Handy Tips When Writing Short Fiction

Do you want to write short fiction that stands out?

When I attended creative a writing class, I was taught some tips on how to make your short fiction story more readable and interesting to readers. Here are some ideas and tips if you want to start writing short fiction stories.

1. A short fiction story should be between 800 to 2500 words. Longer fiction stories tend to waffle on but you can still write up to 4000 words if the plot and characters are believable.

2. Start your short fiction story with a great first sentence showing where your character is or what that person is doing. Use a believable plotline for your first paragraph but don't give too much away in the beginning. Make the first paragraph exciting so your reader is drawn in.

3. Start the beginning of your short fiction story by introducing one character of your choice. Do not introduce too many characters as the story will become confusing.

4. Very short fiction stories should only have two or three characters at the most, but this is my opinion because I was taught to write this way. You can have silent characters. For example, a silent character will not be given a name i.e. a mother, father, doctor, or nurse - no name must be given for them but do not use these characters all the way through your story. They should be like passing by characters.

5. Choose a situation/plot for your short fiction story. For example, create a problem for the character or something they need to do which becomes interesting for the reader.

6. Choose an interesting setting. It can be a simple setting like a home. Do not move from one setting to another if it's a short story of 1000 to 2000 words. Most fictional stories are best set in one place.

7. Use vivid imagery of your setting so the reader will get a sense of where the character is.

8. Show your story and don't tell it. What do I mean by this? Show the reader what your character is doing. Use dialogue or describe the action showing what is happening with your characters. Describe the area and show your reader where the character is and what they are doing.

9. Do not tell your story. Telling the story is called exposition. Exposition is allowed but only a small amount of it in a short fictional story because there aren't that many words in the word count to tell the story. Telling the story is when you don't show action but say he did this and she did that.

10. Most women's magazines here in the UK, such as, Best, Bella or Chat, look for short fiction about women that must be between 800 to 1200 words. Also, Mslexia Magazine online accepts short fictional stories up to 3000 words. They are looking for new writers. Make your short story about a woman. Make it realistic or about an everyday problem.

11. To make the short fiction story interesting and thrilling, create a twist but do not reveal the twist until the end. A twist has to be believable.

12. If you want to write a thrilling horror short fiction story make it believable by creating unique characteristics for your characters. For instance, create a character who has a walking stick or has a nervous streak about him/her. Use a thrilling description of your character to shock your reader. This is showing and not telling what I have explained above.

13. The middle of the story should reveal more of the plot you have chosen and the story should start to develop. Make it believable with dialogue between characters to draw your reader in so they will not want to stop reading.

14. Give your character a habit, ie. they might be a smoker, a big chocolate eater, or a profound coffee drinker. Use your words wisely. Make your character stand out.

15. At the end of your story, you must shock your reader with a great ending. Use one great sentence to surprise your reader right at the end. Let them find out something believable and surprise your readers. Make them smile. Make the story thrilling with an incredible twist at the end.

©️ Denise Larkin 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Also, published on Medium.com