Given the popularity of short stories and their many merits, some would ask the best way to go about writing one. This article aims to guide any author considering writing a short story as their next project.

Unique skills are required when writing short stories, which may be similar or different to when drafting a novel. This is mostly because of the length of short stories. For instance, when writing a short story, you should consider starting with a fascinating introduction. Do not waste too much time on aspects such as the weather and time. Remember, you do not have the luxury of including lengthy details, which therefore requires you to make every word count. Most readers judge a book by the first page and, sometimes, by the first paragraph. For short stories, the stakes are higher since the writer has the responsibility of engaging the reader right from the start while still building their story significantly using the first paragraph. In short, unnecessary information is not your friend in this case.

As you begin writing your story, carefully define your concept or goal. The concept of your story acts as a framework to build the rest of your story. Make your aim as clear as possible to avoid adding unnecessary information or omitting relevant details. The last thing you want to do is to write a story with a blurred theme that will leave the reader confused. After you have defined your goal, come up with characters that add to your message. Make them as intriguing and convincing as you can. Reflect mostly on key characters, that is, the protagonist and antagonist, and how you would like the reader to define and identify with them. This does not mean, however, that you force your opinion on the reader through your characters. Let the reader define the characters themselves.

When developing the story’s climax, make it powerful and thrilling. You can use a quarrel, a sharp turn of events or a surprising disclosure to create the apex of your story. You should, however, be careful to ensure that the climax adds to the overall aim of the whole account. The scene containing the climax should be clear and well defined. It should be emotional and, if applicable, should be packed with gripping action.

After completing the story, read it once again and edit it, cutting out unimportant characters and information. Make the story as compact as possible. Assume you are the reader and evaluate how well the story achieves the intended overall theme. Assess each character’s role and how well they fit into the story, as well as each scene’s impact on the structure. You may choose to edit your story as you move along, but it is always advisable to read it through first before submission. Lastly, select your title and see that it fits the story. Remember that the title is the first thing that attracts the reader to your book. Hence, it is important to make it as catchy as possible.