How to Write a Short Story Every Day

 

How to Write a Short Story Every Day

A short story is a medium-sized story. Writing a novel can be a Herculean task, whereas a short story can be written and, most importantly, finished by almost anyone. This does not mean that short stories are easy to write, or that they are less artistically valuable than a novel. A well-written short story is just as impressive as a novel. This article will give you some practical tips to inspire and help you write short stories.

Part 1: Writing a Short Story

1.1Collect story ideas.

 Carry a notebook with you to jot down ideas, as inspiration can strike at any time.

• Most of the time, you will only come up with small bits of information, such as an accident that can be used to build a plot, a character's name or appearance, etc. But sometimes, you will be able to come up with an entire story in minutes.
• If you are uninspired or need to write a story quickly (for example, for school), try brainstorming. If you're still stuck, you may need to ask your family or friends for advice.
• Good plots come with experience. Many of Isaac Asimov's stories are based on personal experiences.

1.2. Let's start with the basics of a short story. 

Once you've chosen an idea, you should keep the basics of a short story in mind. Here's a step-by-step guide to a good short story:

• Introduction: main characters, setting, time, weather, etc.
• Primary Action: what gets things started.
• Rising Plot: events leading up to the climax or turning point.
• Climax: the most intense, turning point of the story.
• Final Action: the conclusion of the story.
• Resolution: the end of the story, with or without a resolution to the central conflict. You don't have to write the story in this order. If you have an idea for an ending, write it down. Start with the opening idea (not necessarily the beginning of the story), and ask yourself, "What happens next?" Or "What happened before that?"

1.3. Get inspired by the people around you.

 If you have trouble understanding or describing a character, look around you. You can easily borrow traits from people you know and don't know.

• For example, you may have noticed someone who always drinks coffee, speaks in a loud, booming voice, is always typing on a computer, etc. All of these traits, even from several people, can create an interesting character.

1.4. Know your character. 

For a story to be believable, characters must be believable and realistic. Creating an interesting and realistic character is quite difficult. Here are some tips for creating "real people" for your stories:

• Write a complete description of the character, from their situation to their favorite color. You need to know as much as possible about your characters, from their motivations to their favorite foods. Do they speak with an accent? Do they have specific mannerisms? You won’t include all of this information in your story, but the more you know, the more your characters will come alive for you and the reader.
• Your character doesn’t have to be perfect. Every character should have flaws, problems, and insecurities. You might think that people don’t like it when a character has a lot of flaws, but that’s far from the truth. Batman wouldn’t be the Dark Knight if he weren’t a sociopath.
• People identify with problematic characters because they are realistic. There’s no need to give your character unrealistic or weird traits, although you can certainly do that. For the most part, try to stick to things you know. For example, a character might be nervous, afraid of water, lonely, dislike other people, smoke too much, etc.

1.5 Don't make your story too long. 

A novel can span millions of years and involve multiple storylines, multiple locations, and an army of minor characters. The main events of a story should take place over a short period of time (days or minutes), and you can't develop more than one storyline, two or three main characters, and one action. If your story is too long, it's probably a novella or a novella.

1.6 Who tells the story.

 There are three main options: first person ("I"), second person ("you"), and third person ("he" or "she"). In the first person, the narrator is the character themselves, in the second, the reader, and in the third, an outside narrator narrates. Second-person narrations are rarely used.

• Keep in mind that first-person narrations are limited because they only tell what they know, while third-person narrations can know everything, describe each character's thoughts, or limit themselves to observation.
• Can also be combined. For example, you can switch between first-person narration in one chapter and third-person narration in another, or even have multiple first-person narrators. A great example is the short story Rashomon by Ryunosuke Akutagawa[1], which was later adapted into a film under Akira Kurosawa's name.

1.7. Keeping your thoughts organized is important. 

Once you have the basic elements of your story laid out, it is helpful to jot down a timeline to help you decide what should happen when.

• At the very least, a story should have an introduction, initial action, rise, climax, final action, and resolution. You can keep notes with a very simple outline of what should happen in each of these steps. This will help you focus as you write the story, and will also help you make changes easily and stick to the main plot line.

1.8. Start writing. 

Depending on how thoroughly you have mapped out your plot and characters, the actual writing process may be as simple as choosing the right words.

• However, writing is generally a labor-intensive process. You probably won't know your characters or plot intimately, but that doesn't matter because they'll tell you what they need, even if you back them into a corner. Plus, you can always use a second draft.

1.9. Don't doubt. 

The first page, some would say the first sentence, should grab the reader's attention and keep them reading.

• A quick start is especially important in short stories because you simply don't have enough space. Don't drag your feet describing the characters or the setting. Get straight to the plot, and the descriptions of the characters and setting can be revealed gradually.

1.10. Keep writing. 

You've almost certainly encountered some difficulties along the way to finishing the story. Don't let that stop you. Plan your work on the story, and set a quota (say, a page a day) for each day. Even if you have to throw out what you wrote that day, you've worked on the story, and that will have a positive impact in the long run. • Consider attending a writing workshop or seminar. A great one for writers is Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).[2] Every year, from November 1st to November 30th, you are challenged to write a novel of at least 50,000 words. Greatness and quality don't matter, as long as the goal is writing. For more information, see the links.

1.11. Let your story write itself. 

As you write your story, you may take the plot in a different direction than you had planned, or you may significantly change or remove a character. Listen to your characters; if they tell you to do something different, that may be what you need.

Part 2: Editing a Short Story

2.1. Review and Edit. When you have finished your story, review it and correct any automatic, logical, and semantic errors. In general, make sure that the action, characters, and their problems are introduced and resolved appropriately.

• If you have time, set the story aside for a few days or weeks before editing. Taking some distance from the story will allow you to evaluate it more clearly when editing.

2.2. Get a Second Opinion. Ask a trusted family member or friend to look over your finished story and make corrections or suggestions. Ask them for their real opinion of the story. Give them time to read and think about the story, and give them a copy of the story to take notes on.

• Consider all comments received, not just the ones you like. Thank them for reading the story and do not argue with the opinions they receive.

• Include any corrections, edits, or suggestions you feel are necessary. The story will be better with constructive criticism, but you don’t have to follow all the advice you receive, because not all of it will be good. It’s your story, and you have the final say.

2.3. Don’t give up. You may get frustrated when you run into problems. You may get frustrated, angry at the characters, and feel guilty for killing off a favorite character.

• Know that you will likely doubt your writing abilities sooner or later. This is completely normal. You will feel like you shouldn’t continue and should just give up and work as a waiter. When these thoughts arise, they can easily take over and make you quit writing.

• One of the hardest things a writer can do is to overcome these feelings and keep writing. If you have doubts, feel tired, or feel fed up, stop writing! You can get up, take a walk, get a snack, watch TV, or do something to relax. When you come back, start writing with a fresh mind. If you still don't feel like writing, remind yourself of the good parts of your story, a good paragraph, a well-written dialogue, an interesting character, and congratulate yourself. You are doing something most people are not capable of doing.

• If someone else has read your story, they can also be a source of encouragement. Just tell yourself that you will finish the story because you want to. It doesn't matter if it's not the best story in the world; there will be others. If your goal is to finish the story, then do it.

2.4. Read! Nothing will help you learn to write good stories better than reading good stories. Pay attention to the style and brevity of the writing.

• Reading different authors and styles will help you learn to use different voices for each story and expand your creative potential. Pay attention to how authors describe characters, construct dialogue, and structure plot lines. Here are some suggestions:

• "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov.

• "Steps" by Jerzy Kosinski.

• "The Famous Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain.

• "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber.

• "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury.

• "Three Questions" by Leo Tolstoy.

• "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx.

• "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick.

Note: Many of these stories have been adapted into films or have inspired other famous works. For example, the science fiction story "A Sound of Thunder" has been republished a record number of times and introduces us to the "butterfly effect." Philip K. Dick's stories have been translated into Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall (We Can Remember It All for You Wholesale), Minority Report (Minority Report), A Scanner Darkly (A Scanner Darkly), and many more.

Tips

• The ending of a story can be a cliffhanger. What really happened to Douglas Quayle (Quaid) at the end of We Can Remember It All for You Wholesale (Total Recall?)?
• Create your own style. With practice, your own unique voice will emerge in your writing. You can start by imitating other writers or a particular genre. Eventually, you just have to write, and your own voice will emerge.
• There should be at least two timelines in a story. There is the order in which the events happened, and there is the order in which you present the events to the reader. The timelines do not have to match.
• If you are having trouble brainstorming, try drawing a diagram or table; create about five basic sentences for your story. It can also help to write down whatever comes to mind for 5-30 minutes.
• Brainstorm before you start writing.
• If you feel like stopping writing a particular story, make sure there are very good reasons for doing so, not just excuses. If you have a temporary block, keep working. Sometimes, you may come up with a much better idea. You can start working on a new idea, but if this buWarnings
• Don't be discouraged. If you're trying to get your short story published, you'll probably get rejected. Rejection is a big part of being a writer, sometimes it's justified and sometimes it's not. Be proud of the fact that you finished the story, and write more if you enjoy it.
• Short stories are the hardest kind of fiction. You have to do what a novel would do (introduce characters, create conflict, develop characters, resolve conflict) in twenty or thirty pages. Respect the genre. It's not easy.
• Don't forget about spelling and grammar. Show readers that you know what you're doing. At the very least, run the story through a spellchecker and grammar checker. It may not catch every mistake, but it will reduce the number.
• An idea is not copyrightable, only the expression of an idea is. Also, there are many ways things can go. Don't be afraid to build on the general outlines of masterpieces, all writers do that.
• Don't be too proud of your story, as it can be very disappointing if it's rejected. Be professional and don't identify yourself with the story.
• Don't be lazy in your writing. Don't end the story in a way that misleads the reader. A cliffhanger ending is fine if you plan to write a sequel, or, as in the case of "We Can Remember Everything for You Wholesale," the cliffhanger is an integral part of the story.

HOW TO END A SHORT STORY

Short stories (provided they are well written) are refreshing little treats that can help you escape the daily grind without having to read a huge novel. If you've already worked out the basics of your story and don't know what to do next, remember that even the best writers have had similar difficulties at times.

Part 1:

• Reread everything you have written so far. This will help refresh your memory and allow you to determine what you already have and what still needs to be added. Ask yourself a few questions as you read:

• What is the purpose of this story? In other words, what do you want your readers to realize as a result of reading it?

• Do you want an abrupt or unexpected ending? Do you want to leave the ending uncertain, unfinished? Or would you like to end your story with the happiest ending possible?

•  Consider the genre of the story you have written. Is it literary fiction? Science fiction? Romance? The genre of your story can help you determine the most appropriate ending. The ending should tie into what the rest of your story has promised your readers.[1] • If you are unsure of what ending is typical for the genre you have chosen, look at a popular author (such as Stephen King (horror) or Flannery O'Connor (literary fiction)) and read a few of their works. You can learn a lot just by studying the endings in other authors' works.

• Work out the structure of your story. Write short descriptive phrases that summarize each scene and important turning points. For example: "Leonid goes to the store for bread, but soon discovers that he has forgotten his wallet at home; he returns to meet a stranger on his porch." This will help establish the "skeleton" of the story: what exactly is happening and to whom exactly, and so on - all of this will come in handy when deciding on an ending.

Part 2: Put Your Story on Paper

Work through possible ideas using the brainstorming technique. At this stage, there is absolutely no need to strive to get completely finished and verified sentences. The goal is to explore a variety of possibilities, so write down any ideas you have, no matter how vague, silly, or unconventional they may seem at first. There are many different ways to generate ideas, so it's worth trying out a few and seeing which works best for you!

2.1 You might find it helpful to draw a "mind map," either with pencil and paper or on the computer. Start with what you know (characters, events, settings) and assign each element to its own oval. Start adding details and questions, drawing connecting lines between the ovals to show the connections between ideas.[2]

You might also try writing some key words on index cards or small slips of paper. Practice arranging these cards in different combinations and see if you like the other options!

Test your work. Think about your ideas, look again at themes, images, recurring aspects. Are there any ideas or characters that seem particularly important? Most likely, in the end you will have to work through them.

2.2. If you have questions about the direction of your story, try making a list of everything your characters want. Characters with strong ambitions or needs attract the attention of the audience. [3] The famous author Kurt Vonnegut once said, "Every character should want something, even if it's just a glass of water." [4] Ask yourself: Did the characters get what they wanted? What might happen next, given the characters' current circumstances?

If you still can't come up with an ending, try to figure out what specific problems or themes your story touches on. If the problem still exists, answer the question: How can it be solved? [5] (You might come up with something like the Harry Potter books: if the problem is that Voldemort wants to take over the world, what should the ending be?)

2.3. Present the material in free writing. Once you have decided on the direction you want your story to go and have some ideas, sit down and just write non-stop for 30 minutes or so. Try to write out the entire ending, but don't worry about the grammar or spelling. Focus on getting your ideas into an organized form.[6]

• You may find it helpful to set an alarm. Once your time is up, take a break and then come back to what you have written.

• Choose a quiet place where you won't be distracted and can focus on your writing.

• Try writing for 30 minutes without stopping to edit. What you come up with will probably not be pretty, but it is still helpful to get the whole idea down in one piece, without interrupting your flow.

Part 3: Putting It All Together

3.1. Select the best ideas from those generated through brainstorming and free-form writing. Make sure that your ideas are consistent with the rest of the story you have written. For example, a happy ending might work for a romance story, but it probably wouldn’t work for a horror story.

3.2. Compare your possible ending to the plot outline you developed in Part 1. Make sure that the ending you choose tells your readers what they want to know. Don’t leave things hanging. For example, if one of your characters is about to have surgery in the middle of the story, your readers will likely want to know how it went.[7]

3.3. Respect your reader. Author Kurt Vonnegut advised “to use a stranger’s time in such a way that he won’t feel that he has wasted it.”[8] Endings such as "it was like a fairy tale" or "they all died together" are generally not suitable, as they almost never resolve conflicts or provide a proper logical conclusion, and this can make your reader feel cheated.[9]

• Avoid deus ex machine endings, literally meaning "God in the machine". In such endings (in order to help the character overcome an obstacle), something happens at the very last moment: for example, a detective in a gripping story solves his problem only thanks to a call from a mysterious person who knows the answers to all the questions.[10]

3.4. Make sure that your ending fits the internal logic you have established in the story. Try not to "change the rules" for the reader. For example, if your heroine never wanted to get married, but at the end of the story she still changes her mind, then make sure that the reasons for this decision are traced throughout the story, and do not just appear out of nowhere.

3.5 Describe the final events using concise sentences. For example: "Marina went to the closet; listened to the noise inside; trying to overcome her fear, she suddenly grabbed the handle and opened the door, a mouse ran out of the closet, and Marina laughed...". This way, you will know exactly what is happening. You will return to work on the text and "smooth out" the speech patterns in Part 4.

• Watch the volume. A good ending should be proportionate to the rest of the story.[11]

Part 4: Correcting the speech patterns

4.1 Add a descriptive narrative to the text you have just written. Focus on specific and significant details. In the example above, you can describe what the noise sounded like, what Marina imagined could be in the closet that instilled fear in her.

4.2 Reread the ending. Make sure you've given enough information about your characters' thoughts, feelings, and relationships. In the example above, the ending might suggest that Marina was simply afraid of fear itself, and that seeing the mouse made her realize her own stupidity.

4.3 Read the entire story from beginning to end. Make sure it has a flow; you don't want to end up with a story that's sparsely described in one part while other parts are filled with minute details.

4.4. Do a "full-scale edit" of the entire story. At this point, you can add any finishing touches and make changes to make your story even more readable. Carefully proofread any errors, make sure everything is grammatically correct, and eliminate any ambiguities or inaccuracies in the writing itself.

4.5. Show your story to a friend! Since you have spent a lot of time and effort writing the story, your views may differ from those of other readers. When your friend reads the story, they may be able to point out some points that may seem confusing or inappropriate to most readers. You will also probably appreciate the encouragement of your friend when they tell you that they love your work!

Tips

• Sometimes, when you are having trouble generating new ideas, you can build a web of connections between characters. Draw lines between a pair of characters, and then imagine how they might recognize each other.

• Don't be too hard on yourself. Writing takes practice! Relax and have fun.

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