How to Write a Short Story..

Here, I will share with you the know-hows in writing a good short story. So, here goes…

Number one:

It is advisable not to start off your story with a statement about what’s going on in the world around the main character. 

For example, ‘The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silent glow upon us’, ‘The storm howled like a widow mourning over the death of her love’, etc, etc… Two words: Bor- ing! 

No, readers crave for action in your story, and the best place to give them what they need is at the start.

For example, ‘I ran as fast as I could, holding on to my dear life through the woods.’ Immediately, your readers will be prompted to ask important questions like: why are you running? Is your mother chasing you with a frying pan in her hand… again? 

Number two:

Use the active voice in every sentence of your story. Or at least try. With the active voice, you can see that your character has more power as the story unravels. 

Active voice: I slapped him.

Now let’s try that with the passive voice: he was slapped by me.

Can you see the difference, that I seem to have more power in the active voice?

Number three:

No jargons. I repeat. No jargons. Jargons are technical terms used in certain fields, such as science, business, law, save your story. 

People like it simple, so stop sounding like a scientist, or a lawyer.

For example: I responded to his punch by producing a fist to his face. 

Are you trying to describe an experiment here?

Number four:

Refrain from using excessive amounts of adjectives and adverbs in your story. It’s like icing on a cake, and let me tell you, too much of it could ruin your appetite. I’ve been there.

Example: The wizened tree stood there like a silent sentinel, oblivious to the harsh, barren world around it.

Now let’s try that without the ‘icing’:

The tree stood, oblivious to the world around it.

Now, isn’t that a lot better? In the fast-paced world we’re all living in, it seems that no one has the time, or energy, to concentrate on every adjective or adverb you use in your story. Cut to the chase, don’t bore your readers.

Number five:

With a good start, you must also prepare your readers for a good ending. Avoid using quotes; it’s so cliched I feel sick just thinking about it. Prepare your readers for an unexpected end to your story. Don’t be too abrupt, though, by killing your main character for no conceivable reason.

If I’m missing anything, or if you find something in this article a contradiction to what you believe in, just leave a comment. I’m all ears. Or eyes.