5 Tips for Writing Your First Short Story

The recent month of February not only had the first day of Spring, but also, the International Mother Language Day. We remembered all the struggles that the Bangladeshis went through for our mother tongue with love and respect, and in this regard, we paid visits to the place of knowledge – the Ekushey Book Fair. Different aspiring authors also came out with their publications in the fair.

Such aspiring writers would know that, no author is born overnight. Writing short stories can be a great gateway to writing prose for beginners. As a way of encouraging more creative people to put on their thinking caps and pen their thoughts to make an impact in the realm of literature with their stories, here are five things to consider when writing your first short story.

Have an attention-grabbing title

The title of a story is important in every case, because, it is what attracts your readers to your story and gives them a feel of what it is about. Therefore, it will be advantageous if the title is catchy, but, still based on a main element in the story. For example, The Signalman by Charles Dickens is centered on the main character who works as a signalman.

Keep it simple

In the case of a short story, you are expected to have an introduction, a middle, and a conclusion. So, you may be tempted to really expand on your idea. However, a crucial flaw is making it too complex by adding numerous sub-plots and unnecessary twists. So, follow the traditional structure of a story, using elements such as flashbacks only when it adds to the plot development.

Remember that less is more

Keeping the number of characters and core themes to a minimum will surely improve the quality of your writing. The concentration of few characters playing out to present a limited number of themes will both be easier to follow and will help strengthen the impact of your message. Therefore, make sure each word and dialogue is purposeful.

Include an important message

Before you start writing, think of a cause that is important to you and introduce it in the form of a story to add to the beauty of the process. If you find yourself lacking inspiration, writing about modern issues you are informed about can also be a good place to start.

Maintain a flow

Your state of mind is reflected in your writing and it is more apparent than you think. So, along with a clear mind, writing in one sitting is also recommended because the tone may become disjointed when you take frequent breaks.

The opportunities a good short story has are vast. It can even open up an entirely new form of self-expression for you. So, follow these tips tailored to your needs and it will take your writing to a whole new level.