{"id":1446,"date":"2019-09-10T22:38:30","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T21:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.writingroutines.com\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2019-09-10T22:38:30","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T21:38:30","slug":"five-steps-toward-great-short-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.writingroutines.com\/five-steps-toward-great-short-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Steps Toward a Great Short Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re just starting in your writing career or looking to expand into a new format, short stories make an excellent and often profitable fiction-writing pursuit. An engaging story of 1000-8000 words can highlight your storytelling skills while drawing in readers eager to become lifelong fans of your work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make no mistake\u2014these stories aren\u2019t easy to write just because they\u2019re short. When you pack so much into so little space, you\u2019ll face the potential of having your story spin out of control. Sometimes, these concepts turn into full-length novels. Other times, they end up half-completed drafts on your hard drive, unfinished due to a lack of planning or motivation.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re far less likely to abandon your work when you\u2019ve properly planned. Furthermore, knowing some general rules about what makes a great short story will give you a focus point as you work through your first draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

This five-step process isn\u2019t an iron-clad list of rules or a mandate for everything you do. It\u2019s merely a guide for you to use as you start thinking of your next story. When you understand how to make your writing work for your style, you\u2019ll be more productive well into the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. What Inspires You?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The conciseness of short stories makes them among the most personal of fiction genres. With a limited word count, you won\u2019t be able to craft an immense Fantasy world or explain the history of space travel in your\u00a0sci-fi universe. Instead, writers of short stories hone in on smaller experiences\u2014a single day in a small town, a childhood memory, or a crime committed and exposed by the end of the tale.<\/span><\/p>\n

The very best short stories take these normal incidents and add a page turning twist, even if they only last a few pages. Shirley Jackson\u2019s small town in \u201cThe Lottery<\/a>\u201d is anything but normal, and the wrenching reality exposed by the end made it <\/span>The New Yorker\u2019s <\/span><\/i>most controversial story of all time. Stephen King brings us into an idyllic forest in his \u201cThe Man In The Black Suit<\/a>\u201d before drawing out his trademark horror in his award-winning short. And Edgar Allan Poe\u2019s \u201cThe Tell-Tale Heart<\/a>\u201d adds a psychological element to a murder tale that influenced authors for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are among the most famous short stories of all time, yet they don\u2019t have a single origin for their storylines. Instead, each tale comes from the author\u2019s particular interests and style. When you read Nabokov or Hurston or Cheever, you <\/span>know <\/span><\/i>it\u2019s them within the first few paragraphs.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say you can\u2019t write short stories that are wildly different, spanning genres and time periods and content. You\u2019re free to write whatever you like\u2014you\u2019re a writer, after all. The key, however, is in deciding what makes <\/span>your <\/span><\/i>story unique. What ideas inspire you, either throughout your entire life or more recently in current events? What incidents do you remember from growing up, good and bad? How can you take your own thoughts and experiences and turn them into something that will wrap up in under 10,000 words?<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a challenge, to be sure. Yet the best way to start a stellar writing career is by knowing yourself first.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Know Your Characters (Or Don\u2019t)<\/span><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s an interesting trade off when it comes to short stories, especially when compared to longer works. We can\u2019t get to know your characters entirely too well, unless they recur across stories, or are adapted from previous works. When it comes to creating (and perhaps ending) a character in a single brief narrative, you\u2019re working with the time you have, and nothing more.<\/p>\n

Yet this opens up a bit of freedom. While creating character sheets ahead of time may help you plot, readers will find too much detail a waste of time. In fact, holding back information about a character, as well as their situation and background, can create an atmosphere of mystery, provoking a reaction from your reader by the time they finish your story.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few facets of your main character(s) should stand out, whether they be symbolic physical traits or background details revealed in the course of the story. Don\u2019t make the mistake of creating too much exposition in the beginning; instead, draw in your reader with one or two intriguing details, then let your characters move, speak, and act their way to the conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, you\u2019ll have to know where you\u2019re going first\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Outline Your Way<\/span><\/h3>\n

With apologies to all the pantser purists out there, you need some kind of outline when you pen a short story. A rambling short story turns into a novel at best and a forgotten writing exercise at worst.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need a fully-crafted outline that lists every detail down to the characters\u2019 blood type\u2014unless being O-negative is relevant to the story. What you do need is an outline that works for you. This can be a post-it note with bullet points that list of the main beats of the story, or a template you found online, or anything that sets out the main details in a way you prefer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be wary of keeping the outline in your head. Write the details down somewhere where you can reference them as you type. Continuity errors and plot holes may be less frequent in short stories compared to longer works, but the flow of the story is more essential. Get your thoughts down and feel free to edit them as you go along. A Word document works perfectly fine, though some authors prefer the tactility of a dry erase board, or enjoy rearranging scenes and ideas with post-its.<\/span><\/p>\n

Above all, make sure your method works best for you. When you feel as though you\u2019ve got your thoughts down in a way you can use, move on. The outline is there to help you write\u2014it won\u2019t be published on its own.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Hone In On Setting<\/span><\/h3>\n

Think back to your favorite short story. No matter the author, time period, or subject matter, one facet stands out: a memorable setting.<\/span><\/p>\n

This can be a specific region in the real-world, the way Lauren Goff so expertly illustrates the state in her anthology <\/span>Florida<\/a>. <\/span><\/i>It can be a locked room or single location, as Edgar\u00a0Allan\u00a0Poe preferred, particularly in stories like \u201cThe Fall of the House of Usher<\/a>.\u201d Even authors like O. Henry\u2014more famous for his twists than anything else\u2014used setting to its greatest advantage, as in this early line from \u201cThe Gift of the Magi<\/a>\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c…we can look at the home. Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 a week. There is little more to say about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

– O. Henry<\/span><\/p>\n

This sparse description of the main character\u2019s home is essential to the story\u2019s twist. While we do get some description of the room later on, the more important aspect is how it reflects the characters. These are people who struggle to survive and live in a place almost unremarkable\u2014yet by remarking on it, Henry draws our attention to their plight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Never pass up an opportunity to do double-duty with your literature. If your setting can reveal character\u2014or vice-versa!\u2014then don\u2019t waste the chance to help your readers see your vision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Short stories are efficient pieces of literature; they need to be tightly-constructed yet detailed when it\u2019s important. A well-realized setting puts images and ideas in your reader\u2019s mind. Quite literally, you\u2019re helping them see what\u2019s great about your story when you establish a firm setting early on.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Structure Your Tale<\/span><\/h3>\n

Short stories remain popular among writers because they\u2019re fertile grounds for experimentation. Authors such as Hemingway, Joyce, Hurston, and Tolstoy used short stories as a way to try out new concepts and ideas that they weren\u2019t quite ready to adopt into a longer novel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Readers are sometimes wary of short stories for the exact same reason. No matter the length, readers expect structure in their narratives, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. You might not set out to spurn these fundamental rules when you write, but you may end up with a meandering yarn if you don\u2019t plan ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything listed above will help you structure you story. The outline can be rearranged to assure your events happen in a sensible, interesting order. Good characters\u2014just a few, perhaps even one\u2014will make decisions your readers\u2019 relate to, because they\u2019ve been fully realized ahead of time. Finally, an intriguing setting motivates its own plot. Your characters and your readers will want to explore the area and find out what\u2019s behind it\u2014or the means of escaping the situation will be enough to drive the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can, however, have all the right ingredients and still end up with a poor dish. If every facet of the story isn\u2019t in the right order, your readers will be left confused.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you write, consider the following details, as well as any other questions that may come to mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Is this character or idea being introduced at the correct time? Would it make more sense to bring this up earlier or later?<\/span><\/li>\n
  • How do my settings change over time? If the characters go to new locations, make sure it\u2019s clear why, and that the change in setting is appropriate.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Where is the beginning, middle, and end? You don\u2019t have to strictly follow Three-Act Structure or have a clear moment demarcating each transition. You do, however, need to provide a sense of progress for your readers. If things aren\u2019t changing, they\u2019ll feel as though nothing\u2019s happening.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • What feeling does my ending create? The ending is either the easiest or the toughest part of your story to nail. Either way, you want to make sure the emotional pay-off is in line with your intentions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    These questions\u2014and there are certainly more\u2014can seem arduous for a writer to grapple with when all they want to do is tell a story. In a way, they are unimportant, but only in the sense that they shouldn\u2019t stop you from writing. The worst-written story in the world can be polished into something good, perhaps even great. A story that\u2019s left unfinished\u2014or not even written at all\u2014never becomes anything good or bad.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Putting It All Together<\/span><\/h2>\n

    You may write the first draft of your story as you plan, or only maintain a list or notes, or not write at all outside of your outline. Whichever method you choose for story planning, at some point, you\u2019ll actually sit down and write your short story.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And then you\u2019ll be finished\u2026 with the first draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

    None of the advice above changes when you have your story set. You still need to have interesting characters, a notable setting, an engaging structure, and answers to your key questions. All of this will be backed up by a solid outline in a story that, hopefully, hasn\u2019t moved too far away from your initial inspiration.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once the first draft is finished (and proofread), you can start editing it yourself or, if you\u2019d like, bring friends and colleagues in to take a look at your work. Expect criticism, but don\u2019t accept anything malicious. Only constructive advice is valid\u2014\u201cthis isn\u2019t good,\u201d or any variation on an insult, <\/span>isn\u2019t <\/span><\/i>advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Your story won\u2019t be the greatest in history. It may not be everything you\u2019d hoped for when you began. Yet with time, effort, and proper planning after these five steps, you\u2019ll have something far better than you did after the first draft. From there, you\u2019ll continue to grow and develop as a writer, mastering your style as your skills slowly improve.<\/span><\/p>\n

    But it all starts with an idea.<\/span><\/p>\n

    So take a moment and think: what inspires you?<\/em><\/p>\n

    Then start writing. There\u2019s no time like now to get started on chasing your literary dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Whether you\u2019re just starting in your writing career or looking to expand into a new format, short stories make an excellent and often profitable fiction-writing pursuit. An engaging story of 1000-8000 words can highlight your storytelling skills while drawing in readers eager to become lifelong fans of your work. Make no mistake\u2014these stories aren\u2019t easy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-non-fiction"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFive Steps Toward a Great Short Story - Writing Routines<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.writingroutines.com\/five-steps-toward-great-short-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five Steps Toward a Great Short Story - Writing Routines\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re just starting in your writing career or looking to expand into a new format, short stories make an excellent and often profitable fiction-writing pursuit. 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