How to Write a Short Story (in Six Steps)

I would like to thank my friend Cecilia Bryant for this gorgeous illustration.

On the 5th of May, 2018, a childhood dream of mine came true. I received an email from the British Fantasy Society, informing me that my short story 'Worm'  - the story of a water-dragon’s fateful encounter with a human being - was going to be published in the December edition of their fiction journal, Horizons. This was a one-in-a-million event, as most authors do not get accepted on their first submission, and I can only thank my tutors, family and fellow writers, as without their support, feedback and encouragement, none of this would have been possible.

This achievement has renewed my confidence in my writing abilities, and therefore, as a graduate of Creative Writing and keen lover of stories, I thought I would share some of the insights I have learned over the years of study. I have chosen to focus on the short story as opposed to novels because (a) I believe it is a very underrated medium for storytelling and (b) it is a fantastic way of developing your abilities. Many magazines and journals also accept short story submissions, and they can be a good way of establishing your portfolio as a writer. So, whether you're a long-time writer hoping to get published, or just starting out, I hope these tips will inspire you.

Step 1. Have an idea.

As my art teachers at school used to say, art is about making a statement. You have to consider what you're trying to say with your story, and this isn't always easy to figure out at first. What can help is to go back to what inspires you - one of the inspirations for 'Worm' was watching game footage of 'Monster Hunter,' and noticing the behaviour of the dragons and various other beasts the player fights. The way the monsters swipe at and bat the player reminded me of how my cats played with their toy mice. To me, the monsters seemed oddly innocent, only being a threat due to their size compared to human beings. It was this bestial innocence that was the basis for 'Worm.'

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Books, music, movies, video games and the real world can all be sources of inspiration. Some writers like to keep a notebook and jot down ideas as they come, whereas others (like me) like to mentally log them away in their minds, often at the expense of less important things like remembering the date of my job interview.

Feeling uninspired? All authors experience dry spells in their creativity, and when starting out it can be very difficult to know where to begin. The most important thing is to be patient and wait for the idea to come to you. However, you can be pro-active by reading and watching a wide variety of media, both fiction and factual, and this will increase your chances of finding something that resonates with you.

Step 2. Do your research

It might sound boring, but research can actually be the most fun part. Are you writing a story about dragons? Research the genres in which they appear, and how various authors and filmmakers have depicted them over the years. Writing a story set in Cheltenham? Visit the place if you can, (if you don't already live there!) and look up its history and culture. Even when you start writing your story, don't be afraid to keep researching to add credibility to your prose. Watching GoPro videos which featured the exact same thing, imbibing in the sights and sounds and infusing them into my story.

Even if your story isn't set in the real world, research is invaluable. Most importantly, it helps you consider how you are going to tell your story and present your characters, and can help you bring your fictional world to life.  Even when you are writing or editing your finished story, you can always do a little more research if you are unsure. Your story doesn’t have to be a scholarly essay – all it needs to be is convincing to the reader.

3. Plan it out

It helps to have a plan. Write a summary of the plot. Have profiles for your main characters. Writing a brief summary can give you a bird's eye view of your story, and figure out whether the plot makes logical sense, as well as spotting clichés and points where the story might become predictable. I tend to write my notes using Notepad, but some authors prefer an old-fashioned pen and paper. This should be a time for imagination and experimentation, so don't be afraid of getting messy and adding and deleting stuff as necessary.

Like this, except there's dirt and pencil sharpenings everywhere, and your cup of tea won't be so sinfully milky.

Don't get too worked up over it, though. Sometimes, I find that I actually start writing the story before I've finished planning, and that's okay. But having a summary can give you a structure on which to build, and saves you from having to make it up as you go along. Don't feel as if you have to stick to the plan, either, as the process of writing may inspire you to take the story in a different direction.

4. Actually write the damn thing

This is probably the most obvious piece of advice, but it can be also be the most difficult thing to accomplish. Even if you're starting out and don't know the first thing about writing, you will never get anywhere if you don't actually take the risk and start writing. It is important that at this point, you shut down your inner-critic and just write. Be aware of basics such as spelling, grammar and the use of punctuation; if this is something you struggle with, I wouldn't worry about until you've finished the first draft, and use spellcheck or have a trusted friend proofread it for you.

But Amelia, what if my writing is really bad?

I'm not going to lie to you. The first draft - even with experienced writers - is always going to be..well...a little rough around the edges. It might even be terrible in terms of grammar, vocabulary, plot and just all round readability. But here's the great secret of writing - most of it actually consists of re-writing and editing. As choppy or inconsistent my first draft might be, I find it at least gives me something I can work with and improve.

But how does one improve as a writer? Well...

5. Be prepared to receive feedback

I cannot stress how important this is, especially for new writers. You might think your writing is excellent, or you might think it's absolutely awful. Having others read and give you constructive criticism can help give you a more balanced perspective.

In my experience, the best place for feedback is the creative writing workshop. Creative writers groups can hold them locally or you can join forums and groups online. Creative Writing courses at universities also provide a varied audience and a chance to study with established authors. However, a degree is not a guaranteed ticket to publication, so don't feel as if you need a degree in order to Be A Proper Writer.

The unemployment and crippling depression will do that for you!

It is important you find the right audience for your work. Some workshop groups, known as 'shark tanks' brand themselves on being blunt and ruthless when it comes to criticism. Other groups may just be about patting each other on the back and not offering any real advice. You should avoid both of these extremes, and instead opt for readers who will be honest with what they think about your work, but at the same time are still charitable and have a genuine desire to see you improve.

If you're writing genre fiction, such science fiction or fantasy, be aware that there are critics who do not consider it proper literature, and this may factor into their feedback. While creative writing tutors will normally put aside their ideological biases, outside of the university, it is best to find groups that are actually specialized in your chosen genre.

6. Edit, edit, edit

So you've written a first draft, you listened to your critics and carefully evaluated your feedback - now what? You start to edit your story. You correct typos, you change the vocabulary. You sew up plot holes. You may even re-write the whole thing. This will probably be the longest part of the whole process, but it is also the most rewarding.

Some authors like to read their story aloud, in order to get a feel for the words and to see where the prose gets awkward, or where certain adjectives and imagery don't really work. This personally works for me, as reading it aloud 'streamlines' the prose by getting rid of unnecessary words that only clutter up the writing. Others may print off their story and read it, as seeing the words in print can reveal mistakes that one might overlook on the computer screen. Just recycle the paper afterwards, or use it for doodling.

The most important part of editing, however, is to know when to stop. It is very easy to George Lucas the whole thing, and constantly tweak and change it and add new characters that nobody asked for and make the whole thing a stupid romance with cringe-inducing dialogue about sand.

'I don't like superfluous storytelling. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere.'

The truth is, your story will never be perfect. There will always be room for improvement, and no matter how hard you try to produce quality prose, there will always be someone who won't like it. Such is life, and as my tutor used to say, 'you're not writing by committee.'

Ultimately, that is the best piece of advice I can give you - always strive to improve. Whether you're a beginner or have sixty Mills and Boon novels under your belt, you never stop learning. And don’t let the fear of negative feedback stop you from experimenting or trying something new.

Like what you read? Any questions? Leave your comments below, and don’t forget to follow for more writing about writing!

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is (c) 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm Ltd, and they can keep it.