Short Story Short Story Writing TipsWriting Tips

How to Write Short Stories, Micro How to Write Short Stories, Micro Fiction and Flash FictionFiction and Flash Fiction

Please take out your Writer’s Please take out your Writer’s Notebook.Notebook.

Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

After AW #9: Images, start a fresh page in After AW #9: Images, start a fresh page in your notebook in the Assigned Write your notebook in the Assigned Write section.section.

Label it: AW #10: Short Story tips.Label it: AW #10: Short Story tips. Take notes from the lesson today on this Take notes from the lesson today on this

page to get credit for this assigned write. page to get credit for this assigned write. Make sure your notes are useful!Make sure your notes are useful!

Definition of Short Stories, Flash Definition of Short Stories, Flash Fiction, and Micro FictionFiction, and Micro Fiction

The short story has long been popular as The short story has long been popular as a form of fiction. In recent years, flash a form of fiction. In recent years, flash fiction and micro fiction have attracted fans fiction and micro fiction have attracted fans and readers. It is a literary form separate and readers. It is a literary form separate and distinct from novels, plays, and poetry.and distinct from novels, plays, and poetry.

Short stories, flash fiction, and microfiction Short stories, flash fiction, and microfiction have become popular as quick reads for have become popular as quick reads for people with a busy schedule. Read on for people with a busy schedule. Read on for tips on how to write them.tips on how to write them.

Definition of Short Stories, Flash Definition of Short Stories, Flash Fiction, and Micro FictionFiction, and Micro Fiction

A short story is typically less than 10,000 A short story is typically less than 10,000 words, with most publications asking for words, with most publications asking for stories under 3,000. stories under 3,000.

Flash fiction lowers the word count to Flash fiction lowers the word count to between 500 and 1,000. between 500 and 1,000.

Micro fiction, also called the short short Micro fiction, also called the short short story, has a top limit of 300 words.story, has a top limit of 300 words.

MicrofictionMicrofiction

With the decreasing word limit, it becomes With the decreasing word limit, it becomes increasingly difficult to create a coherent increasingly difficult to create a coherent story. The author doesn’t have the luxury story. The author doesn’t have the luxury of spending a page or two describing a of spending a page or two describing a character or revealing motivation. There character or revealing motivation. There isn’t much room for introspection or isn’t much room for introspection or feeling. Everything must be revealed feeling. Everything must be revealed through the writing adage, “Show, don’t through the writing adage, “Show, don’t tell.”tell.”

Just because it is short, doesn’t mean that Just because it is short, doesn’t mean that it can be written quickly. Perhaps more it can be written quickly. Perhaps more than in longer forms of fiction, word choice than in longer forms of fiction, word choice (diction) is paramount. To get the exact (diction) is paramount. To get the exact feeling, impression, or word picture in the feeling, impression, or word picture in the reader’s mind takes powerful reader’s mind takes powerful wordsmithing. Many writers spend days wordsmithing. Many writers spend days and even weeks perfecting a short story and even weeks perfecting a short story for the desired impact.for the desired impact.

Writing Short Story TipsWriting Short Story Tips

Even though microfiction stories are Even though microfiction stories are extremely short, they still need to have a extremely short, they still need to have a beginning, middle, and end. If they lack beginning, middle, and end. If they lack these elements, they become vignettes, or these elements, they become vignettes, or pictures, instead of stories. Every word pictures, instead of stories. Every word must be deliberately chosen to enhance must be deliberately chosen to enhance the story so all unnecessary words must the story so all unnecessary words must be cut. be cut.

Techniques to pack a story into Techniques to pack a story into such a small word countsuch a small word count

Choose a small story idea. When writing flash or Choose a small story idea. When writing flash or micro fiction, the writer should focus on one micro fiction, the writer should focus on one small story idea like a scientist focuses a small story idea like a scientist focuses a microscope on an object. There isn’t time for microscope on an object. There isn’t time for grand plots and subplots. One small problem, grand plots and subplots. One small problem, situation, or event will fill the story. A small story situation, or event will fill the story. A small story idea will have few characters as well. Flash idea will have few characters as well. Flash fiction and micro fiction only needs a main fiction and micro fiction only needs a main character and one or two supporting characters. character and one or two supporting characters.

Start with action.Start with action.

There is no room in the word count for There is no room in the word count for backstory, so beginning the narrative in backstory, so beginning the narrative in the middle of the action will hook the the middle of the action will hook the reader, and also give the story forward reader, and also give the story forward momentum. momentum.

Dialogue can be a good place to start, Dialogue can be a good place to start, showing an important conversation or showing an important conversation or emotion. emotion.

Raise a question that the reader Raise a question that the reader will want answered.will want answered.

This needs to be done immediately, right This needs to be done immediately, right at the beginning of the story. Readers of at the beginning of the story. Readers of flash fiction want something to read flash fiction want something to read quickly, therefore, they need to be quickly, therefore, they need to be invested in the story invested in the story from the first line. from the first line.

Use one focal theme in the story.Use one focal theme in the story.

Since there is no room for subplots in Since there is no room for subplots in micro or flash fiction, it should focus on micro or flash fiction, it should focus on one theme or feeling. This theme sets one theme or feeling. This theme sets the mood. If the author uses one overall the mood. If the author uses one overall focal point or feeling, it will give the story focal point or feeling, it will give the story continuity, instead of it being a disjointed continuity, instead of it being a disjointed account. The story will be a snapshot of account. The story will be a snapshot of an event in time, with all the parts fitting an event in time, with all the parts fitting together. together.

Make the ending a surprise.Make the ending a surprise. The ending is just as important as the The ending is just as important as the

beginning. The ending may be a twist, a beginning. The ending may be a twist, a surprise, or a shock. Whatever the author surprise, or a shock. Whatever the author chooses, it should be something that the chooses, it should be something that the reader would agree was the logical thing to reader would agree was the logical thing to happen. happen.

Even when it’s a twist, it must make sense to Even when it’s a twist, it must make sense to the story. The ending should result in a pay off the story. The ending should result in a pay off to the reader for sticking with the story all the to the reader for sticking with the story all the way through. When the ending ties up loose way through. When the ending ties up loose threads, answers questions, and gives an threads, answers questions, and gives an impact, the reader will feel satisfied.impact, the reader will feel satisfied.

ConclusionConclusion

Short stories, flash fiction, and micro Short stories, flash fiction, and micro fiction are a distinct literary art form.fiction are a distinct literary art form.

Mastering the skills required for writing this Mastering the skills required for writing this style is different from other forms of fiction style is different from other forms of fiction writing. writing.

Word choice and brevity are essential.Word choice and brevity are essential. Focusing on one small event is the Focusing on one small event is the

hallmark of short stories.hallmark of short stories.

Sample of MicrofictionSample of Microfiction

As we look at the sample, As we look at the sample, noticenotice things things for us to discuss!for us to discuss!

Writing TimeWriting Time

Use the rest of the period to write.Use the rest of the period to write. Please respect the quiet. Please respect the quiet. Remember SWAG: Skills- Writing & Attitude Remember SWAG: Skills- Writing & Attitude

Grade (points for using your time for writingGrade (points for using your time for writing