Tips for Writing Short Stories
Most of us will never be as talented as say Edgar Allen Poe, but that doesn’t mean that you are incapable of becoming a skilled writer of short stories. Writing short stories is a great way to express your thoughts, dreams and creativity on paper. And the best part is that you are writing for yourself and no one else. You can feel free to completely botch things up and no one will be there to judge you for it. If you’re completely new to writing, starting your story or choosing a focus can be incredibly difficult. Check out my tips and suggestions below.
First come up with an idea. It’s much easier to start out with a plan than to just write out of nowhere. If you’re struggling for ideas, think about interesting people you’ve met in your lifetime or strange dreams you’ve had in the past. Brainstorm as many ideas as you can and then think of ways that you can incorporate one of them into a narrative. Once you’ve come up with a topic, you should then structure your short story. Create a very basic outline of the theme. It can be anywhere from a few lines to a whole page. It’s best to start the story out with a specific situation in mind. Create a problem or dilemma that must be resolved by the protagonist of the story. Then present the problems that can or do occur as a result. And finally end with a conclusion or solution to the initial problem. Next you should define the time span of your story. Because you are forming a short story, it can be rather limiting. In general, covering a short period of time will make it easier to convey your overall message. It can be a short moment in the protagonists life, an hour or a whole day. It just depends on how descriptive you want to be. Now choose a setting for your story. Try to avoid cliché settings like cemeteries for horror stories. You can have a very dynamic and frightening horror story that doesn’t take place in a cemetery. Choosing a normal setting that readers are familiar with will be much more appealing to their senses. Choose your characters. In general, around three or less characters is ideal for a short story. Anything more will be too complicated to describe in detail. Begin writing. You should have a rough idea of your plot already on paper. Its best to begin your story with a eye-catching statement and some vivid imagery. This will draw reader’s attention in. As you continue to add to your story, avoid moving too quickly, but also avoid moving to slowly. You shouldn’t spend several valuable pages describing a vintage bird cage or a strand of hair. You are pressed for space, so every word and every sentence should be vital to the plot. You want the and make sure that there is a clear beginning, middle and end. This will help with the writing process.
- Kasan Groupe
