Tips for Writing a Short Story
Title for the Story:
- Take time to craft a strong title.
- Note words or phrases from the story and determine which might work for a good title.
- Stay away from one- or two-word titles, as they seem to be taking the easy way out.
Basic Plan for the Story:
- The story can arise from an event, conflict, or situation.
- Present problems that can occur.
- Show how the problems can be solved.
Theme for the Story:
- Start with a message or thread of meaning to run through the story.
- Make sure every word is related to the theme, excessive words dilute the impact of the story.
Time Span for the Story:
- Because of the short length, the time span must be very short.
- Have the time span be a single event, a single day, or a single hour.
Setting for the Story:
- Choose the setting carefully.
- Appeal to the five senses to make the setting more real.
Characters in the Story:
- Try to have no more than three main characters in a short story, better to have one or two.
- Stick to one POV (Point of View).
- Do not give detailed character background; keep character description to no more than one single paragraph.
- Use only the characteristics that are most important for the story’s theme.
Dialogue in the Story:
- It must contribute to the main story focus.
Plot in the Story:
- Begin with a hook in the first paragraph that makes the reader want to know what happens next.
- There must be a beginning, a middle, and an end.
- Do not take too much time for build-up so that the climax ends up being only one sentence.
- Complications and conflicts should be only minor because of the story length.