You Can Write A
Short Story: Part 1
by Linda S. Dupie
So, you want to write a
short story. There is more to writing it, than just telling a
story. Have you heard the phrase "Show, don't tell?"
If you haven't, then remember it. Show; don't tell means to use
your characters to convey the story through their actions and
dialogue.
Before you can put this
information to work, you need a story idea. Choose your idea and
shape it with these six rules.
- Theme
- Plot
- Story Structure
- Characters
- Setting
- Style and tone
The Theme is the story
you are trying to tell this could be something that can help in
our lives or convey a message. You don't want to be preachy to
your reader, and at the same time, you shouldn't have to explain
what the moral of the story is. Your reader should be able to
learn that through your story.
To keep the reader
interested you need a Plot, conflict or struggle that your main
character has to overcome. The struggle can be with another
character or something inside the character such as feelings.
The main character or hero/heroine should win or lose on their
own and not be rescued by someone.
The conflict should
intensify as the story moves forward and should reach its climax
at the end of the story.
*Steps to
plotting-Conflict starts, things go right for the hero/heroine,
things go wrong, final victory.
For Story Structure, best
advice is to jump right into the action, let the reader know who
the hero/heroine is. Here's where you'll need to decide whether
to tell your story in "first person" or "third
person."
First person is telling
the story as if it were happening to you, using the pronoun
"I." Third person is telling the story as if it's all
about other people, using the pronouns "he",
"she", "it".
If you choose to use the
third person point of view, tell the story through the eyes of
just one character-usually the hero/heroine.
Now, decide whether
you'll tell the story in the present or past tense. Past tense
is writing the story as if it already happened, present tense is
writing the story as it is happening right now. Once you have
chosen your tense "stick to it," don't switch between
tenses as it will confuse your reader and they will leave your
story unfinished.
Decide on a Setting, a
place and time that are interesting and familiar.
Style and tone is the
language you use that is right for your story. Whenever you can
use action and dialogue to let the reader know what's happening,
"show, don't tell."
Put dialogue in direct
quotes like "Come help!" instead of indirect quotes as
"He told her to come help." You don't need complicated
words to write well; in fact simpler is usually better. Simple
words and sentences are easier to understand.
Finally, choose the best
word-the one that is closest to your meaning and gives the
clearest image possible. If you can't think of a word, use your
thesaurus.
Now that you have some
background of what your short story needs, it's time to start
writing. To use these six rules effectively you'll need to add a
beginning, middle, and ending.
The beginning of the
story is important, because it's what draws your reader in. The
best way to do this is to jump right into the story. Be as
direct as you can, if you have a 1,000-word limit your beginning
should not take up more than a fifth of your word limit (200
words), or no more than a typed double spaced page.
When writing short
stories you don't have the luxury of many scene changes, so to
help you collect your thoughts write down all your ideas for the
opening-the introduction of your hero/heroine and his/her
problem. Make sure to give the reader a clear picture of the
main elements of your story. The reader needs to be able to
visualize your characters and the setting.
Below are two examples of
openings to short stories.
Dialogue -
"I'm thinking of
something that begins with the letter 'W'," said
Mary.
"Is it the
window?" asked Sam. "Window begins with the
letter 'w'."
Narrative
John waited in the
principal's office. He wondered why it was taking so
long. It had already been an hour. He knew this
because he'd glanced at his watch as each minute passed.
He wanted to leave, but he knew he must wait. It was
required.
Now, work on the opening
of your story, next you'll learn how to put together a
suspenseful middle.
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Author Linda S. Dupie is
a freelance writer, she writes on a variety of subjects
including Travel, Kids and Family issues. Linda also publishes
and writes a web site and print magazine called
http://www.lindasdupie.com/ |
