• 4-minute read
• 16th June 2018

5 Tips for Writing Short Stories

Maybe you want to write a novel, but you want to start with something shorter. Or maybe, like Shakespeare, you simply believe that brevity is the soul of wit. There are plenty of reasons to start writing short stories. But how exactly should you go about this? Check out our tips for some ideas!

1. Think About Who You Are Writing For

First of all, who are you writing for? Your intended audience and plans for publication may affect what you choose to write about. There are many magazines and blogs that feature short stories, for example, so you should check these out if you want to get published.

Likewise, reading short stories is a good place to start! Work through a book of short stories by various authors, and you’ll get a good overview of how other authors approach writing.

2. How Short Is Short?

While novels can be hundreds of thousands of words long, short stories are (unsurprisingly) shorter. You therefore need to think about how much space you need to tell your story.

Generally, a ‘short story’ should be between 1,500 and 5,000 words long. You also get novelettes and novellas, which are longer than a short story but shorter than a full novel.

If you really want to keep things short, you can even explore the world of microfiction. These stories are typically no longer than 1,000 words and may be as short as 50 words! Writing something like this can be a fun challenge, as you need to make every word count.

3. Write Down a Scenario in a Sentence or Two

In a novel, you have plenty of space to develop a plot and characters. But a short story needs to be more focused. As such, you need a scenario that can be summed up quickly and simply.

One good tip is to add a constraint: maybe your story all takes place in one room or over a short period of time. Another tip is to start near the end so that you jump into the action, such as the moments before a big event. However, in either case you may want to follow our next tip…

4. Hint at a Bigger World

While a short story should be focused, it should also feel like it takes place in a larger world. One way to strike this balance is to mention background events without explaining everything in depth.

For instance, we could open a short crime story with the following:

Wilson and I hadn’t worked together in years. Not after what happened in Venice.

This immediately tells us that the narrator has a past relationship with Wilson, that they have worked together, that they are not close, and that something went wrong in Venice. Even without expanding upon this, it helps us show that our story takes place in an established world.

5. Write Too Much! (Then Edit Ruthlessly)

We’ve said a lot so far about keeping your writing concise. But it is fine – even advisable – to write too much to start with, as this will give you more space to develop your story. You might even want to make notes about the world it takes place in to help you better understand your own characters.

The trick lies in the editing. Once you have a first draft finished, consider cutting or revising anything that isn’t essential to your story. For example, instead of having a paragraph about how nervous a character feels, try communicating the same thing with a line or two about how they’re acting.

And don’t forget to have a copy editor check your writing. A fresh pair of eyes will help you spot areas that could be more concise, as well as ensuring that you writing flows smoothly.

One you have finished editing, your short story will be tight, focused and ready to publish!