How do I Write a Short Story?

Short stories offer an aspiring writer the opportunity to flex their storytelling muscles without having to plot and plan a full-length novel or longer story. Plots are generally simpler and less intricate, though characters can be just as complex and full as longer stories. In order to write a short story, start with a simple idea, then ask yourself the key question: "What if?"

The "what if" question is the writer's first step when he decides to write a short story. Novelists often use this same technique, but the short story writer must think in simpler terms: what if my main character loses a loved one? What if my main character falls in love? What if my main character gets attacked by a bear? When you write a short story, imagine a person or situation and ask yourself, what if?

However, this is technique alone is not enough in itself to write a short story. As with any story, you must develop a main character first, and the easiest way to make your story interesting to readers is to be sure the main character is interesting to YOU, the writer. Be sure you can relate to your character, and then employ your "what if" tactic.

The most difficult part for writers who write a short story is creating something interesting and compelling without writing too much. Brevity is key to a short story, but it is often difficult to keep a short story short. The solution: write too much, and then edit. Short stories are typically anywhere from five to thirty pages, double spaced (or about 10,000 words max), but you can write as much as you want.

That's what a first draft is for. Once you have written what you consider to be the ending of your story, it's time to axe everything that doesn't need to be there. That includes any extraneous detail or exposition -- yes, even if it sounds great, even if it's your best writing.

When you write a short story, it is important to keep your reader engaged throughout the entire piece, but remember: if your readers are not interested in the first line, they won't read the second line. if they're not interested in the second line, they won't be interested in the first paragraph. And if you haven't hooked them by the end of the first paragraph, they will put your story down. When you write a short story, make sure your first paragraph is impeccable; write it, then rewrite it, then rewrite it again. A well written first paragraph will almost always lead to a strong short story, so be sure to spend a significant amount of time right at the beginning.