Christopher Taylor
Christopher Taylor asked Rosa Marchisella:

What advice do you give a would-be short story writer for crafting their tale?

Rosa Marchisella Great question, Christopher! Thanks for asking :-)

A short story requires all the same elements of a full-length story to be successful. This includes a clear beginning, middle, and ending with build and climax. The characters need to be properly developed so they come across as real people with real emotions and motivations.

Yes, your short story can have chapters. Short story just means that your tale can be told in less than 10,000 words. If you need chapter breaks and scene changes to make your story flow, then use them.

"Short story" doesn’t mean "hastily told". Address Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How to create a full reality for the reader. Weave the details into your story.

Avoid an "info dump" or skimping on the "show versus tell" aspect, because you're in a hurry to get to the "good part" of the tale. If done right, the whole story can be the “good part”.

Lastly, edit like it was an award-wining best seller. Your short story needs just as much attention as a full-length. Give your readers quality writing and they’ll walk away satisfied no matter what your word count is :-)

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more