One of the most interesting things about writing is that, even though it may seem difficult, it is actually rather easy. Simply put, anyone can write a story as long as they follow the proper steps. This article will go over those steps in detail with the help of a few short story examples so that even those of you that have never written a novel or screenplay can implement this information to start writing a story you always wanted to write.
Step One: Identify A Niche
As mentioned above, writing is actually quite easy as long as you follow the right steps. The first and most crucial step is to identify a niche. What is a niche and why is it important to find one? A niche is simply a small slice of the market that you can target with your product or service. It is usually defined as a “small, specialized market” where people are looking for a specific product or service for a specific purpose. So, for example, if you are a makeup artist, you might identify the vegan niche or the niche of people with allergies or skin sensitivities. In marketing, a niche is often defined as a “small group of buyers, often with specific needs or interests” who either cannot or will not easily be reached by larger companies. When developing products or services for a niche, it is important to keep in mind that there is likely a niche already being served by a competitor. Therefore, you should always be looking for ways to improve your product or service and make it more unique and tailored to your target audience.
Now, to flesh out this concept further, let’s look at some of the steps you might take to begin writing a short story:
Step Two: Choose A Name For Your Story
Next, you need to choose a name for your story. It is important to make sure that this name is catchy, easy to pronounce, and memorable. Additionally, you should always consider the genre you will fall under when choosing a name for your story. For example, if you are writing comedic shorts, you may want to consider using a character from a popular comedy show as the basis for your story. Alternatively, if you are a poet, you may want to consider using someone or something from the field as the basis for your story.
Step Three: Brainstorm Ideas
Once you have a name for your story, you can begin brainstorming ideas for the story. To start, you may want to open up a storyboard and start drawing out ideas. This is a good place to start your brainstorming because it will help you visualize the story before moving on to the next step.
Step Four: Choose One Main Character
After you have a clear idea of where you want your story to go, you can begin developing your main character. The most important thing about the main character is that they should be easy to relate to. Additionally, you should make sure that you are developing them according to the wishes of the story. For example, if you are writing an action-adventure story, you may want to develop a strong protagonist who is a fearless adventurer.
Step Five: Create Backstory And Context
Once you have a clear idea of who the main character is and what they are looking for, you can begin to fill in the backstory and context for the story. The backstory gives you the chance to flesh out the characters motivations and provide them with a compelling reason for the actions they are taking in the present day. Additionally, the context you establish for the story can help establish a believable setting and establish the characters as more than just a collection of clichés.
Step Six: Structure Of The Story
Now that you have a clear idea of who the main character is, why they are acting the way they are, and the goal of the story, you can begin to lay out the structure of the story. The structure of a story is very similar to the outline you would create for any other creative writing project. However, in the case of a short story, you may want to take a little bit of time and break down the story into a series of beats. A beat is simply a unit of music that generally lasts for about half a minute. This is also how stories are often constructed in movies; therefore, it is no surprise that this is the standard method of short story structuring. The structure of a story is particularly important in the case of a shorter story because it gives you a starting point for the writing process. Additionally, by structuring your story, you can ensure that you keep the reader interested and the narrative tight.
Step Seven: Write A Few First Drafts
Once you have a good idea of how the story is going to flow and where you need to end up, you can begin writing a few first drafts. This is where most people get stuck when they begin writing. Because a short story is usually rather short, it can be easy to write the first draft without any major errors. Once you have the first draft done, it is time to go back and polish it, adding more details, fixing typos, and perhaps even adding some new scenes. This is a much needed step because it ensures you have a polished piece of writing that is ready for submission.
In conclusion, this article has discussed how to begin the process of writing a short story. Simply put, as long as you follow the proper steps, anyone can write a short story that will grab the attention of anyone reading it. Moreover, as a writer, this is a good place to start your creative journey because it is often the first step to getting a contract, being published, or gaining some measure of recognition. So, if you ever wanted to try your hand at writing, now is the time to do it.