If you’ve never written a short story, it can be a bit daunting to
learn how to write one. There are plenty of great resources online,
but unless you have a literary agent, editor, or publisher
roaming the web looking for newbies to take on as a client,
you’ll have to patiently learn from scratch. This article will help
guide you on how to learn about writing short stories so you
can become a proficient and confident storyteller.
Short Stories Are Vital To Every Genre
Whether you call them micro-fiction, fiction snippets, or
mini-novels, short stories have been around for long enough that
most anyone reading this article should know what they are. A
short story is basically just a short piece of fiction; it could be
a tale, a parable, an experimental piece, or anything in between. A
short story writer might publish a collection of linked sketches,
micro-novels, or one
single novel. Regardless of the form, the short story writer’s
toolbox is well stocked with the ability to surprise, amuse,
inform, and astound the reader with an engaging narrative that draws
them in and keeps them reading.
Pick A Theme, Then Let Your Mind Wander
As mentioned above, short stories can be written about
anything. But you don’t necessarily want to limit yourself to
one theme. After all, it’s always better to have a variety of
writing exercises to work on. This way, you’ll always have
something new to show for yourself after every session. Your
mind will wander, and the next thing you know, three days have
passed and you haven’t put a single word on paper. That’s
probably why most professionals recommend writing three stories
per day, every day. It’s a great way to ensure continuous
inspiration and productivity. Plus, you’ll never run out of
themes to write about.
Start With The Basics
Unless you’re a literary genius, it’s unlikely that you’ll
suddenly produce a flawless short story at the
push of a button. It takes a lot of practice to get
there. So, before you start trying to combine cutting edge
literature with a character arc that will have your
contemporaries lining up to give you their awards, why not
start with the basics? Just write a simple, uneventful story
about something that you know will come easily to you? Like
most things in life, creating art is a process best learned
through experience. While it would be great to have a
master key that will allow you to throw the perfect story
together at any given moment, that’s probably not the case.
Instead, take your time, write a little bit every day, and
before you know it, you’ll have a collection of short stories
that you can show off to your friends and family.
Learn From The Best
Nowadays, the term ‘best practice’ has become
synonymous with ‘guides, bloggers, and forums’ for
beginners. These are all great resources, but they can also
be a bit daunting to access for those just beginning
their writing journey. While it might be tempting to jump on
the latest trends and tools, that’s all the more reason to
learn from the absolute masters of the craft.
If you really want to become the best writer that you can
be, the most logical and efficient way to do so is to learn
from the best. Luckily for you, we’re here to help with
a list of the top content creators, authors, and bloggers
in the world of short stories. Just follow their advice,
and before you know it, you’ll be writing three-dimensional
stories that will keep your friends and family members
engaged in intimate conversation with your characters
for hours on end.
Avoid Over-Indulgence
Most beginners to the craft drink their
Kool-Aid and follow every piece of advice
immediately. After all, the more you learn, the better
you’ll be able to write, right? Learning how to become
a better writer is a noble goal, and one that deserves
all the credit in the world. But, as with most
things in life, too much of a good thing is never
good. In fact, over-indulgence in all things
literary can lead to serious problems
for the writer. Most notably, it can cause complete
brain drain. After years of dedication, the hard-working
writer’s brain might just shut down, leaving them
fatigued and unable to function at their best
for days, if not weeks. Aspiring writers might
avoid this by taking regular breaks,
rejuvenating their brains with new information and creative
juices.
Start Small
If you’re just getting started, it might be a
good idea to start small. After all, nobody learns to
write by jumping straight into the deep end of
the pool. Take a lap, get your feet wet, and gradually
build up your stamina. Once you’ve got enough energy to
wade through a couple of pages without getting exhausted,
you can move on to the next stage.
Follow The Rules
There are certain dos and don’ts that
anybody aspired to be a professional
writer must follow if they want to succeed.
You can’t get away with blatant plagiarism,
spineless drivel, or immature humor, amongst
other things. Unless you want to end up like that
guy who had a nervous breakdown
and started raving about God and Elvis,
respect the craft and always try to improve
upon your previous efforts. This will help you
to avoid early rejection and eventual burnout
that oftentimes plague the beginner
writer. Sometimes all it takes is one bad
experience to see things clearly, and that’s why
it might be a good idea to stick with
what you know for the time being. Starting small
and learning from the best might just get you
to that place you’ve always dreamed of being.