Definitely. Writing short stories first allows you to experiment with different styles and voices. You can quickly see what works and what doesn't. For example, you might find that a humorous voice suits you in short stories, and then you can decide if you want to carry that over into your novel - writing attempts. It also gives you a chance to build up a body of work and gain confidence before embarking on the long - form project of a novel.
One benefit is that it helps you master the art of pacing. In a short story, you need to be concise, so you learn how to move the plot forward quickly. Another is that you can explore different genres easily. For instance, you can write a horror short story, a romance short story, etc. to find out which genre you are most comfortable with for a novel.
Use really flat and uninteresting characters. Make them all have the same personality, like they are all super nice with no flaws or quirks. They won't engage the reader at all. Also, use really simple and dull language throughout the story, like 'He went here. He did that.' without any descriptive words.
Newcomers to short romance novels can try submitting to the following magazines:
1 reader
2 fireworks
3 novel reading network
Xiaoxiang Academy
5 Feilu novel network
Many readers of these magazines were more accepting of the newbie's short romance novels. Of course, other than the magazines listed above, there were many other excellent novel magazines to choose from. The most important thing was to constantly practice writing and improve the quality of the novel so that he could get more opportunities.
Maybe you could try exploring different narrative structures and experiment with non-linear storytelling techniques. That might break you out of the linear mindset.
It's hard to say for sure. Jo could be venturing into a historical fiction or a science fiction story. But until we hear more from Jo, it's all speculation.
Using too many clichés can also make a bad story. Phrases like 'it was a dark and stormy night' or characters that are the typical hero or damsel in distress without any new twists. It gives the feeling that the story has been told a thousand times before and lacks originality.
It depends. If you feel confident enough to jump straight into a novel, then you don't necessarily need to write short stories first. However, short stories can offer valuable experience. They can help you gain a better understanding of pacing, for example. In a short story, you have to make every word count, and this sense of economy can be useful when you're writing a novel. But if you have a clear vision for a novel from the start, you might be able to develop those skills while writing the novel itself.
Yes, you should. Writing short stories can be a great warm - up before attempting a novel. It helps you practice different writing techniques, develop your style, and understand how to create engaging characters and plots in a more concise format. This experience can be directly applied when you start writing a novel.