Do you read short stories? Have you written any? I love them and have written a few of my own. This month, it seems as if short stories dominated my reading list. I judged a teen short story contest with 33 entries and read two books of short stories. As you can see, I’ve thought of nothing else and that is what prompted this post.
Today we will look at how to write a short story, how it differs from a novel, and we’ll wrap up with a few recommendations.
What is a short story?
It is a completed story, beginning to end, usually between 5,000 and 10,000 words. This is different from a novella which is between 10,000 and 40,000 words. (Of course, this depends on the age group and genre you are writing)
Like novels, short stories have plots, developed characters, and established settings. However, unlike novels, you do not have the space or word count to develop each of these slowly. You must get right to the point.
How Do You Write a Short Story?
Characters – Characters should be well developed with a purpose and an arc. Because you are not able to stretch out the personality and arc, you want to make the most of the writing tools you have. For example, using quirks can help develop the character quickly and move the plot forward.
World Building – You do not have the luxury of devoting an entire scene or chapter to developing your world. At most, you can devote a few paragraphs; easier to accomplish with contemporary settings than fantasy for example.
The trick is to keep your world building descriptions simple. Again, easier with a setting readers are already familiar with, but this is where you become an expert in showing versus telling. Show your characters moving and interacting with their world, add it to their dialogue and action beats, add it to plot points. In other words, take care of two points at the same time.
Character Relationships – Because there won’t be room for a lot of internal dialogue, you can show the relationships between characters, and that includes feelings, through dialogue, word choices, and action beats. Action beats are a great alternative to he said or she said because they cut down on word count while getting the point across. Take a look at these examples:
“Great picture,” she said. Ginny put her hand over her mouth to hide her smirk. (15 words)
“Great picture.” Ginny covered her mouth to hide a smirk. (10 words)
(Note: action beats should be used novels as well)
Subplots – Depending on the length of your story, you may have room for a subplot, but chances are you won’t. Remember, even subplots need to be fully developed and resolved. If you include a subplot, I would suggest choosing one that ties in closely to your main plot.
Now that you have the tools to craft a short story, what else do you need?
Originality– This applies to everything you write, but in a short piece, you have less time and space to hook your reader, showcase your creativity, and include twists. Think of an idea, it can be as common as a retail job, and put a spin on it. Try these examples:
What is the most fantastical event that can happen during an eight-hour shift at Target? Now add a twist.
What would a trip to Target look like from the point of view of a toy being dragged through the aisles?
Voice – This is the one attribute agents, editors, and readers look for when reading a story, short or long. It cannot be forgotten. In fact, it may be the voice of the character and tone of the story that hooks your reader.
Book Recommendations:
The first two books are written for young adults. The second two are for adults. I highly recommend all of them. They are great examples of collections of short stories that are original, creative, voicey, and twisty.
We would love to hear your recommendations for short stories or more tips about writing them. Leave them in the comments!
