Unlock the Secret Path to Getting Your Short Story Published and Celebrated!
Both methods are fine, but either way, there are some basic questions you should know before you begin. Here’s what I want you to think about before you outline or start to write:
- Who’s your main character? Short stories are about one character. Keep it simple. This is a slice of life, not an epic.
- What does your main character want? Every main character has to want something, even if, as Kurt Vonnegut said, it’s only a glass of water.
- What’s getting in the way of your main character getting what s/he wants? Problems and obstacles are what make the story. If your character wants a glass of water and all she’s got to do is go to the tap, there is no story.
- What’s the climax? One of the biggest mistakes I see in short stories is the lack of climax. Don’t forget it! You don’t have to know exactly what’s going to happen at this stage, but you should have a general idea. Without a destination, you don’t know where you’re going.
Keep in mind that short stories are different from novels. They are simpler in terms of scope, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy! Keep your focus narrow. Stay away from B plots, point of view switching, and verbose writing.
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