How to Write a Short Story

You might not have time to write down a bestselling novel, but crafting a brief story of several thousand words will allow you to practice fiction writing skills you'll always use again. to write down an honest story , follow established criteria like developing a central character that engages your reader, zeroing in on your protagonist’s central conflict to form his journey a compelling experience for the reader.

1. Develop Your Protagonist

Your story needs a dynamic, but realistic main character to drive the action forward. To bring your protagonist to life, believe what your character wants and his course of action to urge that wish. believe what he did before the story opened, then start your story with a scene that shows him engaged in an activity that reveals his primary goal. for instance , if your protagonist may be a businessman who wants to secure a promotion, start with a scene that shows his meticulous nature. Show your protagonist as he polishes his shoes, straightens his tie, fastens his cufflinks then flicks a bit of fuzz off the lapel of his expensive suit.

2. Craft the Conflict

Your main character may need a goal he wants to accomplish, but the story won't engage the reader if something isn’t standing in your protagonist’s way. to feature drama to your story, insert a complication the character must overcome before he are able to do his desired outcome. While the complication often comes from the antagonist -- the character who wants to thwart your main character's goals -- the conflict are often internal also as external. for instance , your businessman might struggle with the insecurity and self-doubt that had held him back within the past, otherwise you might develop a rival employee who wants to spread a nasty rumor about your businessman simply to smudge your protagonist’s reputation.

3. Round Out the Plot

Your story should have a sequence of events, which incorporates a transparent cause-and-effect relationship that raises the strain in your story and also raises your character’s stakes. Short stories are intended to be read in one sitting, therefore the sequence of events must move along seamlessly without an excessive amount of background information, description or unnecessary dialogue. Select meaningful details that pique your readers' interest. within the businessman’s story, the plot might include scenes within the character's workplace that show the antagonist spreading his rumor and therefore the protagonist becoming more anxious about his upcoming interview.

4. The Protagonist Makes Significant Choices

The climax usually occurs when the most character makes an important decision about his primary objective. At now , the character should undergo a big change in his values, motives or beliefs, leading to a choice. His decision should logically stem from the story's events, but the result should also surprise the reader. for instance , during your protagonist’s interview, his boss might ask him to elucidate the rumor. Realizing how easily the rumor has ruined his character, your protagonist might prefer to quit his job instead of attempt to get the promotion.

From Homer's "The Odyssey" to "The Hunger Games," the search narrative has captivated the imagination of readers. A classic story of an unlikely hero coming into his own on a challenging journey, the plot follows a selected set of stages that both advance the events and gradually develop the most character. Knowing the weather of a search story plot can assist you create your own narrative of an exciting adventure.

5. Chosen for Service: the decision

The story begins together with your hero going about his regular routine. He could also be content together with his surroundings but something is off balance or missing of which he isn't aware. the decision to the search , usually from a wise mentor figure, disrupts this routine and sometimes points to the thing the hero is lacking. At the start of "Star Wars," for instance , Luke Skywalker longs for something greater than his monotonous life as a farmer, until Obi-Wan Kenobi calls him to become a Jedi. In your story, brainstorm an indoor conflict your character may need , and consider how the search he'll pursue could follow that issue.

6. Initial Insecurities: The Refusal

No matter what proportion your hero desires change, the danger of abandoning his temperature often is just too great. Despite the explanations the mentor gives for why the most character must take up the search , the hero usually refuses the decision initially . In "The Hobbit," Bilbo Baggins initially is unwilling to travel away the comforts of his home to go on Gandalf's dangerous and unpredictable adventure. believe the character in your own story and consider what fears he may need about happening the search . Brainstorm what past experiences or hardships initially could keep him from agreeing to travel .

7. The Journey Begins: the edge and Descent

Eventually, something happens that compels the hero to simply accept the search . it's going to are available the shape of a threat to his values or family, as in "Star Wars," when storm troopers kill Luke's aunt and uncle. The hero often receives special abilities or gifts and has companions to assist him on the journey. for instance , in "The Lord of the Rings," Frodo's ally , Sam, is his primary helper on his quest to destroy the ring, while Luke receives the lightsaber from Obi-Wan. Brainstorm characters, totems or objects that would provide your hero with assistance as he enters uncharted territory.

8. Into the Abyss: The Trial

In this climactic portion of the plot, the hero must come face to face with the thing of his quest and confront the best danger of the story. Often, he must face this episode of darkness on his own with the search as his sole focus, regardless of what the sacrifice. In "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy's trial occurs when she's imprisoned within the witch's castle and throws water on her. In your own story, believe how your character might answer his intense confrontation and what could motivate him to continue toward the thing of the search no matter his fears.

9. there is no Place Like Home: The Return

After overcoming the dark forces and meeting the goal of his quest, the hero returns to the house he was reluctant to go away and sees it with new eyes. Having been transformed by his journey, he brings new insight or wisdom to the people he left behind, or maybe feels frustrated by their inability to ascertain what he now sees. Dorothy returns from Oz with the knowledge that "there's no place like home" but is upset that nobody believes her experience. Consider how your character has changed as a results of his journey and what these changes might mean for his relationship to home.