Working on a novel? Looking for a bit of a break from it? Or are you just looking to build up some writing experience?

Then write a short story.

Short stories can be a lot of fun to write; you have the perfect opportunity to create a new world with new characters in a very short space. Plus they are a challenge. With a full-length novel, you have plenty of space to spread your story out and go into detail; you don’t have that with a short story but that isn’t always a bad thing.

With short stories, everything has to be condensed but you still need a plot, characters, conflict and so on. Where things differ is that your descriptions must be much shorter, along with dialog and actions and that’s only if you don’t leave them out completely. That is not an easy thing to do and it's where you get to show off your skill with words.  

Here are five excellent reasons to write that short story:

1 – it can help you to get some ideas for a full-length novel. You may be writing a novel already, in which case a short story can get your creative juices flowing faster. Or you may be struggling for an idea for a novel; a short story can give you an idea or two – you could even write it as a forerunner to a novel.

2 – experiment but stay in the same genre. Writing a short story can give you some experience at writing scenes; for example, if your main novel needs a sex scene or two in it, you can use a short story to get some experience.

3 – write something new to give your brain a break. If you are bashing away at your keyboard for hours a day on the same thing, it can soon make your brain ache. You might even feel as though things are dragging. Take a break and write a short story on something different. It will give your brain a break while still keeping your hand in and, you never know, it could the idea that pushes your novel forwards or in a different direction. Plus the structure for a short story is usually a lot simpler – not always though, no guarantees there!

4 – grab your idea and go with it. You may have had a couple of ideas running about your brain for a while; now’s the time to grab one and run with it. Starting is the hard part; that spark will come and suddenly you will find your story is fleshed out. You might even get an idea from something you saw on the street or on tv. And don’t just sit on your work. Publish it, send it in for a competition; do something with it!

5 – enjoy being able to finish something. It might seem like your novel is never going to get finished and that can drag you down. Taking some time out to write a short story is like having a break without losing productivity. And when you finish it, you get a huge sense of satisfaction, something that could give you a fresh start on your novel and push you to plow on with it with fresh energy.

Short stories are fun to write and they are challenging, just two more reasons why you should write one today.