s life; that one moment in time when their life changes for either good or ill. That moment when you get a chill because the choice they made is going to send them down a dark path.
Or that moment when you feel such a sense of relief knowing their life can only get better, even though you don’t read it or see it, but know deep in your heart it can only be true. And yes, those moments happen in movies and novels, but short stories can bring a reader to that moment so much quicker and in less space. There are no extraneous details. The reader is taken straight to the core and gets to taste the truest essence of who these characters are.
So, will I ever write a novel? I can’t say it will never happen, but for me, right here and right now, I can only say the short story writing life is the life for me.
About the Author: Francelia Belton’s love of short stories came from watching old Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents television shows in her youth. Her fiction has appeared in various publications, with a new short story coming out in the upcoming Denver Noir anthology by Akashic Books. Also, she was a finalist in the 2020-2021 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition and is currently a semi-finalist in the 2021 Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition for her short story, “Knife Girl.”
You can read more of her stories at https://Francel.Be/Writing-Stories.
Or connect with her on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/Francelia.Belton/
https://www.facebook.com/Francelia.Stories
https://www.goodreads.com/Francelia
Francelia’s latest appearance is in Festive Mayhem 2: Seven Holiday Culinary Cozy Mysteries.
About Festive Mayhem 2: Seven Holiday Culinary Cozy Mysteries
Seven crime writers of color have teamed up for the second year running to offer you the gift of escape this holiday season. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, Halloween to New Year’s, cozy mystery fans are bound to find a favorite holiday represented in this limited-time collection of exclusive, never-before-published seasonal short stories.
What you’ll find inside:
- “Nefarious New Year” by Paige Sleuth. A suspected poisoning leads Cherry Hills, Washington animal rescue maven Imogene Little to spend New Year’s Eve 1999 tracking down a would-be murderer.
- “The Brotherhood of Tricks and Treats” by Francelia Belton. A young man wants to fit in with his older brothers, but gets in over his head.
- “Cookies, Lies & Homicide” by Angela Henry. When lonely widow Mercy Davenport finds a lost dog, she has no idea searching for its owner will land her in the middle of a murder mystery, putting her in the crosshairs of a killer and on the radar of a grumpy local police detective.
- “Last Bite” by Rhoda Berlin. When Emily introduces her fiancé to her family, Thanksgiving comes to a fateful end.
- “A Praline for Pepe” by Carolyn Marie Wilkins. Carrie McFarland’s psychic powers are tested when a showboat featuring a racist revue brings a handsome stranger, a new cuisine, and a cold-blooded killer to Aaronsville, Indiana in 1921.
- “A Cup of Secrets” by Barbara Howard. Debutante Chelsea Parker’s birthday celebration launched his catering business into an overnight success, but Milo is thrown into the center of a murder investigation before dawn with his business partner and love of his life as the primary suspect.
- “The Jollof Rice and Crayfish Mystery” by Stella Oni. Elizabeth Ojo senses trouble when billionaire businessman Chief Arowolo, his wives and family come to celebrate his 75th birthday in the Mews, and she is not wrong as Chief collapses on the day of his celebration.
Bonus recipes are included for each story!
Available at: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo
In celebration of their new release, the authors are hosting a multi-book giveaway. Visit the Rafflecopter Giveaway page from October 1 through October 29 and enter for your chance to win. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f0f9d74e25
Hi Donnell: Thank you for hosting me on your blog today! Yes, I know that I will love short stories forever. I have many more inside that are clamoring to come out. LOL.
Francelia, one of the best articles I ever read was Short Stories are Haunted by Deb McLeod. Short stories are not miniature novels. There is a real talent to leaving the reader convinced they know these characters and have entered, then left a very special world. Which is why you were so influenced, I suspect. Thank you for joining me today.
I love your short stories. You really get the genre.
I am checking these out asap. I love and write and romance short stories. I have tons of fun and I’m a whole lot less stressed than over writing a book. Hugs, girls. vb
Great post, Francelia! I find myself becoming increasingly drawn to reading shorter works. There’s something alluring about being able to start and finish a story in one sitting.
Wonderful post, Francelia! I love your short stories–so beautifully written. Kudos on your success!
Hi everyone, so proud of you Francelia
Donnell, I enjoyed reading about your featured Friday friend Francelia. Short stories are a new genre for me I plan on exploring more.
Thank you, Susan! Love discovering new genres. Short story writers possess a special gift unto themselves. They have to write tight!
Hi Donnell: I have not heard of that article by Deb McLeod, but I’m off to read it now! 😀
Thank you for visiting today, Karen, and enjoying my stories. I appreciate it! 🙂
Thank you for checking out our anthology, Vicki! I appreciate it. And your Facebook page, Short Stories Rock, really does rock!! Just discovered it today and liked. 😀
Hi Marla! Thanks for stopping by today. I can most definitely read a short story in one sitting, but not write one. LOL. 😀
Thank you so much, Barbara! I sincerely appreciate your encouragement and support. 😀
Thank you, Desiree! I’ve come a long way since RMWW, eh? LOL. 🙂
Hi Susan! Thank you for visiting me today, and I’m so glad I have been able to turn you onto short stories. Many more to come! 🙂
What a great read, Francelia. I’ve always loved short stories but never believed I could write them. I now write them and love delving into the world of my various characters. It is also a good way to test a new series. I can’t wait to read more of your work.
You are a wonderful writer, Francelia, full of off-the-wall twists and turns. Your reading public will be delighted!
I’m always happy to hear authors extoll the virtues of the short story. I remember that “Time Enough to Last” episode – chills! It takes serious talent to write short. Best wishes for your continued success.
What a great post, Francelia. Thank you for sharing about your author life with us! And, thank you Donnell for hosting!