8 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SHORT STORY

1. CATCHY FIRST SENTENCE

The first sentence of your short story should CATCH your readers attention

Who has one theyd like to share?

2. DEVELOPING CHARACTERS
Your short story should tell the reader about the characters:
Appearance: Gives your reader a visual understanding of the character. Action: Show the reader what kind of person your character is, by describing actions rather than simply listing adjectives Thought: Bring the reader into your characters mind, to show them your characters unexpressed memories, fears and hopes.

3. POINT OF VIEW
First Person: the story is told from the view of I I saw a tear roll down his cheek. I had never seen my father cry before

Third Person: the story tells what he, she or it does. He ran down the long , dark corridor

4. MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
Dialogue is what your characters say to each other (or to themselves)

Must be believable! (THINK: would I actually say that?)

For example: Where are you going? John asked nervously. OR

Deep breath. Now or never. Where are you going?

5. SETTING
Setting includes:
Time Location Atmosphere

Include enough detail for your reader to picture the scene, but only details that actually add something to the story.

6. CONFLICT AND TENSION

Conflict: A character versus the internal elf or an external something or someone

Tension: Conflict produces tension. Tension is created by opposition between the character or characters.

7. CLIMAX
The turning point of the story the most exciting or dramatic moment.

8. RESOLUTION
The solution to the conflict:
It is difficult to provide a complete resolution in a short story, so you often need to show that characters are beginning to change in some way or starting to see things differently.

For example: While John watched in despair, Helen loaded up the car with her belongings and drove away.