There are several reasons why authors love to write short stories. Sometimes they view it as an outlet for their creative writing itch. Others prefer it because it takes less time to write a short story as opposed to a novel. There is also the idea of using short stories as practice for those who wish to write their own novel in the future. Occasionally, writers will become blocked during the course of their short story endeavor. If this is happening to you, there are a few tips you can use to get your creative juices flowing and turn your short story into something of value.
Brainstorm an Idea
Before you even begin the writing process, you need to brainstorm the main idea. Ideas can be found almost anywhere if you look close enough. Observe the world around you or pull from your personal experiences for characters and the overall plot. Once you have an idea, you can start writing because as many authors will tell you, finding a good idea is the most difficult part of creating any piece of literature.
Form an Outline
After you have idea in place, you can form an outline. Since you are writing a short story, the outline does not need to be large. Simply jot down several points that will give your story a general direction and of course, do not forget about your characters. Think about your characters' personalities and how they will influence the story line. Remember, the plot, conflict, and resolution are the three main aspects of any story.
Keep the Writing Flowing
As you are writing, it is usually not a good idea to stop and edit as this interrupts the train of thought. The best part about short stories is that they do not take as much time to write and therefore, you will not have to spend as much time editing. However, if you feel as if a plot point should be changed while you are writing, feel free to do so. This prevents you from wasting time with multiple rewrites.
Edit the Story
The second to last step in short story writing is the editing process. Many editors and authors recommend that writers walk away from their finished story and take a few hours to an entire day before editing. Doing this allows you to see your work with fresh eyes and subsequently, catch more mistakes. Always critique your writing with a professional eye. And if you are not pleased with any part of the story, fix it until it suits your liking. If you do not like it, chances are your readers will not like it either.
Tying Up the Loose Ends
After editing, read your short story for the final time. You need to make sure it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. There should be no stylistic or grammar inconsistencies. Allow someone else to read over your final product for an objective opinion. After your story has been polished until it shines, you can put it with your other writing samples and submit it to publications.
On Writing Short Stories On Writing Short Stories is a unique collection of original essays by seven professional writers. It is the only text of its kind to offer writing advice from such authors, editors, and instructors as Francine Prose, Joyce Carol Oates, Frank Conroy, Andre Dubus, Robert Coles, Tom Bailey, and C.
$40.45
Great Short Stories by American Women (Dover Thrift Editions) Choice collection of 13 stories includes "Life in the Iron Mills" by Rebecca Harding Davis, Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat," plus superb fiction by Kate Chopin, Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, many others.
The Best American Short Stories 1990 (Best American Short Stories) The number one story anthology in America continues to grow in popularity. Here in a single volume is the finest short fiction of the year, selected by Richard Ford, the eminent novelist, short story writer, and essayist.
This three-CD compilation features some of the best short stories from National Public Radio's Selected Shorts , an award-winning series of classic and contemporary short fiction read
The Granta Book of the American Short Story The Granta Book of the American Short Story is a selection of the best works of American short fiction published in the last 50 years. Stories featured here include “A Day in the Open” by Jane Bowles; “Blackberry Winter” by Robert Penn Warren; “O City of Broken Dreams” by John Cheever;
$12.71
No Easy Answers: Short Stories About Teenagers Making Tough Choices This anthology features stories about individuals who find themselves in situations that test their strength of character. They are called upon to make moral choices, face the consequences of their actions, and consider what it means to "do the right thing. " From computer blackmail, peer pressure,
$6.99
Tolstoy's Short Fiction, Second Edition (Norton Critical Editions) The short stories included in this volume, written between 1855 and 1905, represent the best of Tolstoy's shorter works both before War and Peace and after Anna Karenina . The Louise and Aylmer Maude translations of Tolstoy's short fiction have been revised by Michael R. Katz for increased
RSS feed of this page
