Tips October 28, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock the Secret Editing Tricks That Can Transform Your Short Story Overnight

Some things to think about at this stage:

Is the dialogue believable? I highly recommend reading the dialogue aloud. This is by far the fastest way to catch something that sounds lame or unbelievable.
Are the descriptions well-written? Are there any spots where descriptions need to be added or cut? Remember, since this is a short story, the descriptions aren’t going to go on for paragraphs, but the reader should still be centered in the setting and be able to picture what’s happening.
Are details consistent? Check your timeline, any locations, descriptions of characters, any backstory hints, etc. I once wrote a short story where my main character punched a wall and broke his hand and then it was never mentioned again. Apparently, he miraculously healed two sentences later and went about his life like nothing had ever happened. Don’t make that mistake.
Are you writing in active voice? Not only does writing in active voice make for better writing, it also helps you keep to tight word counts. Writing in passive voice adds a ton of extra words. Take these sentences, for example:
- Active voice: Haley shut the door.
- Passive voice: The door was shut by Haley.

See how the passive voice example adds a couple of words (those couple of words will add up if you consistently use passive voice) and sounds kind of wonky? There are times when passive voice is perfectly fine to use, but try to stick with active voice as much as possible.