Braided Stories

So right now I am taking an advanced course in Creative Writing at my University. I absolutely love it. Compared to the other courses I’ve taken we tend to have more free-reign over the content of our writing. Granted we have some activities in class but the range is much wider. I like the fact that despite being taking courses for some time that I still can learn something new when it comes to different formats of writing. I recently learned about Flash Fiction this semester, which I have been posting on the blog since I started. I used to write such long stories that it was really difficult. Being in this course and having classmates critiquing my work has really improved my insight into my own intentions for the work in relation to what the reader interprets.

The readers interpretation is very important to what you want to get across. It has to be clear enough that they can understand what is going on, and have it so that they can feel/experience exactly what you want. It is possible on occasion to have the reader assume the end or make some details left out, all on their own. But for the most part you lead them, as the writer, to where you want their thought process to go. You’re essentially a tour guide, showing the reader around and telling them everything they want/need to know.

Another form that I’ve recently learned in CRW (creative writing) is “Braided stories.” Braided Stories are stories written in three parts. They are connected in theme, or even a certain topic, but not in character(s). The story has a main title and then can be divided by mini-titles, or not at all. It really depends on the writer’s preference, but overall the theme is hopefully made clear to the reader.

Looking back at what I’ve written I hope I haven’t confused you.
How about this. Here’s an example that I made myself. I hope you like it!

Braided Story Example by D. Arlene

The basic theme of this braided story is Romance and the troubles that go with a relationship.They all cover that in some way, shape or form. 

I tried to actually look up more on how to write braided stories and I got nothing. Zilch. Nada. For short fiction it seems to have a completely different meaning then what most people on the internet think. For some websites they assumed that “Braided stories” were stories divided in three parts but all parts involve the plot of a single story (beginning, middle & end). No websites I’ve found seem to understand the concept of an actual braided story. Or at least in the sense of a short fiction piece. I wish they would. 

I’ve already written my first ever braided story (longer than the example given), but I’m not getting critiqued until Monday. So it’s not going up until next week. I prefer to post stories that I’ve edited and are at their best before they are shown to you. I’ve actually edited one story after posting it on the blog, which forced me to re-post it in a new edition. So if you read a story that is a little different then when you read it the first time, I apologize.

I’ll try to keep everything as consistent as possible from now on. At least as much as I am able to. Unfortunately for now, you’ll have to put up with my blabbing on the main page. I hope you don’t mind.

I am starting to get the hang of this whole blog thing, and I genuinely look forward to sharing my work with you, even if it turns out that only person is actually reading it. If you have any questions, suggestions or even small comment, please don’t be afraid to leave any.  

Oh! And if you happen to find a website that actually talks about braided stories in the way I’m describing them, please share it with me.