How To Write a Short Story
For over a year, I’ve been writing and sharing a new story every month with my readers on Patreon. Short stories are an amazing way to practice craft, build your portfolio, and explore ideas you might want to develop into a longer project. Here's a checklist of the steps I take to write a short story:
Initial Concept
Identify who your hero is and their main dilemma. Their desires or goal should be so ambitious they are out of reach, with an obstacle that feels impossible to overcome. The challenge with short story writing is keeping the scope of the dilemma focused so it doesn’t spiral into too many side storylines or supporting characters. To keep the storylines contained, I keep my concepts focused on pivotal moments in my characters’ lives, when things irrevocably changed for better or worse.
Research and Worldbuilding
Once I have a concept, I dive into some research on the topic. Research helps deepen the initial concept, develop characters, and create the context for their dilemma and the world they live in. Some questions I consider:
What's the history of this issue?
Who's affected by it?
If possible, find testimonials about the subject
What experiences do I personally have related to this topic?
I also consider some of the other stories, art, music, or movies that might inspire the tone or mood of the project. What are the techniques they use to achieve that feeling? How might I be able to create that feeling with words or language? This incubation period for research, whether researching a topic or exploring art, can also lead to new story ideas.
Create an Outline
I used to jump into a story and start drafting, but I’ve since learned that writing is a lot easier if you have a map. I develop as detailed of an outline as possible or at the very least a “beat sheet” listing all the major moments of the story.
Start Drafting
I tend to start at the beginning and write until the end. If there are details I don’t know yet, concepts that I realize I need to do more research on, questions about the character, I’ll put notes or prompts in [bold brackets] so I can continue to write without interruption. Once I get to the end, I go back to the beginning and start filling in details using my cut and paste method.
Cut and Paste
I discovered this tactile method of developing and revising a manuscript while I was writing Somewhere In Between. Using scissors and tape, I read through the draft from the beginning and cut out the bold/bracketed prompts and paste in new material. I’ll then type the new draft, which gives me a chance to re-read the work. I typically save cut material or prompts and keep them in a file for future projects.
Final Revisions, Feedback, and Sharing
I’ll continue cutting and pasting until I feel all the story’s questions are resolved and the plot points fit together. I’ll then print a clean draft to read out loud, making notes in the margins for any errors, additions, or changes. This is also the draft I’ll share with early readers for feedback. Once I address any concerns from beta readers, I’ll do one last sweep to proofread the piece before sharing.
Short story writing has given me a chance to practice techniques and build a body of work, but it has also reminded me of some key principles of writing—to keep on a schedule and commit to a deadline, to finish one project at a time. It’s during the difficult moments, when you are stuck on a project and tempted to jump into a new one, that you improve your craft. You learn not to write to perfection, that your best is good enough, and the most important step is to begin.