If you’re a beginner writer, writing a short story is one of the best ways to develop your skills. Short stories are more about characters and dialogue than long-winded descriptions of scenery or action sequences that take place over several pages (although these can be useful for longer works). 

It’s also a good way to experiment with different styles of writing you might think it’d be easier than writing a novel, but there are challenges involved in creating something so condensed. 

But don’t let that put you off! If you’ve always wanted to get started with creative writing but have been unsure how best to do so, this guide will help give you some pointers for getting started on your journey into the world of fiction:

Takeaways
1. Learn essential elements of short stories.
2. Master the art of crafting engaging plots.
3. Develop well-rounded characters.
4. Understand the importance of settings.
5. Create impactful resolutions.
6. Experiment with different story structures.
7. Practice concise and vivid storytelling.
8. Craft attention-grabbing story openings.
9. Dive into the world of dialogue writing.
10. Revise and polish your short stories.

Decide If You Want To Write A Short Story

If you want to write a short story, the first thing to consider is whether or not this is the best place for your writing. There are many reasons why short stories are a great place to start. 

The most obvious reason is that they’re shorter than novels, so if you find yourself struggling with the length of something larger and more complex (like a novel), trying writing a short story might be just what you need to get your confidence back.

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If It Helps At All, Here Are Some Other Reasons

Short stories can be completed in one sitting. This means that if someone has limited time available or needs something done quickly and efficiently, then they can take care of it without wasting time on procrastination or distractions like social media and television shows.

Short stories allow writers who aren’t ready yet – both mentally and emotionally – still have an outlet without feeling overwhelmed by their expectations (e-books)

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Write About Things And People You Know About

Write about things and people you know about. This is one of the most important tips for writing a short story (or any kind of literature). It’s also what makes writing so hard because as soon as you start thinking about something, or trying to imagine it in your mind, it becomes harder to write it down.

But there’s a trick to this: if you can’t think of anything real from your own life experience, then make up a situation that seems real enough that someone else would believe it too. 

In other words, if you want to write about pirates attacking an island town with only two survivors left alive at daybreak after the battle ended yesterday evening (it’s raining now) but don’t know anything about such things because they’re not part of your experience yet… well then maybe there could still be some truth here? 

If nothing else then maybe we’ll learn something new together through my imagination journey through this fictional world we’ve created together here today!

Decide What Point Of View You’ll Be Using

This is the perspective from which your story will be told. There are three main ways to write a story: 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person.

1st-person narration uses the word “I” in its sentences (“I ran down the street,” “I screamed at my friend,” etc). This perspective can be useful for giving readers a close look at what’s happening inside their main character’s minds as they experience something exciting or scary.

2nd-person narration uses you as the subject (“You feel nervous when you see her”). This can make stories feel more intimate but might not appeal to everyone it feels like someone else is telling you what they think of what’s happening rather than showing it through their own eyes.

3rd-person omniscient narration puts us directly into everyone’s head: we get thoughts and feelings that belong only to characters who aren’t narrating themselves (like when we hear about someone else’s reaction to something). 

It also gives us access to information about other people without having them tell us about it themselves we don’t need an explanation from our protagonist; instead, we can find out information about another character by hearing one of those characters talk about him or herself first hand!

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Take inspiration from writers that you admire

You can also take inspiration from writers that you admire. Read their work, learn from their writing style, ask them questions about it and make a list of what you like about their writing. Read their work aloud to yourself and try to emulate the style and flow of their words. Try to learn from their mistakes too!

Try this exercise: write down all the things that you like about another writer’s work. Then go through each item on your list and ask yourself whether they are important in your writing as well. If so then add it back into your story or use it as a basis for development in later drafts (this is called ‘reworking’).

Practice Writing Every Day

Practicing writing every day is essential if you want to be good at writing. You can’t expect to learn how to play the piano in a few months, or how to speak French fluently in two weeks and the same goes for writing. Practice helps you improve your skills and become a better writer, so if you want to write short stories, you must practice writing regularly.

Practicing doesn’t mean that you have to sit down and force yourself through an entire short story; it’s more about making time in your schedule each day where you can write something new and improve upon it as soon as possible after finishing it (or even while still working on it). 

This could mean practicing by doing some research on an interesting topic or just jotting down ideas for future projects; either way, this will help improve both your speed of writing as well as make sure that everything flows smoothly together when drafting out longer pieces later on down the road!

Elevate your writing prowess through consistent practice. Our article on Writing Exercises for Creative Writing Skills offers a range of exercises to enhance your creative writing abilities.

Make Sure Your Story Has A Beginning, Middle, And End

When you’re writing a short story, it’s important to understand the three stages of any story: the beginning, middle, and end.

The beginning is where the reader learns about your characters and what they want. It’s also where your character(s) meets with an obstacle or problem that prevents them from achieving their goal.

The middle is where your character must overcome their obstacle and try to reach their goal. They might fail at this stage in some stories – which can be very interesting!

The end is where all questions are answered for the reader about how or whether your character achieves his/her goal (or not).

Don’t Rush The Construction Of Your Plot

You can’t have a good story without a good plot. This is the most important part of your short story, so take your time to make it as perfect as possible.

A good plot doesn’t just happen by accident; it’s something that has to be worked for and thought about carefully. The best way to create an awesome plot is by analyzing successful stories from other authors because their experience will help you get into their heads and figure out what makes their plots so great!

Okay, now that we’ve gotten all technical-y (and hopefully not bored you), let’s move on to some practical tips on how YOU can write your own fantastic short story!

Don’t Make Any Excuses Or Procrastinate

I know this is going to sound corny, but I’m going to say it anyway: there’s no such thing as the perfect moment or the perfect time, or even the perfect words. If you wait for those things, you’ll never get anything done.

If you want something done well, you have to do it yourself. And if you want something done quickly and efficiently? You’re going to be doing all of your work yourself—no one else can write your story for you!

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Avoid Cliches And Stereotypes

Avoid cliches and stereotypes. This is one of the most important rules in writing a short story because it will make your story fresh and interesting. To avoid cliches, don’t use the same words, phrases, or ideas (e.g., “I’m going to do my best.”). For example:

Don’t use metaphors that have been overused by other writers (e.g., “Love is like a rose”). They are too easy to come up with on your own!

Avoid stereotypes like the plague they’re unrealistic and boring to read about! For example:

I’m sick of seeing stories about people who are obsessed with cats or dogs; what’s next? A love triangle between an iguana and two hamsters? What kind of ridiculous plot twist would THAT be?!

Be Ruthless With Cutting Unnecessary Scenes

As you write your short story, it’s important to be ruthless with cutting unnecessary scenes. These are scenes that don’t move the story forward or add anything significant to the plot. They might seem relevant while you’re writing them but they don’t serve any purpose other than adding filler space between important parts of your narrative.

Many writers tend to use these types of scenes as a way to transition from one event to another or give some background information about characters, but there is often a better way for doing this without breaking up the flow of your narrative. 

When writing a scene that isn’t essential for moving forward in your story or adding something meaningful, ask yourself if there are ways you can condense it down so it’s not interfering with pacing or character development.

Read Your Short Story Aloud To Yourself To See If It Sounds Right

When you read your short story aloud, listen for how each sentence sounds. Does it flow well? Do you stumble over some of the words? How about when you read the complete paragraph? Is it smooth and easy to understand, or does it sound choppy and awkward?

If you find that there are parts of your piece that don’t sound right when you read it aloud, there are several things that can be done to fix this problem:

If a word is hard to pronounce because of its spelling (like “therefore”), try replacing it with an easier-to-pronounce word (like “because”). This will make reading through your piece much smoother!

If a paragraph is long and difficult to understand, break up the paragraphs into smaller ones. Writing in long paragraphs can be unreadable because they take too long for people’s eyes and brains to process them all at once! Try breaking those up into smaller chunks so we don’t lose interest before we reach the end!

Be Aware Of The Tension In Your Short Story As A Reader

The next time you finish reading a short story, take note of the tension in it. Some stories have a lot of tension, while others might not be as tense. When writing your own stories, think about what makes them more or less tense (or interesting) as a reader. 

Think about how you can use elements like withholding information from the reader and building up to a climax to create more interest in your story.

When I say “tension,” I don’t mean that there needs to be an actual conflict—it’s possible for there to be tension even if nothing happens! Tension is produced when the reader is invested in what will happen next because they’re curious about what’s going on with the characters and/or want closure for themselves (meaning: they want closure).

Just Get Stuck In And Start Writing

You can’t write a good story if you don’t believe in your ability to do so. So just get on with it!

We all make mistakes, but that’s okay. It doesn’t matter how many times you go back and change something – once it’s written down, that’s the way it’ll stay forever.

Don’t worry about what other people will think or say about your work either – this is your story and no one else’s; there will always be someone who likes what you’re doing and someone who doesn’t like it as much as they did before they read/heard/saw/thought about your work (which is fine). 

Just focus on making sure that whatever comes out at the end of writing fits together well enough for everyone who reads or hears it (including yourself!).

Conclusion

Writing a short story is a great way to practice your skills. It’s also a good way to get started with writing if you’re new or shy about expressing your creativity. Writing short stories can be difficult at first, so the more practice you do with them, the better! We hope that our tips on how to write one have been helpful for you, dear reader. Now go forth and create something wonderful!

Further Reading

How to Write a Short Story: A comprehensive guide that walks you through the process of crafting engaging and impactful short stories.

A Complete Guide to Writing a Short Story: Explore this detailed guide to learn the essential elements and techniques for creating captivating short stories.

Short Story Writing for Beginners: If you’re new to short story writing, this blog post offers beginner-friendly tips and insights to get you started on the right track.

And here’s the “FAQs” section:

FAQs

What are the key components of a well-crafted short story?

A well-crafted short story typically includes a compelling plot, well-developed characters, a clear setting, and a resolution that leaves a lasting impact on readers.

How long should a short story typically be?

Short stories vary in length, but they usually range from 1,000 to 7,500 words. The exact length can depend on the specific publication or purpose of the story.

Can I experiment with different genres in short story writing?

Absolutely! Short stories provide a great opportunity to explore various genres, styles, and tones. Feel free to experiment and find your unique voice as a writer.

How do I create a strong opening for my short story?

A strong opening often involves grabbing the reader’s attention with an intriguing hook, introducing a relatable character or situation, or setting the tone for the story’s theme.

How can I ensure my short story has a satisfying ending?

A satisfying ending ties up loose ends while leaving room for reader interpretation. It can provide resolution, reveal a twist, or evoke emotion, but it should leave the reader thinking long after finishing the story.