Short Stories

Tips for Writing a Story

Tips for writing a story abound, not only in lists of ideas compiled by others, but from within our own minds. Each of us is a walking bank of plot material. That should be music to a writer’s ears. To repeat a very positive cliché: Write what you know.

If you made a list of the high points in your life, perhaps some low points too, you would have a list of creative writing topics so long you would never be able to build stories around them all.

In analyzing aspects of your life and those who people it, you will find enough material for writing a character analysis or two. You would definitely be writing character sketches. Not necessarily would you be writing about one person in particular. You would borrow this trait from one, that trait from another.

A perfect example of this is my fiction short story, Grandpappy’s Cows, which is posted in the Flash Fiction section.

Then...

...in a completely different genre, check out my Recipes. These are listed in this Short Story section because each one is written with a short story attached. Spice up your recipes by writing stories based on the recipes.

The first recipe/story is Ahi Steak for Busy People. It's a delicious fish recipe that takes only a few minutes to prepare.

For example, suppose you know of a young girl being led down a questionable pathway in life.

You write about her and her family but you never come right out and say she is dangerously headed in the wrong direction. You simply relate her life, as anyone would view it. Leave the conclusion to the reader to have an Aha! experience when they realize the underlining message.

One of the best teachers of writing to get you started is to read the writings of others. Not just read, but study the tips for writing a story. Think how many books you’ve read and wished to emulate. The same holds true for short stories, your unique stories that you are ready to write.

Several short stories are presented and discussed. Tips for writing a story, or that particular story, are included.

I remind that my multi-genre writing covers myriad topics. They run from soft and fuzzy to covering the harsh realities of life. If anything offends you, it’s not meant to. Simply click into another story.

My big volume of "over the top" flash fiction and short stories is being prepared for publication. Watch for the announcement.

For now, see which story listed here sparks your interest according to the title, because titles are important, but peruse them all.

Boy at the Crossroad

The Take-Out Queen

Life Support (Not for the squeamish)

Publishing Recipes - Ahi Steak

Tips for writing a story can come from anything you experience or read.

Here's an author friend who started out writing short stories. Now she has published her first novel. Short stories have exceptional values that apply only to that genre. However, writing short stories can become tips for writing a story, a long story. That's just what happened with Sue.

While I don't read/have never read vampire stories, having read this writer's short stories, I just had to see what she produced in novel form. My review speaks for itself.

My Review:

I first met Sue Mydliak online. When I read some of her short stories, I noticed immediately how she was able to include something quirky in them, action that crept up with a Gotcha! ending. Birthright, her breakout novel, contains such surprises. It’s a fast, smooth read. Vampire stories are not for me, but in Mydliak’s case, I made an exception. She was able to pack a full novel in under fifty thousand words. The emotions of her characters and the neck biting scenes are so sensual they could make a reader wish to be bitten! Birthright is full of those quirky surprises I’ve come to associate with Mydliak. I hope to see more novels from her as she learns and hones her skills. And yes, I will be reading the sequels to Birthright.

Learn more about Sue and find her novel, Birthright, on smashwords.com.

Here's another author friend who has published a volume of short stories:

M.K. Feese

Her anthology of short stories is:

Gravity Sucks

An anthology of short stories and poems running the gamut from humorous to romantic and tragic

Also see her novel:

Famished Heart

A fact-based novel on discovery and loss, dedicated to her mother who lived it.

Learn more about Marcia at Minglement.

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