Tips on Writing Short Stories

If one day you intend to write the novel that’s always been inside you bursting to see the light of day, writing short stories is a good way to start. Writing, like any other art, can be improved with practice. A short story isn’t as daunting a prospect as a 100,000 word novel. It can be more of a slice of life with fewer events than a novel which may contain several intertwined plots; the challenge in the short story is to create a tale that has a powerfully emotive, uplifting or stimulating affect on the reader in a very short span of words.

Writing short stories is an ideal way to get you thinking about plot, structure and planning. Here are a few tips to bear in mind when considering the theme and stratagem of your short story:

• Plots should be simple. A story-line that covers a long period with many different scenes is more suitable for a novel than short story.
• Characters should be kept to a minimum. There is plenty space in a novel to develop many characters but for the limited word length of a short story, the fewer the characters the better.
• Never underestimate the importance of the first few lines. A short story needs to attract the readers instant interest. A novel might build up tension and atmosphere, the short story should start at or just before the moment of crisis.
• Avoid lengthy explanations at the end of the story or this will bore the reader.

You might also try to include a surprise or two in your tale to keep the reader interested right up to the very end.