Short stories allow writers to practice storytelling without the complexity of a novel. Starting with a simple idea and asking “what if?” is key. Developing an interesting main character is important, and brevity is key. Editing is necessary to keep the reader engaged, and a flawless first paragraph is crucial.
Short stories offer an aspiring writer an opportunity to flex their storytelling muscles without having to plot and plan a full novel or longer story. The storylines are generally simpler and less intricate, although the characters can be just as complex and complete as the longer stories. To write a short story, start with a simple idea, then ask yourself the key question: “What if?”
The “what if” question is the writer’s first step when deciding to write a short story. Novelists often use this same technique, but the short story writer has to think in simpler terms: What if my main character loses a loved one? What if my main character falls in love? What if my main character is attacked by a bear? When writing a short story, imagine a person or situation and ask yourself, what if?
However, this technique alone is not sufficient by itself to write a short story. As with any story, you must first develop a main character, and the easiest way to make your story interesting to readers is to make sure the main character is interesting to YOU, the writer. Make sure you can relate to your character, then use your “what if” tactic.
The hardest part for writers writing a short story is to create something interesting and compelling without writing too much. Brevity is key in a short story, but it’s often difficult to keep it short. The solution: write too much and then edit. Short stories are typically five to thirty pages, double-spaced (or about 10,000 words max), but you can write as much as you like.
That’s what a first draft is for. Once you’ve written what you consider to be the end of your story, it’s time to purge anything that doesn’t need to be there. That includes any extraneous detail or exposition — yes, even if it sounds great, even if it’s your best writing.
When writing a short story, it’s important to keep the reader engaged throughout the entire piece, but remember: if your readers aren’t interested in the first line, they won’t read the second line. if they aren’t interested in the second line, they won’t be interested in the first paragraph. And if you haven’t hooked them by the end of the first paragraph, they’ll put your story down. When writing a short story, make sure your first paragraph is flawless; write it, then rewrite it, then rewrite it again. A well-written first paragraph will almost always lead to a short story, so be sure to spend a significant amount of time at the very beginning.
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