An interesting scenario that sets the story in motion has multiple benefits: In Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s ‘The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World’, the way of life of an entire village is changed by the discovery of a mysterious, handsome drowned man who washes up on the beachįind a scenario you can write down in a sentence or two.In William Faulkner’s ‘A Rose for Emily‘, a notorious town recluse dies, leaving the town to discover her grisly secret.In Roald Dahl’s famous short story ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’, a woman murders her husband with a frozen leg of lamb and serves the cooked evidence to the investigating officers.Some examples of original story scenarios: There is often a single image, symbol, idea or concept underlying the story. Writing a novel gives you time to develop characters and story arcs and symbols. Pick an intriguing story title and submit to short fiction publishers.Rewrite for clarity, concision and structure.Write a satisfying climax and conclusion.Write the story as a one-page synopsis.

Find the story’s focus before you start.Plan what publications you’ll submit your final story to.How to write a short story in ten steps: How to plan a short story, write and publish Writing a short story differs from writing a novel in several key ways: There is less space to develop characters, less room for lengthy dialogue, and often a greater emphasis on a twist or an ‘a-ha’ moment.

Best types of short stories to write