How do you write a short story?

Question

Ok, I've written lots, for years, for fun. But I got to thinking recently that it might be nice to finish something one day. I haven't got the attention span to write a novel, the short story sounds appealing. So how do you start one? how do you finish it? What makes people read them? Do you need to know how it will finish before you start? Any suggestions or comments welcome, thanks!

Answer 1

A story, whether it's a novel, short story, or screenplay, is started with some of the following:

1) Premise
This is when you ask, "What would happen if?" Anything can get you started with it. The author of "Lord of the Rings" started his when he wrote about a hole in the ground on a piece of paper. He had no clue what it meant, he simply wrote it. Then he started asking "what would happen if..." something lived in it? Then it grew into "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings". Brainstorm, read the news, and start asking what if questions to develop the premise of your story.

2) Setting
You can set your story anywhere, on Mars, in the past on Earth, in the future on a starship, anywhere. Even thinking about the setting can help you to develop the premise.

3) Multiple Characters
Almost all stories contain multiple characters to play off of the values of the others. Start thinking about characters and what they want and this will also help you to develop your story. Ask lots of "what would happen if?"

4) Inciting Incident
This is where you story begins that turns your story's world upside-down and forces your character to set it straight. Then your character will begin a quest to reach an object of desire. Thinking about an inciting incident can also be your premise: "What would happen if a shark ate someone and the partially-eaten body ends up on the beach?" Jaws.

These points should help you to get started.

Answer 2

Finding a good idea can be tough. The first thing I would do is to chose a genre. Do you like fantasy? Scifi? Romance? Horror? etc etc. I would hold off reading any short stories in your chosen genre until you have a specific idea in mind, that way you don't accidentally borrow *too* many ideas. Writing's always better if it comes from your own head :-) Once you've decided on a genre, try and think about things that interest you to find a plot. Look at the world around you for inspiration. The news can be good inspiration, as can music. think about some of your favorite stories, or stories you would have liked better if it would have gone a different way. If you want to write a horror, sit down, turn off the lights, and try to imagine the scariest thing you can think of happening to you. If you want a romance, think about what would completely sweep you off your feet. Scifi and Fantasy can be easy--what kind of world do you wish you could live in? What kind of person do you wish you could be? What kind of things do you wish were real? After you've done that, decide whether you want it to be in first person or in third. First person shows more about the character's thoughts and feelings and reactions, while third person shows more of the big picture and has the opportunity to create some dramatic irony--something important the reader knows but the character doesn't. Once you've decided all that, it's time to do some research! Now you should read as many short stories in your genre as you can to get a feel for how it's done. Also, google is your friend--use it to look up keywords "elements of fiction," so you can look up things like plot, symbolism, rising and falling action, etc etc. You can even google "how to write a short story," to try and get a nice, solid how-to. That's about all I can think of. Once you've got all that, the rest (ie, good writing) is up to you!

Answer 3

It's a good idea to read a few short stories first - there are lots of fads in short stories, so pick up a (cheap, used/library) copy of The Best American Short Stories (any year) and also if you have a Borders/Barnes & Noble, flip through some literary magazines. Ask for help if you can't find the literary magazines; they're there.

When you are reading, try to notice the arc of the story - it's quite different than a longer story, like a novel - and how the theme of the story is carried out. Is it through drama, description, both? Some good authors to read are Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Chaon, Andre Dubus, and Alice Munro...all famous for their wonderful short stories. Good luck!

Answer 4

Begin with an action scene, using dialogue between the characters. A feeling of tenseness will cause a reader to continue turning the pages.

You do not need to know the ending of a story to begin one. Much of my 150 short stories started out with no ending planned, but they come at the right time.

Additionally, never start a sentence with the word Ok unless it is in dialogue with the character using such juvenile language.

Find the booklet, "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. It is an invaluable aid for the novice and professional writer alike. Read and apply its contents thoroughly.

Answer 5

Think of a topic or story line (i.e. a small town girl moves to the Big Apple or A city girl from LA moves to a small town), then write down some ideas of what might happen on her way, while she's there, and if she stays or returns home. Then just start writing, and if your "short story" exceeds 100 pages, keep going you may have a novel...

Answer 6

No, just sit down and start writing when you're in the mood for it. Think about it every where you go. Gather Ideas and jot them down. Make it natural for you to read. Write about what You know. YOu can use personalities of people you already know, but it's curtiouse to change the names! You can start a story withouth knowing where it'll go. Just write what You're thinking, and, not soon....but eventually, if you're determined, you'll have a good story. I love writing short stories...but I have a problem with finishing them.

To end a story, usually, you begin ending by resolving mysteries, or conflicts and problems. YOu speciffy charactor changes. But not too abruptly. The biggest thing involved is your immagination.

Go for it! Make a story and publish it!

Answer 7

I have never written anything, but do read. You have to write what you have experienced in real or in your mind, and make it believeable. It has to start out interesting, hold your attention , and led to a understandable ending. All anybody can do is start and do your best. Hope I read some of your work.

Answer 8

well. depends on what kind of audience you want to attract. I write to attract teenagers so phrase and words used are more romantic.
AND teenagers prefer nice story line than fancy long phrases that piss them off just reading.

Answer 9

This is how you write a short story.

Answer 10

think of a name for your character, think where he/she lives/goes ,think what happens, ending

for eg, Tom malone goes to las vegas to watch ricky hatton, goes to the casino, loses all his money and is in debt to the casino,they give him a way out by transpoting a cargo over the mexican border, he is arrested by police and put in jail, but the police watch the fight and he can see it from his cell, tom is happy,but who won the fight?