Hi Everyone,
I have recently landed myself a place on a course for Medical Administration and during my spare time when I'm not studying I'm thinking about writing short stories. This would be a great way for me to practise my craft before tackling something big like a novel. But how do I write a short story? Any tips?
Well done on getting onto the course, David.
Buy a copy of Writing Magazine and look at the short story comps there, both current ones and past winners' stories. You may see a theme that you'd like to try, and it will at least give you some ideas for titles.
A short story is a very compact thing. You have characters moving upon some sort of journey, which should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Sounds obvious, but it's easy to waffle.
There's no room for descriptions; you start the story in the middle of the action, or in imminent anticipation of it. Your characters spring to life fully formed, and we really don't have to know their backstory except as it appears in the course of events. You need a small cast list; a limited setting; a word limit - though short stories can vary in length from 1500 words to 10,000, so perhaps you could set yourself something short to start with as an exercise in containment.
Every single word has to count - and often to punch above its weight.
Avoid 'he said, she said' (or 'he scratched, she coughed, she muttered, he responded'...) in dialogue - that just eats words. If you have a two-hander, you don't need to say who's talking with every new line - it's obvious.
Don't name or explain secondary characters unless it's vital.
Set yourself a challenge: for instance, a man walks into a bar. What does he do there? Who does he meet? Why are they there? Who does what to whom? What's the outcome?
Write your story, then prune it ruthlessly. Cut out anything that smacks of waffle or repetition, or anything that doesn't pertain directly to the plot. If it doesn't lead anywhere (backwards or forwards), cut it out.
There - nothing to it, is there?
Above all, enjoy the telling of the story. This is supposed to be a pleasure after your hard day's work!
Lorraine
Don't introduce too many characters and begin the story with non-typical opening lines (e.g. once upon a time)