14 Tips On Writing The Short-Short Story

The short-short story has been likened by some as being closer to writing a poem than a story. And that makes sense-every word has to be packed with power; every line has to move the story along.

The Writing For Success short story competition requires you to write a very short story-the word limit is just 900 words. Here are some tips to help you make every word count.

  • The opening paragraph is the most important one in a short story. Use it to hook your readers and draw them into the ongoing drama of your story.

  • In the opening lines, you have to do the following:

    • Set the scene

    • Introduce the main character

    • Reveal the main character's mood, approximate age, his/her goal or problem

    • Show that something interesting is about to happen

  • Begin with a character and let this person take you where they want to go-then when the story is written, edit, shape and tighten your prose.

  • Decide whose story this is. Choose one viewpoint and stick to it.

  • Don't force your characters to speak words that sound out of character or engage in actions that don't suit their personality.

  • Avoid detailed descriptions of setting - give the reader a quick 'snapshot'. A few powerful words or phrases can do a lot of work.

  • Use the same approach to describe the character's appearance. Choose words that trigger the reader's imagination and let him/her fill in the gaps - e.g. "She had a loose-limbed, healthy outdoor look about her".

  • Try to avoid plots that hinge on a coincidence or a misunderstanding that could be cleared up if the characters would just talk to each other. (You have to be a very good writer to pull this off so the reader is satisfied.)

  • Very short stories are a bit like jokes: they build up to a twist or a punchline. The difficult part is playing fair with the reader in having all the clues there, without making the outcome too obvious.

  • Show that your character has grown or changed in some way-she has a new understanding of people or of herself; she has learned a lesson; she has changed her attitude. NOTE: If your character 'comes to realise' something important, make sure she comes to this realization through a strong piece of action or a powerful lesson-not through a weak, "Oh, my goodness, I never thought of it that way before - silly me!"

  • Appeal to your reader's emotions. We all identify with loss, sorrow, disappointment, frustration - make sure that emotions are powerful elements in your story.

  • Make every word of dialogue count - avoid aimless 'how are you today?' type exchanges; let actions take the place of words on occasions. And remember there's no need to TELL as well as SHOW - for example, if you write "Marcia was really angry at his words. Her face grew scarlet with rage as she yelled, "I can't believe you said that! Get out of here!' then you've wasted ten words. You could simply have said: Marcia's face grew scarlet with rage. "I can't believe you said that! Get out of here!"

  • When it's time to edit, remember that every word has to move the story forward. Yes, I know I've already said that - but it's worth saying a hundred times, because one of the hardest things a writer can do is cut words. You have to be tough. Cut out whatever is unnecessary; poorly expressed; overly detailed. In a very short story, it's more likely to be what you've cut out that sells your work than what you've left in.

  • STUDY YOUR MARKET. This seems painfully obvious, but so many writers just can't be bothered. It makes sense to study your target market. There are a number of magazines that publish the short-short story of around 900 words - read as many as you can! (C) Copyright Marg McAlister

    Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Critique Groups - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

    What do people expect when they join a writing group?The... Read More

    Writers: Dr. Phil Goes Fishing with Oprah in His Tackle Box, Shouldn?t You?

    Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More

    Effective Collaboration - Working With Your Ghostwriter

    Using a ghostwriter to craft your free reprint articles and... Read More

    Writing Personal Statements - Top Tips

    WRITING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT TO GET INTO UK UNIVERSITYHOW DO... Read More

    6 Ways to Toot Your Own Writing Horn

    You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work... Read More

    Pairs/Groups Of Words Often Confused - Part 2 of 6

    BAITED, BATEDBaited usually refers to traps or snares. When the... Read More

    Hero?s Journey ? The Herald

    Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More

    Freelancing Doesnt Mean Writing For Free. Does it?

    Writer's forums are bustling with debate over whether or not... Read More

    Know your Audience Before you Write Your Book or Web Site

    If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More

    Is The Theme Running Throughout The Story?

    Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More

    Writing Made Them Rich #3: Richard Bach

    One day in the mid-1970's a young man stumbled into... Read More

    Sharpen Your Writing With Structure

    At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More

    Through the Eyes of an Artist

    As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More

    7 Journaling Tips

    Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More

    Scenes and Structure

    Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More

    Format Each eBook Chapter Before you Write It

    Do you have a problem creating a focus in your... Read More

    Does Your Story Have A Theme?

    Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More

    A Single Technique

    Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More

    Why Researching Is Good, And A Failure To Do So Is Not

    What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More

    How to Build A Success Freelance Career (Part 2)

    Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need... Read More

    Amazing Ways Writing Articles Can Improve Your Business

    How to get a lot of traffic to your website... Read More

    An Inside Look at Proofreading

    This is the ideal topic for us all to think... Read More

    Need a Book Coach, Ghost Writer, or Editor? Part 2

    If you either want to write a book to help... Read More

    Vital Verbs

    Remember back in the dark days of your school years... Read More

    How Are You Plotting?

    Creative Writing Tips ?Writing is a creative process and how... Read More

    Is Your Title Compelling?

    Short Story Writing Tips:Your title is your selling tool. It's... Read More

    Writing and Self-examination

    Good writing requires self-examination. Why is one writing? What part... Read More

    Does Your Fight Scene Pack a Punch?

    Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More

    Generating Nonfiction Book Titles Without a Hassle

    The process of developing a working title for your nonfiction... Read More

    Learn How To Write Poetry!

    A poet isn't born; you must work at crafting your... Read More

    A Quick Guide to ISBNs for Self-Publishers

    ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a... Read More

    Is Horror Dead?

    I've noticed a big shift away from traditional horror recently,... Read More

    Piecing It All Together

    There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More