How To Write A Good Short Story,10 Tips For Short Story Writers

How to write a good short story,this is the question that is always in the mind of every short story writer.Each one of you is a born storyteller—especially when it comes to sharing true stories with your friends. You probably enjoy inventing pies, too, but it may not be as easy for you as it once was. Why? imaginations might not be what they once were; they’ve gone south on you, so to speak. It’s no fault of your own. You’re simply at a point in your life when you’re much more focused on real-life experiences.

The best way to feel more comfortable with the process of invent- be simple: Sit down and start writing stories. Write simple stories, stories, stories modeled after the ones you read now and the ones you read when you were younger. Acquire a feel for inventing, and recapture that rich imagination you had as a young child.

You Must Know How Stories Develop In Order To Understand How To Write A Good Short Story

Writing a story is like cooking food. First you gather the primary, ingredients and prepare them according to a basic recipe. As you go along, you season your story with “spices” such as effective dialogue and colorful descriptions, and thoughtful explanations.

The Plot

How To Write A Good Short Story,10 Tips For Short Story Writers

The plot is the main ingredient in any story. It refers to all  the action—the events that move a story along from start to finish. A plot has five basic parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action. aimfl resolution. The plot line that follows shows how these parts all work together together.

EXPOSITION

The exposition is the beginning part of a story in which the characters, setting, and conflict are usually introduced. There is at least one main character in all stories and, almost always, one or more supporting or secondary characters. The setting is where the story iskm place, and the conflict is the main problem that really gets the action under way.

Tracy Jones is a 13-year-old girl who lives in Houston, Texas She is having trouble seeing things at a distance, but she doesn’t : want to wear glasses. She is afraid that people will make fun o her, especially at school.

Rising Action

In the rising action, the main character tries to solve his or her problem. The main character should be involved in at least two or three important actions because of the problem. This builds suspense into the story.

Fist Action: Tracy goes to a movie with her mother, who asks why she squints to see the screen. Tracy says that she is just thinking “and about the film.

Second Action: Later, her parents learn that she has trouble seeing :ie board in class. Tracy says the classroom lights are too bright.

Third Action: Her parents insist that Tracy see an eye doctor. That night, Tracy dreams she is in class wearing big magnifying lenses.

Climax

The climax is the most exciting or important part in a story. At Bum point, the main character comes face-to-face with his or her prob- ‘Itari. (All of the action leads up to the climax.) This part is sometimes called the turning point.

The eye doctor says Tracy does need glasses. When they arrive 3 few days later, she dreads wearing them to school. While she is leased by a few kids, her close friends actually like her new look.

Falling Action

In this part, the main character learns to deal with life “after the climax-” Perhaps, he or she makes a new discovery about life or comes to understand things a little better.

Tracy learns that one of her friends has had glasses for weeks but was too shy to wear them. The two girls joke about starting a spectacles” club. She also discovers that no one really pays much attention to her glasses when she wears them in class.

Resolution

The resolution brings a story to a natural, surprising, or thought- provoking conclusion. (The falling action and the resolution often are very close related.)

Tracy asks if she and her mom could go to another movie, and she promises to wear her glasses.

Writing Guidelines

Gathering Details

Before you can write a story, you must identify two important: elements: (1) a main character and (2) a problem for this char a deal with.

Create a Character

To get ideas for your main character,  of people you know, have seen, or have read about. Your main character can be a living person, a historical figure, or someone you crei your imagination. (Remember not to embarrass anyone by your character too much like that person.)

To get to know your main character, draw a picture of this and write a brief character sketch in which you describe some of her main personality traits, beliefs, desires, and so on.

You should also think of other characters to incl your story. But don’t include more than a few. Too secondary characters can water down a story.

Form a Conflict

Your main character can be in conflict: another person (or persons), with him- or herself, with nature society, or with fate.The character in the sample story is in conflict with her family members.

Make sure the problem is believable. You can’t, for example, your main character fight an entire army or travel around the wc search of a cure for a serious disease.

Other Elements to Consider .

Establish a Setting

Stick to one main location or setting; wise, your story may become difficult to control. Almost all of action in the sample story takes place in the main character’s home.

Think About the Action

What could your main charac about the problem? Try to list at least two or three of these ar Also consider the climax or turning point in the story.

Consider an Ending

Decide how you want your story to end. Make sure that your ending is believable within the context of story.

Writing The First Draft

Use your story map as a general guide when you develop your draft.

Exposition

Grab your reader’s attention by starting your story right in the middle of the action. As you develop this part, try to identify the main character, the setting, and the main problem.Choose one narrator—either a character within the story or someone outside of the story.

Rising Action and Climax

Let your characters’ conversafcwranH (dialogue) and actions move the story along as much as possible. “Writing Dialogue” below.)

Falling Action and Resolution

In most stories, the action qm comes to a close after the climax. What happens in this part sh: show how the main character has been affected by the climax.

Writing Dialogue

Refer to these guidelines when you develop dialogue in your sr.: stories.

  • Write the dialogue as speakers actually speak. (People often inia_ rupt each other.)
  • Focus on the speaker’s beliefs or problem. (Generally one speaker beliefs clash with another’s.)
  • Keep the conversations moving along. (Characters don’t have say everything. Leave some things to the reader’s imagination.
  • Present the dialogue so it is easy to read. (Indent every time someone new speaks and identify the speaker if it isn’t clear when talking. See pages 399-400 for help with punctuation.)

Revising

Ask yourself the following questions when you review and revise your first draft.

  • Do the characters’ words and actions make sense? (We wouldn’t expect the neighborhood bully to talk like a college professor.)
  • Is there a real or believable conflict that keeps the story going?
  • Do all of the characters play an important role in the story? Are all of the conversations, explanations, and events important? (Make sure that your story moves along at a steady clip. You don’t have to tell the reader everything.)
  • Is the main character put to the test at the climax in the story? (The main character should undergo some change because of this event.)
  • Does the story contain any holes? (Fill in any holes or gaps in the story line.)

Checking for Style and Accuracy

When you edit your revised story, check first for the style of your writing. Do the sentences read smoothly? Have you paid special atten­tion to word choice? (It always helps to read your story out loud.) Change any words, phrases, or ideas that cause you to stumble. Then edit for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

TOPPING OFF YOUR WRITING

Here’s how to top off your writing with a good title. Think of your title as fish bait: it should look juicy, it should dance slightly, and it should have a hook in it.

  • To look juicy, a title must contain strong, colorful words (The Black Stallion, Brave New World).
  • To dance, it must have rhythm (The Old Man and the Sea, not The Sea and the Old Man).
  • And to hook your reader, it must grab the imagination (Never Cry Wolf, not Life Among the Wolves).
  • List a number of possible titles; then select the one that provides the best bait for your reader.

by Abdullah Sam
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