How to Write Short Fiction

Photo credit: Denise Larkin (London)

Would you like to write short fiction stories?

Do you know how to write short fiction?

Learn more about this topic.

When I went to a short fiction story class, I was taught some tips on how to make your short story more readable and interesting to readers. Here are some ideas and tips to make this happen if you want to start writing short fiction.

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1.
A very short fiction story should be between 800 to 1500 words. Longer fiction stories tend to waffle on, but you can still write up to 2,500 words if the plot and characters are believable.

2.
Start the beginning of the story by introducing one character of your choice. Do not introduce too many characters at the beginning, as the story will become confusing.

3.
Very short fiction stories should only have two or three characters in it at the most, but this is my opinion because I was taught to write this way.

4.
Choose a situation/plot for your short story. For example, create a problem for the character or something they need to do which becomes interesting to the reader.

5.
Most women magazines here in the UK, such as, Best, Bella or Chat, look for short fiction about women that must be between 800 to 1200 words. Make your short story about a woman. Make it realistic or about an everyday problem.

6.
To make the short story more interesting and thrilling, create a twist ending, but do not reveal the twist right until the end.

7.
If you want to write a thrilling horror story make it more believable by creating unique characteristics with your characters.

8.
The middle of the story should reveal more of the plot you have chosen and the story should start to develop. Make it believable to draw your reader in so they will not want to stop reading.

9.
Give your character a habit, ie. they might be a smoker, or a big chocolate eater, or a profound coffee drinker. Make it stand out. Make your character stand out.

10.
At the end of your story, you must shock the reader with a great ending. Let them find out something unbelievable. Make them smile. Make the story thrilling with a great twist at the end.