Write a Great Short Story
Have you ever read a story and thought, "Wow, I wish I could do that!"? Well, you can. Follow the steps below and you will see that anyone can write an awesome short story!
Contents
Steps
Preparing the Story
- Read a short story or two, or three. Some examples: The Lady and the Tiger, The Confidence Game, The Emperor's New Clothes.
- Identify components like the climax, main character, and conflict while reading. This will boost your knowledge in short stories.
- Think of a main character,conflict, climax, setting. Using worksheets or just thinking a lot about your story is good.
Starting the Story
- Start with a catchy beginning, but don't get deep into detail and action. When you just hint and foreshadow, it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Make sure that as you go, start sprinkling in more hints, and start adding good detail about small features of the main character. Like this:Her aquamarine eyes glittered like brilliantly shined gemstones in the shadowy half-light.
- Write the exposition of the story. That's when characters are introduced and setting is introduced. Short stories usually follow the format in these steps.
Writing the Main Part of the Story
- Transition to writing the rising action. Think about the climax while you write it.
- Put plenty of juice in your writing. Readers love details. But don't go overboard. If you go down to the very fibers that make up the rotting rug in the old shack, then your audience will think you're trying too hard to impress them.
- Don't have your story go on forever. You lose your readers, and that's not good for you or them. Have your story be about five or six pages long. Think of it from the audience's perspective, and cut out some of the extra details, like a couple of details describing something of the past, or of the present scene.
Finalizing the Story
- Write the climax. Make your climax dramatic and interesting. It should be the turning point in your story!
- Continue with the falling action. This should consist of only a few, less dramatic events.
- Write your conclusion/resolution. This should tie up all loose ends, or at least leave the reader happy!
Reviewing the Story
- Let family/friends/teachers read and edit your writing. Listen to all constructive criticism.
- Read your story often to ensure it is how you want it to be.
- Type up a final copy. Show it off to everyone!
Writing Help
Doc:Short Horror Story,Short Literary Story,Short Love Story
Tips
- Characterize your characters with dialogue, appearance, thoughts, and/or actions.
- Add lots of details for setting.
- Be careful of "fluff" or extra words and descriptions that have no bearing on your story. Edit out extraneous information wherever you see it so that your story remains meaningful to the reader.
- When you're stuck, don't just drop the story; keep writing.
- Friends and family are a sometimes a wonderful source of inspiration and support. They can also help point out minor errors you've overlooked. Show appreciation for their help and input, but resist the urge to change your style or topics to please them.
- Make everything in the story matter, right down to the slightest description of movement.
- Be careful whom you let read and critique your work. Anyone can be a critic, but not everyone knows how to give constructive criticism. Join a writing group and just listen to the interactions between writers to better understand what advice is helpful and what can be disregarded.
- Join a writing group, either online or in person, or even take a well recommended class, but remember that creativity requires taking chances and going out on a limb sometimes. You may not find support or encouragement when you share your work; use everything you hear as encouragement to carry on.
Things You'll Need
- Pencil and paper if doing rough draft by hand
- Computer
- Family/friends/teachers
- Short stories to read
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