How to write a short story

BONUS SECTION below!

Short stories are an excellent way to sharpen your writer abilities! Why? Because in a small space with limited words you have to fit every word neatly with the others, you don't have a lot of time to build up your premise and worldbuilding, and you need to convey a character's personality quickly to make the reader care and understand.

So, how do we do this?

1. Understand your concept

What's the thing you'd like your reader to take from your story?

For example: "a day in the life of a gay person", "good in evil and evil in good", "the last conversation between two people."

2. Make a rough outline

... and then make a neat one if you need it!

For smaller works (and depending if you're not a hard outliner like me), you can also use a less disciplined outline.

I use one that goes pretty much like a numbered list and then I fill in the blanks.

3. Write write write

I normally try to finish the first draft of my short story all in one sitting (unless it's longer than 3-4k words).

At this point, you can start your second draft, which for me looks a lot like re-reading your work with a critic eye, looking out for specific things I will mention at the bonus section below.

4. Final edits

Edit with a magazine editor in mind. What would they like to read? Is it understandable for someone who has just been introduced to the story?

5. Format

I format all my work in Times New Roman, 12, double spaced, with indentations. I start the first page halfway through, and on the top I put my name, word count, email, Instagram and Twitter handles (plus any requirements of the magazine/editor/agent).

Make sure to number your pages, and remember to avoid colors and strange fonts that make your writing hard to read.

BONUS SECTION

Tips for a good short story:

• Cut all unnecessary writing. Yes. all of it.

• For underwriters: this is your moment. Write the essential and make it vivid. That's all you need to do.

• Set up a good premise and end the story with a bang.

• Write a killer first line. (post about this is coming!)

• Give your characters names that reflect a role they have (e.g.: calling someone Cassandra because they say things that will happen in the future but no one believes them, named after the character from ancient Greek mythology).

• Read your story out loud and pretend to not know anything about it. Is it understandable? If not, edit.

• Mercilessly underline all sections where the writing isn't good and edit later. It will save you a lot of time and will make editing more fun, because you know where to go with your edits, and you won't get tired quickly.