Every Good Story Starts With A Pen: An Exciting Short Story

Every good story starts with a pen. This is what I say to every aspiring writer who sits in front of me, eyes wide and lips parted as if their next breath depends on my words. It’s true; there’s power in the pen.

However, any writing teacher will tell you how difficult it can be to put the tools of your trade into play when you need them most.

The best writers carry their pens everywhere they go, from the grocery store to bed! If you’re looking for ways to make sure your pen is always handy, look no further than this list:

Fiction: The Art of Short Story – YouTube

Takeaways
– The journey of storytelling begins with the humble pen, where creativity takes flight.
– Every captivating short story carries an element of excitement that draws readers in.
– The art of crafting a compelling narrative starts with a simple yet powerful tool: the pen.
– Exploring the world of short stories is an adventure that begins with the act of writing.
– The pen serves as the conduit through which imagination and storytelling converge.

Table of Contents

Tip 0 – It’s Not About You

“You know, this isn’t about you.”

This is the most important tip I have to offer. It’s not about you. It’s about your reader and what they will take away from what you write.

When writing short stories, it is easy for us as writers to get caught up in our thoughts and feelings regarding the story we are creating and forget that these thoughts may not be relevant to the people reading them or their needs as readers.

We want our readers to enjoy what they read, so we must consider their perspective when writing our stories instead of ours first and foremost.

Remembering this fact makes me feel more connected with my audience because I’m aware that I am creating something specifically for them rather than just trying my hand at something creative and hoping someone else enjoys it too!

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Tip 1 – Write For Only One Reader

You write for yourself. You should always write for yourself because you want to do something that you enjoy.

You write for your audience. Yes, it’s true: there are people out there who will be reading what you’ve written, and if they enjoy it then great! But if not, well…at least it was fun to make!

You write for the reader who is going to read your story and enjoy it. We all have different tastes in stories; some people like horror while others prefer romance or adventure stories.

But what they all have in common is that they like being engaged by the story itself (well…all except maybe those who read Stephen King novels).

So don’t worry about what type of genre or style-type thing this person likes best (as long as their preferences aren’t too far off from yours).

Just focus on telling your tale which happens to involve things like suspenseful scenes.

Or dramatic dialogue exchanges between characters rather than simply describing everything directly using narration techniques like voiceovers because really: does anyone want another boring old movie adaptation from Hollywood? No one does!

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Tip 2 – Don’t Try To Show What You’ve Read

Showing what you’ve read makes for a boring, uninspiring story.

Instead of focusing on showing what you’ve read, focus on showing what you know. Know your characters inside and out, regardless of whether or not they’re based on real people or characters from other stories (e.g., if they’re fictional).

Showing that knowledge will come through in the writing itself; it will make the reader believe in each character’s motivations and quirks without explicitly stating them.

Tip 3 – The First Draft Is The Only Draft That Matters

I’m serious. It’s the only draft that matters. This is the time to get everything down, no matter how bad it sounds or looks. You can always go back and fix those problems later, but if you don’t write anything down now, you’ll never have anything to fix.

There are a few things we want you to not worry about while writing your first draft:

grammar and spelling
length of the story (it should be short)
plot (don’t worry about figuring out where it’s going yet)
characters (don’t spend too much time on them yet)

Tip 4 – Find A Medium

If you’ve ever wanted to write a short story but didn’t know where to begin, then this is the book for you.

In this section, I’ll be introducing my favorite tips for writing short stories that will help you start writing your own in no time!

Writing can be done on paper or computer, but it can also be done on a phone or tablet. Some people prefer writing with their hands while others like typing on their phone or tablet.

It doesn’t matter how much technology changes over time; humans always have one thing in common:

They communicate with each other through words and phrases that are passed down from generation to generation via the written word because it’s so much easier than learning another language!

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Tip 5 – Don’t Write In A Vacuum

If you want to become a better writer, you need to read and write. If you want to become an even better writer, then get some feedback from others.

This is true in many aspects of life: if you want to be good at something (at anything) then practice it every day. You can’t learn piano without playing the piano; that’s obvious, right?

Well, writing is just like learning an instrument or any other skill you can’t do it alone. You need feedback from others.

Because they’ll tell you when something doesn’t work or isn’t clear enough for them to understand what’s going on in your story; this will help shape your future work into something better than before!

Tip 6 – Ask Yourself, “What Do I Need To Know?

“What do I need to know?”

You might think that this question is just a prompt for research, but it’s an important tool in structuring your story. Asking yourself this question will help you determine what information your reader needs and how much of it they need.

You’ll see that the answer depends on what kind of story you’re telling. If your main character is trying to get out of a bad situation, then his or her motivations are obvious: “I need [x].”

But when writing about a period like World War II (as opposed to just one person), it could be more useful for readers if there were some sort of historical context for example, “The 1930s were marked by high unemployment.”

Tip 7 – Write Like Someone Else

This is one of the best tips to follow if you are a new writer. This can help you get over your fears and doubts because it makes writing fun again.

Write like someone who is not you, but has similar experiences as yours and can relate to the same issues as yours or even have different experiences than yours and have different goals in life than yours.

For example: If I wanted to write an exciting action scene where there is an explosion at an apartment block, I would write it from the perspective of a child who lives in said apartment block seeing this happen for the first time or even myself experiencing this for the first time!

Tip 8 – Write Your Heart Out Until It Breaks

Write your heart out until it breaks. That’s right! You should start writing with a burning passion, and keep writing until you have nothing left to give.

You can write as much or as little as you like, but the important thing is that you don’t hold back or edit yourself. If you are not committed to writing this story then why bother?

If you find that some of your ideas aren’t working out or if the characters in your story seem somewhat lifeless then don’t worry!

It happens to the best of us; just remember that it’s all part of the learning process and try again next time around. In other words: Don’t be afraid to fail (or succeed)!

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Tip 9 – Start Small And Work Up To Bigger Projects

Let’s get down to business, shall we? You’ve got your pen, now what?

Start small and work up to bigger projects. Maybe you want to try writing a short story or a novel.

Maybe you want to write a screenplay or a play. Maybe you want to write a poem, song, blog post, or review for that matter! Don’t worry about where exactly all of this is going, just start with some simple and easy pieces and work your way up as far as possible.

Tip 10 – Rewrite And Revise Your Work In The Same Way As Before

You should also rewrite and revise your work in the same way as before. Don’t be afraid of rewriting and revising, but make sure that you are doing it properly. If you don’t know how to revise your work properly, then there are plenty of articles online that can help with this process.

You should also make sure that your work is ready for publication by submitting it to an editor or publisher who will check it over before showing it to anyone else.

Tip 11 – Be Prepared For Criticism And Rejection When You Start Submitting Work For Publication Or Publication Credits

Rejection is a part of the process, and it can be hard to take because it feels like a personal attack on your ability as a writer.

But don’t let that discourage you! There are many reasons why editors might reject your work, and those reasons have nothing to do with how good or bad a writer you are (for example, sometimes an editor just doesn’t have space in the magazine).

Just keep submitting, even if it takes multiple tries before someone publishes something of yours because eventually, someone will take notice of your talents!

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Tip 12 – Don’t Think Of Writing As An Art Form

Don’t think of writing as an art form. Writing is a skill that can be learned and practiced. It is not a talent or inborn gift, but rather the result of hard work and practice.

Writing should not be looked at as something mystical or magical, where you’re either born with it or not; instead, it should be viewed as a craft (like carpentry), which takes time and effort to master (and even then there are always new tricks to learn).

Understand that writing is work it’s meant to fill your day with meaning and purpose and this will help motivate you through the times when things seem difficult or boring.

Conclusion

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that writing is a process. You will make mistakes and get frustrated, but you’ll also find enjoyment in creating something new. Remember: you’re not alone!

There are thousands of other writers out there who share your struggles and triumphs, so don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than you’d like. Keep at it, because even though we know writing can be hard work, it’s also one of life’s greatest pleasures!

FAQs

What are some must-read short stories for literature enthusiasts?

Explore a curated list of timeless and impactful short stories in the article Short Stories Everyone Should Read to enrich your literary journey.

How can I create an engaging opening for my short story?

Discover effective techniques and examples of compelling story openings in the resource 10 Great Examples of How to Begin a Short Story to hook readers right from the start.

What are the key elements to consider when writing a short story?

Learn the fundamental aspects of crafting a captivating short story, including character development, plot structure, and more, in the guide How to Write a Short Story.

Can you recommend resources for improving my short story writing skills?

For further guidance on refining your short story writing skills, explore the provided resources and gain insights into crafting impactful narratives.

How do I effectively convey a complete story within a short format?

Discover techniques and strategies for condensing a compelling narrative into a short story while maintaining its impact and resonance by exploring the suggested articles and guides.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.