Do you have an idea for a great story but you either don’t want to right a 300 page epic or you just don’t have enough ideas for a novel? Why not try a short story instead?
Short stories can be great fun to read and great fun to write as well. There are still a few rules that you should follow when writing a short story and they are as follows.
What is your story about?
Having a clear story is very important for a short story, even more so than a full length novel. You have a lot less words to convey your story and your message, so you have to be clear. Your theme is the underlying current that runs through your story, the clearer this is the easier it will be to read.
Time span of your short story
The most effective short stories are those that only cover a relatively short space of time. Your short story may only be about one particular event or one day, whatever your time span, it should help illustrate the overall theme of your story.
Less characters the better
You need strong characters that help make your short story a great read. In a novel you have more scope to have lots of different characters. In a short story having too many characters will only confuse and dilute your actual theme and story.
Make every word the right word
If you are writing a short story you need to be able to get your point across and complete your story within a certain amount of words. That is why you have to make every word the right word. Don’t over complicate the short story by using unnecessary words. Proofread when you have finished writing and get rid of any words that don’t add to the sentence and the story.
Keep to your chosen theme
You don’t have much time to elaborate in a short story and while it can be tempting to waffle, don’t! It can also be tempting to digress from your actual chosen theme of the story, if it doesn’t add to the short story in any way, stick to your first theme. If you feel tempted to go down different avenues you will either end up with a confusing short story or a novel.
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