Are you looking for writing anecdotes? Or are you learning to write anecdotes for yourself? Either way, you've come to the right place. Read on for more information on collecting anecdotes from writers and including them in your own work.
What Is an Anecdote?
First off, what is an anecdote? Anecdotes are short, interesting stories that describe a situation. They can be your own personal account, or perhaps a story that you heard from someone else. Anecdotes can be simple stories, parables or any other quick telling of a person, place or thing. Have you ever told a story about something that happened to you? Well, guess what? That was an anecdotal story!
Writing Anecdotes in your Work
When it comes to writing, anecdotes can breathe life into a flat, boring piece by sharing more information with the reader. Writers need to be aware of the "show don't tell" principle, which means that you need to share details through situations instead of explaining then in words. Anecdotes are the perfect way to show your readers a point without spelling it out to them outright. It's more interesting to read someone's account than to be told what's going on.
Just like any other element of writing, anecdotes can get annoying if they are overused. While it's great to show your readers some action instead of waxing poetic about certain events, anecdote after anecdote can get just as boring as paragraph after paragraph of dry prose. In fact, using too many anecdotes in a story would improve it -- instead, you'll end up with too much exposition will most likely lose your reader along the way.
At the same time, using anecdotes can be useful in the hands of a skilled writer who knows how to work it without overdoing it. As with anything else in writing, this can only come from practice. If you have questions about using anecdotes in your own work, consider joining a writing workshop where you can have your peers critique your work. Another pair of eyes is a useful tool for revealing when a story is too full of anecdotes.
If you want to know more about how to include anecdotes in your writing, there are many resources online that can help you craft your anecdotes in such a way that they will contribute positively to your overall piece. Here are some tips for using anecdotes in a way that will make your writing stronger:
- How to energize your writing in just a few easy steps.
- Story telling versus story writing is a great tutorial about "show don' tell."
- Details on writing anecdotes for those of you who need a little help.
The Best Writing Anecdotes
If you're looking for anecdotes about writing, the Internet is full of them. Indeed, there are countless stories, spread across countless websites and through countless forums, about how people go about their daily writing life. There are many quotes and stories available if you're interested in learning about other people's writing experiences.Here are a few collections of writing anecdotes that you might enjoy. Some are silly, some are sad and some are boring - but most are poignant in some way or another:
- The Write Corner offers a collection of George Bernard Shaw anecdotes.
- A single person's anecdote about writing and life.
- Frank Fiore has some great writing anecdotes on his blog.
- Goodreads offers anecdotes about several famous writers.
