How to start a short story? Need help on what to write....?

Question

i have all the information i need already...
but i dont know what order to put it in...
so can someone give me pointers to how to start a short story?
some sort of outline or something?

Answer 1

Hi there;

Believe it or not writing is very easy when you have all the tools you need.
Always write about what you know. Know your subject.
Next, and I love this tool, make an outline of what you want to write about. Write from this out line and remember this simple structure.
Opening thought. What the subject of your paper is. This is your thesis statement and opening paragragh. (A paragraph is a train of thought or one in a series of ideas on a subject.)
What follows after your opening paragragh are the supporting thoughts (2 or 3 supportive ideas [paragraphs]).
Then your ending. Can't leave the reader hanging ;). This is your ending statement which should bring the reader back to your opening (thesis statement) sentence. Kind of justification of the opening line.
So the body should be like;
Thesis statement paragraph
supportive paragraph
supportive paragraph
Ending paragraph supporting the thesis paragraph WITH last line as a supportive sentence of the thesis statement.

Use the roman numeral method for an outline. Expample
I. "your thesis statement" The first sentence is your opening to your paper and sets the tone of what the reader can expect throughout the body of your paper.
A. "supporting second sentence. It sort of validates the opening thesis statement.
1. second thought about supporting sentence.
B. "supporting third sentence"
1. second thought about third supporting sentence.
C. Closing statement for first paragraph supporting thesis statement.

You get the idea and build your outline from here on.
Tailor it to what you need to do whether its a short story or a term paper or a short paper.
Put each paragraph into the roman numeral with the meat of each paragraph as subs in letters.
I, A, 1, a.
II, A, 1, a.
III, A, 1, a.
IV, A, 1, a.
and so on as complicate or as simple as you wish.
Remember, let each paragraph be an idea with the thought/validation of the idea justifiing the thesis statement. This will make your ending paragraph neater and easier to read.
Golly I hope this helped you :).

Answer 2

I think it's an interesting concept, and one I don't think has been done before - here in England we had a brilliant T.V. programme about an English girl growing up in a muslim community, but never the view of opposite. I think it would be interesting from a non muslim, to see how a muslim teenager deals with life in an effectively westernised country and how they change within their faith, as you have suggested. So long as you stay sensitive to your family and community with it, I'm sure it will be great. Ask your parents why they choose not to wear the hijab, it would an interesting view for your story. The only thing I see wrong is the short story element, I feel it would be more beneficial to delve deeper into it and amke it a full novel. But all in all, yeah go for it, I'd read it.

Answer 3

start at the beginning, do not spoil the end by giving hints to, keep the mystery going, keep them on the edge of their seat, not knowing what is to come next, not being able to put the book down.........you want them to read it very quikly for two reasons.......to take all that is with in at one time , so as to not grow into it slowly and not feel the full impact of what was there........second reason......so they can rush out and get the book, so i have more money, kidding,..........if they take in all very quikly, it leaves the full impact of the emotion that went into to, and may touch their lives in a new way, you may be the reason they change their ways. just by giving a part of yourself.....make sure you put all your emotion into, creativity is the result........i am not a writter though

Answer 4

Read a few existing short stories and copy the plot structure. It will make your writing process easier.
good luck!