Writing short stories is an art. To help our participants out, we have done some research into the most important facets of it. On this page we would like to go over everything you'll need to know to write a short story. Some of you might find lots of useful tips here. Others might already know all this, and skip this page entirely. That's fine. We are just making sure you are all prepared for the start of the contest.
What is a Short Story?
A short story is like a mini-version of a full-length story. It still includes character development, plot development, a climax and a resolution. In a novel there are lots of characters, there are plot-lines and subplots, there are cliffhangers and multiple settings. In a short story, there are only one or just a few characters, there is (usually) only one setting, and only one plot-line.
The main consequence of this, is that everything about your short story needs to be perfect. In a novel, if you have a plot-hole in chapter 6, the previous five chapters may have been good enough to make up for it, and the reader will continue reading. In a short story, you don't have enough space to make up for a mistake. It has to be perfect, because the reader won't have much to go on when they form an impression of your story.
Writing a short story, though similar, is not the same as writing a full-length novel. The main difference in the writing process of these two types of stories, is the editing. With full-length novels you'll often find yourself editing with the purpose of finding better words, or better sentence structures, or searching for a way to make the story flow better. With short stories, it's all about the word count. You'll often find yourself editing with the purpose of cutting words out. This is an important part of the process. It'll also help you understand what's important and what isn't; a crucial piece of knowledge for any writer.
The Steps of Writing a Short Story
Right. Let's get started with the actual writing. Below we've outlined the steps to take to write your story; from the very start to the very end. You don't have to follow these steps. Or you may have an extra step that we didn't take. That's fine. Everyone has their own way of getting a story on paper. In fact, your process may differ per story you write. But if you don't know where to start, these steps will get you through it.
1. Take a little bit of time, 15-30 minutes, to just have a think about the prompt. See what you can come up with. All you need for now is an idea that gets you excited to start writing.
2. Create your protagonist. Characters make the story, so make sure you know your MC through and through.
3. Decide on the conflict. Conflict is always the center of any story.
4. Decide on the setting. Do some world-building. It probably doesn't have to be as elaborate as it would be in a novel, but you still need to know what the setting looks like.
5. Choose a point of view for your characters.
6. Decide how you want your story to end.
7. This is where you'll actually start writing. You'll need a hook at the start, build towards a climax with some kind of twist, and end with a satisfying resolution. All within 1500 words.
8. Work towards a satisfying resolution.
Questions you might ask yourself for each of these steps:
1. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you read/look at this prompt? Ask yourself all the why/when/what/who/how/where questions. Make a list, in bullet points, of some of the ideas you came up with. Then, when you've finished your brainstorming session, go over them again and choose the one that speaks to you, that inspires you the most.
2. Who is your protagonist? What does he have to do with whatever you chose at point 1.? What does he look like? What is his main goal throughout the story? Even in a short story, characters can have background. Background should be hinted at, but not fully explained in short stories.
3. Conflict: What stops your MC from reaching their goal? What details can you add to make us care even more?
4. Where does the story play out? In what year? What does this setting look like? Try and think of some details before you start writing. It'll make the writing process a bit easier, and it can really help your story come to life.
5. Would this story best be told from the first person view of the MC, or would third person fit better?
6. Where do you want your story to go? How do you want it to end; does the protagonist get what he/she wants? Make sure your story ends in a bang. Surprise us in some way. The best way to do this is by thinking outside the box. Make something happen that we wouldn't expect.
7. What details from the setting, dialogue and tone can help you tell the story? What's the best way for you to create tension in this particular story? A few possible tools are: foreshadowing, withholding information, creating higher stakes, misdirecting the reader.
8. There are several ways to end a story. We have outlined some below.
· Open - readers determine the meaning.
· Resolved - clear-cut outcome.
· Parallel to beginning - similar to beginning situation or image.
· Monologue - character comments on the events.
· Dialogue - characters talk about the events.
· Literal image - setting or aspect of setting resolves the plot (the setting where the story takes place is empty now).
· Symbolic image - details represent a meaning beyond the literal one (for example, the sun going down to mark the end of something).
How Do You Build Tension?
In novels, we personally tend to use a lot of cliffhangers to keep readers on their toes. This is a tool you can't use for short stories. So how do you build tension in a short story? This is what we've found to help you:
Yourke's Conflict Checklist
Mystery - Explain just enough to tease readers. Never give everything away.
Empowerment - Give both sides options.
Progression - Keep intensifying the number and type of obstacles the protagonist faces.
Causality - Hold fictional characters more accountable than real people. Characters who make mistakes frequently pay, and, at least in fiction, commendable folks often reap rewards.
Surprise - Provide sufficient complexity to prevent readers predicting events too far in advance.
Empathy - Encourage reader identification with characters and scenarios that pleasantly or (unpleasantly) resonate with their own sweet dreams (or night sweats).
Insight - Reveal something about human nature.
Universality - Present a struggle that most readers find meaningful, even if the details of that struggle reflect a unique place and time.
Extra Tips
Here are a few more tips to help make your story the best it can be.
1. High stakes: Convince the reader that the outcome matters, because the MC (who they should care about) could lose something precious.
2. Suggest backstory, but don't elaborate on it. You just don't have the space for it in a short story.
3. When in doubt, leave it out. Shorter is sweeter.
4. Omit needless words. Tightening nearly always adds power to the sentence/paragraph.
5. Identify the heart of your story.
6. See things differently. Think outside the box. Surprise us!
7. Opposites attract. This doesn't just go for your MC and her boyfriend, but also for things, themes, settings. Contrasts have power. For example, emphasise how sad your MC feels by putting it in stark contrast with how happy the people around her look.
8. Craft a strong title. In a short story, a title is almost as important as the resolution.
9. And lastly, remember: writing is rewriting. Get a rough first draft, then go back and see what you can improve.
Good luck!