Short stories are a popular form of fiction that you can read in one sitting. They have a beginning, middle, and end, but usually, only a little more than that. They often express a theme or idea without bogging it down with unnecessary details.
So even if they are short, they have the power to delight and intrigue, and they can also grab your heart and make you feel. Short stories are a fantastic medium for storytelling and can be used to explore a wide range of themes and ideas.
But short stories are also a lot more challenging to write and edit than novels. A novel has room for subplots, character development, and world-building. A short story has little luxury. Short story editing and writing might seem daunting for many writers and editors, especially those who have never before taken a crack at doing one, but believe it or not, you can do it.
This article will cover tips for improving your short story writing and editing skills. So if you are a writer looking to improve your writing skills? Or you’re an editor looking to hone your writing and editing skills. Either way, these tricks, and techniques can significantly improve your short fiction.
What is a Short Story?
Short stories can be a fun medium to work in. They allow you to get your creative juices flowing and let you flex your writing muscles. They can also be an excellent way to make extra money if you’re looking for a second job or want something less time-consuming than an entire novel. Still, what is a short story? Here are some basic definitions.
A short story is a work of fantasy more concise than a novel or novella. Most are between 1,500 and 10,000 words long, but the exact length depends on what you want to achieve with the story and what kind of publication it will appear in. Thus, the word “short” does not necessarily mean that the story is simple or lacking in detail: what distinguishes a short story from longer fiction is the amount of time required to read it.
In the 21st century, the print-based short story has declined in popularity in favor of the digital format. In their place, online publishing platforms like Wattpad have become popular venues for writers to share their work with an audience. Read below for some quick tips and tricks to start writing a short story.
4 Steps to Write a Short Story
When writing a short story, you must make every word count. So here are some tips that can help you perfect your short story writing skills.
Have a workable plot.
A short story should be concise, with no wasted words or descriptions. It should have the following:
- a beginning
- a middle
- an end
So, ensure your plot is logical and cohesive, with one central conflict throughout the story that resolves at the end. “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant is an excellent example. In this story, Mathilde Loisel meets Madame Forestier at a party and borrows her beautiful necklace for the evening.
The next day the necklace falls off her dress into the mud and ruins it. After that, she loses track of Madame Forestier until many years later when she sees her again at another party wearing the same necklace.
She realizes that Madame Forestier has never taken off the necklace since she lent it so long ago, and now she has to buy one just like it so as not to be embarrassed by wearing something inferior. This story illustrates how appearances are essential and how arrogance can get in the way of happiness.
Flesh out your characters
Flesh out your characters by thinking about their motivations, desires, and goals.
It will help them seem more realistic and believable as they interact with each other in different situations throughout the story.
You don’t need to have vast casts of characters like you might see in novels or even longer short stories. Instead, choose a few essential characters for your account and focus on those individuals.
If you have too many characters, it can be challenging for readers to keep up with who’s who and why they matter or don’t.
Create a setting that resonates with readers
Short stories are often based in one location so think about your favorite movie or TV show where most of the action takes place in one area.
There’s usually only one main character involved in the plot. It makes it easier for writers to focus on building an engaging setting rather than trying to develop multiple characters and locations at once.
So the setting is one of the essential parts of a story. It’s where all the action takes place, and all your characters live.
If done well, the setting can add depth and meaning to your story by helping readers understand the characters’ motivations and vice versa.
Focus on the writing style
The most prevalent mistake people make when writing short stories is using the third-person perspective.
It’s easier to tell a story from an outside perspective than from within the character’s head. But while this is true, it also makes your account less attractive.
The first-person perspective allows you to delve into your protagonist’s mind and get to know them intimately.
You also have the opportunity to show how they change over time, which adds depth and complexity to your tale.
Final Thoughts:
You know, an excellent short story when you read it, it’s when the plot is tight, the characters are complex, and the language is vivid. As a newbie writer, it’s easy to get lost and feel daunted by everything you must do.
But you can feel confident about preparing and submitting a short story for publication when you know what to do. Writing is always a challenging but rewarding experience, so don’t let the process intimidate you. But like this article, many resources are available to help you craft a story.
