Short story checklist

STARTING A SHORT STORY CAN BE HARD. FINISHING A

GREAT ONE CAN BE TOUGHER. ASK THESE QUESTIONS
AND YOU’LL FIND THE JOURNEY MUCH EASIER.

Style
Does the very first line hook readers?
Does every line pull readers in deeper?
How do you want readers to feel at the end?
Have you edited out every unnecessary word?
Have you shared your story for feedback?
Characters
Who's your main character; what does (s)he want?
Can readers connect to this character?
How will your protagonist be forever changed?
Can you cut or combine characters?
Do you present characters without excessive
description or backstory?

Conflict Length & Pace

Does your story start, as Kurt Vonnegut said, “as
What is the central conflict in the story?
close to the end as possible?”
What incident set your protagonist in motion?
What’s your target word count? Traditional short
Limited yourself to 1 or 2 major plot events?
stories range from 1,500 to 10,000 words.
Does the conflict peak toward the end of the story
Could you eliminate a word, sentence, character,
(the climax)?
or scene without hurting the story?
Are readers given a satisfying conclusion?
Does the story move fast without giving whiplash?

Location Get Help

What’s strange or unusual about your setting?
Still feeling stuck?
Does the story unfold in one scene, or over a few?
In whose “head” does the story take place?
I.e. from whose point of view?
Get 1-on-1 story feedback and advice
How much description does your setting need, from our short story experts:
and how much can be left out? soyouwanttowrite.org/1on1