Resolution – You get to finish the story, giving readers a round up of how things ended.Falling action – As a resolution to the climax, you can write what happens after the threads have come together – the action starts to slow down towards the end.Climax – This is the point at which you really need to start tying the threads of the story together for the conclusion.It’s great to use this as device as it may help events in the story make better sense. Flashback – This can be used to insert past events into the story to give context to the story.This is another device that can be used to keep the narrative moving. Transition – Characters may have the chance to overcome obstacles in their way or may find an alternative route towards their end goal.Complication – Ask yourself – does the protagonist or characters come across obstacles they must overcome? Does this prevent them from reaching their goal?.Conflict – We’ll get to this again in a later point – but this can be described as tension between a character and their “internal voice”, or as tension between characters.It can be a notable event or problem that resonates with readers, drawing them into the story. The hook – This needs to be in the first paragraph, to grab the reader’s attention.
A plot can be created by following a very simple structure: Plot set-upĪ good story needs a good plotline – and a bit of planning goes a long way in making writing easier. Whereas this may seem very limiting, it does mean you have to pick up on little details and human reactions that fill the story out. It’s important to remember that, in short stories, you’re writing within a small time period, maybe over one day or even less. A wife kills her husband, who threatens to divorce her, with a frozen leg of lamb and then serves it up, cooked, to the unsuspecting investigating policemen. Think of Roald Dahl‘s bizarre short story “ Lamb to the Slaughter” (the title is also a great pun on the English proverb “Like a lamb to the slaughter”). It can also be a completely off-the-wall take on an everday event. Short stories need a plot that grabs the reader’s attention almost in the first sentence, and that will then run throughout the story. Whereas novels allow you to write in greater detail and with a more developed plot line, short stories need to grab interest right from the start. You can also start getting your work published, whilst not having to worry about writing a great tome.īut what are the key elements to creating highly readable short stories? Below are some top tips to consider as you plan that best-seller!Īlthough an interesting scenario is needed in all books, in short stories it’s even more important due to the shorter length. Writing short stories is an excellent way of getting started as an author, whether you’re writing for adults or children, as it gives you the opportunity to flex your writing wings.
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