The Long And The Short Of The Short Story
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
The Art and Craft of Short Story Writing
Word Count: 1383
Summary:
You've found an enticing short story competition and are ready to dive in. While the idea of writing a novel has loomed large and intimidating, a short story feels more manageable, right? It's just a mini-novel, isn't it? Not quite.The essence of a short story lies in its precise brevity, a unique challenge that demands a distinct approach. Crafting a compelling short story requires understanding its nuances and applying key principles to create your best work.
Article:
Congratulations! You've discovered an exciting short story competition and decided to participate. You've dabbled in short stories before, looking wistfully at writing a novel but finding it overwhelming. A short story seems like the perfect alternative?"less daunting and more attainable. It's just a shorter novel, correct?
Not exactly.
A short story's magic lies not in its length but the skill involved in distilling an idea into its most potent form. Viewing it as a mini-novel can spell disaster before your first sentence is penned.
Writing a short story, like crafting a novel, non-fiction book, or essay, requires mastering specific principles and processes. It’s about embracing the challenge of brevity while conveying depth.
Planning Your Story
Every successful story starts with a plan. Imagine building a house without blueprints or setting sail without a map. Writing without a plan will leave you lost in your own words.
Ask yourself these essential questions as you begin:
- Who is your main character and what is their challenge?
- What do they desire, and how can they achieve it?
- Who or what stands in their way?
- How will you pressure your character to make difficult decisions?
- What lessons will your character learn?
Answering these questions will help you define your character’s journey and objectives.
Writing the First Draft
With a plan in place, it’s time to write. Here, focus solely on writing?"not editing or planning. Capture the action and essence of your story, building a draft rather than a polished piece.
Think of this stage as mining a diamond. What emerges initially is raw, needing refinement. The crafted gem comes later with editing.
Rewriting and Refining
Once your draft is complete, take a break. Gaining distance from your work is challenging but necessary to approach it with fresh eyes later.
When ready, read through without making changes. Ask yourself: Did I write the story I intended? If not, don’t worry?"often the true story emerges during writing. Ensure your narrative makes sense, flowing naturally from start to finish.
Consider key points:
- Limit significant time or location leaps.
- Keep your cast small?"three major characters at most.
- Ensure each scene propels the story forward. If not, it needs rewriting or removal.
Rewriting involves seeing your story anew, aligning its flow and logic.
Editing and Polishing
Shift into an analytical mindset for editing. Check your word count and adhere strictly to competition limits.
Read critically, asking:
- Where does the action truly start? Begin your story there, avoiding unnecessary setup.
- Is every action integral to the story’s core? Trim excess material, saving it for a longer work.
- Are you showing, not telling? Reveal character traits through actions and decisions.
- Eliminate explanations. Focus on imagery and action instead.
- Does the story fulfill its promise and resolve its plot?
Rewriting and editing are iterative; expect several drafts. Many skilled short story writers revise upwards of 15 times before achieving satisfaction.
After refining your story, ensure proper formatting?"double-spacing and an easy-to-read font?"and don’t forget sufficient postage when submitting!
Good luck!
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: The Long And The Short Of The Short Story.
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.