How To Write A Short Story: 8 Tips

A book with vibrant flowers growing from its pages, representing the blossoming of creativity and ideas in short stories.

“A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick – a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.” – Neil Gaiman

Short stories are powerful, condensed narratives that capture a world, an emotion, or a single unforgettable moment in just a few pages. Unlike longer pieces of writing, they don’t have the luxury of long build-ups; every word has to count. 

This intensity makes them the perfect opportunity to take risks, to explore ideas that wouldn’t work if you were writing a novel. Not to mention the challenge of developing characters, plot and a premise is both challenging and incredibly rewarding to write. 

Keep reading to learn how to write a short story, including the best 8 tips for writing short stories, different types, some resources and a few of my favourite examples.

What Is A Short Story?

A short story is a brief, self-contained piece of fiction that tells a complete tale within a limited word count. Unlike novels, which narrate complex plots and multiple characters, short stories are designed to be read in a single sitting, focusing on a specific moment, theme, or conflict. Typically ranging from 1,000 to 7,500 words, short stories are the perfect medium for exploring a single idea, premise or event or emotion. 

What Are The Different Types of Short Stories?

  1. Flash Fiction: Ultra-short stories, typically a few hundred words. Famous examples include ‘A Haunted House’ by Virginia Woolf or ‘Chapter V’ by Ernest Hemingway. 
  2. Drabble: Exactly 100 words, drabbles challenge writers to convey a complete idea or moment with extreme brevity.
  3. Vignette: A descriptive scene or literary sketch that captures a momen of time and is within a larger body of work. A great example is ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E. B. White.
  4. Fable: A short story with a moral, often featuring animals as characters or parts of nature to teach moral lessons.
  5.  Parable: A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. 
  6. Sketch Story: A descriptive piece focused on a character or setting. It doesn’t contain a typical plot structure. 
  7. Feghoot: Humorous short stories that end in a pun or wordplay, often light-hearted and witty.
A vintage fountain pen and ink bottle alongside decorative leaves, symbolising the topic, how to write a short story.

8 Writing Tips For Short Stories

1. Start with an Idea 

This can be the hardest part, so don’t worry about choosing the perfect premise or thinking of something original. Just pick something that excites or intrigues you.

 You could use writing prompts to spark your imagination, read some of your favourite short stories and ask yourself why or what makes them powerful, draw from a personal experience, read newspapers and magazines – get inspired!

2. Pick A Single Theme or Emotion

A short story has limited space, so you need to be clear about what you want to convey. For example, is it about friendship, loss, love, resilience or something else?

 A core theme or emotion can guide your story’s structure and prevent you from wandering off-topic. Think of it as the story’s foundation, what story you want to tell and why. 

3. Focus on One Key Character (or a Small Cast)

With short stories, you don’t have the luxury to build large, complex character arcs.

Limit yourself to one protagonist or a few. As long as you have the reader is invested in, whether it’s a character they’re rooting for or a character they despire, you’re on the right track. 

In ‘Cathedral‘ by Raymond Carver, for example, the story centres around a single encounter between the narrator and a blind man. Ironically, the blind man leads the narrator to ‘true sight’ by helping him see beyond prejudice. 

So, explore the character’s desires, fears, and struggles. Remember, it’s not about quantity; a well-developed character with genuine motivations and conflicts will make a much bigger impact on your readers.

4. Create a Gripping Opening

The beginning of your short story is crucial. A short story needs to grab readers’ attention from the start.

Begin with action, a thought-provoking statement, or a mysterious event that immediately pulls readers in. 

Take a look at this gripping opening from Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘Tell Tale Heart’:

TRUE! – NERVOUS – VERY, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?

Just like Poe does in his short story, create intrigue or set up the main conflict within the first few sentences to keep your audience hooked.

5. Keep the Plot Tight and Focused

A short story thrives on brevity. You don’t need elaborate subplots or unnecessary scenes – focus on one primary conflict or goal.

Each scene should drive the story forward, revealing more about the characters or adding tension.

Decide on a basic structure: beginning, middle, and end. Introduce the conflict early, let it build, and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. Avoid unnecessary details that may divert the reader’s attention from the main storyline.

6. Use Dialogue Sparingly, but Make It Meaningful

Dialogue in a short story should be concise and purposeful.

Every line of dialogue should either reveal something about a character or move the plot forward.

Since you have limited space, avoid small talk and focus on meaningful exchanges. Let the dialogue reflect your character’s personality and add depth to the story.

But don’t overdo it. Sometimes silence or a character’s actions can say more than words!

7. End with Impact

The ending of a short story is just as important as the beginning. Aim for a conclusion that’s thought-provoking, surprising, or emotionally satisfying.

 Whether you choose a twist ending, a moment of realisation, or a lingering question, make sure it leaves an impression on the reader. An impactful ending will make readers remember your story long after they’ve finished it.

Here are a few types of endings in short fiction (plus some spoilers!)

Open Ending: This leaves the reader wondering what happens next, offering a sense of mystery.

“The Lady or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton: The story ends with a young man standing before two doors, one hiding a beautiful lady and the other a ferocious tiger. Stockton leaves readers wondering which door the man opens and whether the princess, who knows what lies behind each door, guided him to a happy ending or a brutal fate.

Resolved Ending: Wraps up the story neatly, providing closure for the main conflict.

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry: A young couple sacrifices their most prized possessions to buy each other Christmas gifts. Della sells her hair to buy Jim a watch chain, while Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of hair combs. The story concludes with the couple realising their love for each other is the most valuable gift, offering readers a sense of closure and a bittersweet message about love and sacrifice.

Twist Ending: Surprises the reader with an unexpected conclusion.

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson: The story leads readers to believe the town’s lottery is a positive, communal event, only to reveal in the final moments that the “winner” is to be stoned to death.

8. Edit, Edit, Then Edit Some More!

As Terry Pratchett said, “The first draft is you telling yourself the story.” Writing the first draft is just the beginning; editing is where your short story truly takes shape. This stage is about refining your story, cutting out unnecessary parts, and sharpening each line to make it impactful.

Read your story out loud to catch awkward phrasing, repetitive words, and any sections that don’t flow naturally. Listen to how the story sounds and pay attention to places where the pace might drag. If a sentence or paragraph doesn’t contribute to the plot, character development, or mood, then delete it.

You need to be ruthless in your editing.  The goal is to keep only what adds value, creating a story that’s compelling, concise and resonates with readers.

A cartoon image of a woman standing next to a stack of large, colourful suitcases labelled “Plot Ideas” and a small suitcase labelled “Word Count.” She has a speech bubble that says, “I’m going to need to edit A LOT!” The scene is set in a room with a window and curtains, humorously illustrating the final editing step when writing a short story.

Some of My Favourite Short Stories

If you want to become a great short story writer, then one of the best things you can do is read! I’ve mentioned some of these already throughout the blog, but here are some of the best short stories to inspire your creative writing: 

  • The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
  • The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
  • A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
  • William and Mary by Roald Dahl
  • The Snows of Kilimanjaro By Ernest Hemingway 

Best Resources For Short Story Writing 

If you’re looking to sharpen your short story skills, the right resources can make a huge difference. From insightful books to interactive communities, these tools provide guidance, inspiration, and feedback to help you create your best work.

1. Books 

On Writing by Stephen King – Offers practical advice on storytelling and editing.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott – A guide to finding your voice and overcoming creative blocks.

The Elements of Style by Strunk & White – A must-have for clear and concise writing.

2. Writing Communities

Scribophile – Connect with other writers for feedback.

Reddit – Discussions and advice for writers at any stage.

Critique Circle – Exchange feedback to refine your stories.

3. Podcasts

The Writer’s Voice – Listen to short stories read by the authors.

Story Grid – Focus on story structure and mechanics.

Writing Excuses – Quick, actionable writing advice from professional authors.

Want To Write A Great Short Story? Apply The 8 Tips

Writing a story in short form challenges you to pack emotion, plot, and meaning into just a few pages. It’s a powerful way to tell a story without the space of a novel, but one that can captivate readers just as much, if not more!

As you practice, you’ll discover the unique rhythm and skill that writing short stories requires. So, use these tips and resources, read lots of short stories and start creating your own!

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