For many writers, short stories or short stories are a very fitting medium. Unlike writing a novel which is a tough job, anyone can write a short story and – most importantly – finish it. Like a novel, a good short story will make the reader touched and entertained. By gathering ideas, drafting them, and tidying them up, you can immediately learn to write good short stories.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Gathering Ideas
Step 1. Create a plot or scenario
Think about the story that will be made and what will happen in the story. Consider what you are trying to convey or illustrate. Decide on the approach or point of view in the story.
- For example, you could start with a simple plot, for example, the main character has to deal with bad news or the main character gets an unpleasant visit from a friend or family member.
- You can also try to create a complex plot, such as the main character waking up in a parallel dimension, or the main character discovering someone else's dark secret.
Step 2. Focus on the complicated main character
Most short stories focus on one or at most two main characters. Imagine a main character who has a clear desire or desire, but is also full of contradictions. Don't just make characters good or bad. Give your main characters interesting traits and feelings so that they feel complex and whole.
- You can use real people in your life as inspiration for the main character. Or you could observe strangers in public and use their characteristics for your main character.
- For example, maybe your main character is a teenage girl who wants to protect her little sister from bullies at her school, but also wants to be accepted by her other friends at school. Or maybe your main character is a lonely old man who starts to make friends with his neighbors, but turns out to be involved in illegal activities.
Step 3. Create a central conflict for the main character
Every good short story has a central conflict, that is, the main character has to face a problem. Present the conflict for the main character at the beginning of your short story. Make your main character's life difficult or hard.
For example, maybe your character has a passion or desire that is difficult to fulfill. Or maybe your main character is caught in a bad or dangerous situation and has to find a way to survive
Step 4. Choose an interesting background
Another key element in a short story is the setting or place where the story takes place. You can use one main setting for the short story and add background details to the characters in the story. Choose a background that appeals to you so that you can make it appealing to the reader.
- For example, build a story at a high school in your hometown. Or build a story in a small colony on Mars.
- Don't try to give too much content with different backgrounds so as not to confuse the reader. Usually, one to two settings is sufficient for one short story.
Step 5. Think of a specific theme
Many short stories center on a single theme and explore it from the point of view of the narrator or main character. You could take a broad theme like “love,” “want,” or “loss,” and think about it from your main character's point of view.
You could also focus on a specific theme such as “love between siblings”, “the desire to build friendships”, or “losing a parent”
Step 6. Design an emotional climax
Every good short story has a surprising moment when the main character reaches an emotional peak. The climax usually occurs at the end of the story or near the end of the story. At the climax, the main character feels overwhelmed, trapped, hopeless, or even out of control.
For example, create an emotional climax when the main character, a lonely old man, has to fight with his neighbors about his illegal activities. Or create an emotional climax when the main character, a teenage girl, protects her sister against the bullies at her school
Step 7. Design a twist ending or surprise
Come up with ending ideas that will surprise, shake, or intrigue your readers. Avoid endings that are too obvious so the reader can guess the ending beforehand. Give readers a false sense of security when they think they can guess the ending, then direct their attention to another character or surprising picture.
Avoid gimmicks at the end of the story, i.e. don't rely on clichéd or familiar plot twists to surprise readers. Build suspense and suspense in the story so that your readers will be surprised when they reach the end of the story
Step 8. Read examples of short stories
Learn what makes a short story successful and attracts readers by looking at examples from skilled writers. Read short stories from several genres, from literary fiction, science fiction, to fantasy. Notice how the author uses characters, themes, settings, and plots to create a great effect on his short story. You can read:
- “The Lady with the Dog” by Anton Chekhov
- “Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You” by Alice Munro
- “For Esme-With Love and Squalor” by J. D. Salinger
- “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
- “Snow, Apple, Glass” by Neil Gaiman
- "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx
- “Wants” by Grace Paley
- “Apollo” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- “This is How You Lose Her” by Junot Diaz
- “Seven” by Edwidge Danticat
Part 2 of 3: Creating the First Draft
Step 1. Create a plot outline
Arrange the plot of the short story in five parts: exposition, beginning, plot up, climax, plot down, and resolution. Use an outline as a reference when writing short stories to ensure there is a clear beginning, content, and ending.
You can also use the snowflake method; namely a one-sentence summary, a one-paragraph summary, a synopsis of all the characters in the story, and a scene table
Step 2. Create a catchy opener
The opening of the short story must have an action, conflict, or unusual picture to attract the attention of the reader. Introduce the main character and setting to the reader in the first paragraph. Get the reader into the theme or idea of the story.
- Opening sentences such as, for example: “I felt alone that day” don't tell the reader much about the narrator and are too mundane or uninteresting.
- Try making an opening sentence like this: "The day my wife left me, I knocked on the neighbor's door to ask if she had sugar for a cake I might not be baking." This sentence tells the reader about previous conflicts, his wife leaving, and the tension between the narrator and his neighbors.
Step 3. Use only one point of view
Short stories usually use the first person point of view and only use one point of view. This helps the short story to have a clear focus and perspective. You can also write short stories from a third person point of view, although this can create some distance between you and the reader.
- Some stories are written in second person, when the narrator uses the word "you." It is usually only used when the second person is important to the narrative, for example in Ted Chiang's short story, "Story of Your Life," or Junot Diaz's short story, "This is How You Lose Her."
- Most short stories are written in the past tense, although you can write them in the present tense to give a contemporary feel.
Step 4. Use dialogue to reveal characters and move the plot
Dialogue in a short story must always tell more than one thing. Make sure the dialogue invites the reader to get to know the character who is talking and adds something to the plot of the story. Use dialogue verbs to reveal characters and add tension to a scene or conflict.
- For example, instead of writing sentences like, "Hey, how are you?" try writing in your character's voice. You could write, "Hey, how are you?" or “Where have you been? How many years have we not seen each other?”
- Try to use dialogue details like “he stutters,” “I grumbled,” or “he screams” into character. Instead of writing " 'Where have you been?' he said", it is better " 'Where have you been?' he insisted" or "'Where have you been?' he shouted."
Step 5. Include sensory details into the background
Think about the atmosphere, sound, taste, smell, and what the main character sees. Draw the setting using your senses so that it feels alive to the reader.
For example, you might try to describe your former school as a “giant factory-like building that reeks of sock sweat, hair spray, missed dreams, and chalk.” Or you could try describing the sky in your home as “a blank sheet filled with thick, black smoke from the wildfires near the house early in the morning.”
Step 6. End with an awareness or disclosure
Awareness or disclosure does not have to be massive and blatant. You can do it subtly, when your character starts to change or sees things differently. You can end the story with a revelation that is open to interpretation or resolved and clear.
- You can also end with an interesting picture or dialogue that reveals the character changes.
- For example, end the story when the main character decides to report his neighbor, even if it means he will lose a friend. Or describe the ending with the main character carrying his battered little brother walking home, just before dinner.
Part 3 of 3: Smoothing the Draft
Step 1. Read your short story aloud
Listen for the sound of each sentence, especially the dialogue part. Notice if the storyline flows well from paragraph to paragraph. Check for odd sentences or phrases and underline them so they can be revised later.
- Notice if your story follows the plot outline and there is a clear conflict in the main characters.
- Reading a story aloud can also help spot spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
Step 2. Revise your short story to make it clearer and flowing
Most short stories are between 1,000 and 7,000 words, or between one and ten pages in length. Don't be afraid to cut scenes or omit sentences to shorten and compress the story. Make sure you include important details and moments in the story you want to tell.
For short stories, usually the shorter the better. Don't stick to a sentence that says nothing or a scene that serves no purpose just because you like it. Don't be afraid to condense the story once it's delivered
Step 3. Find a catchy title
Most editors, and readers, will look at the title of the story first to determine if they want to continue reading. Choose a title that will pique the curiosity or interest of the reader and encourage them to read the actual story. Use a theme, description, or character name from the story as the title.
- For example, Alice Munro's title "Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You" is a good example because it quotes characters in the story and greets the reader directly, when "I" want to share something with the reader.
- The title “Snow, Apple, Glass” by Neil Gaiman is also a good example as it depicts three objects that are interesting in themselves, but can become even more interesting when put together in a story.
Step 4. Let others read and criticize your short story
Show your short stories to friends, family members, and colleagues at school. Ask them if your story is emotional or engaging. Be open to constructive criticism from others because it can strengthen your story.
- You can also join a writers group and submit your short story for a workshop. Or you could start a writers group with friends so you can rate each other's work.
- Once you get feedback from other people, try to revise the short story so that it becomes the best possible draft.
