How to write a successful short fictional story
The popularity of short story fiction is booming. With so many ways to have stories available at our fingertips, it's a win win scenario. Short stories are affordable, and they can be read in the time we have.
I love writing short stories. But, the funny I've found, they are tough to write. I think much harder then longer pieces. You have to jump on, get your characters set, have the plot set, and tie it up. Whew! It also hones your writing skills. It's a challenge. Try it!
"In order to write a successful short story, it is always a good idea to first read some other good short stories. Keep a small pad handy and write them down when it does come. Sometimes the idea will be vague or sketchy. You can write the story in the first person - as if you were one of the characters, or third person - a detached narrator who presents the character's thoughts and observations. In a short story there should be a main character or protagonist. This character must be the most developed in the story. There must be a problem or conflict that the protagonist must deal with.
At the minimum, a short story should have an exposition (the story leading up to the climax), a rising action (events leading to the turning point), a climax (a turning point in a story brought about by conflict between characters or within a character), falling action (your story begins to conclude), and a resolution (a satisfying ending to the story in which the central conflict is resolved - or not ).
A quick start is especially important in short stories because you don't have much room to tell your story. For your readers to relate to your story the characters and setting must be believable. Descriptions and dialogue should be clear. After the introduction, create some interesting kind of conflict or crisis that the main character must solve or overcome. The story should end with the protagonist succeeding by the use of their positive qualities, such as their creativity, intelligence, bravery, etc.
Don't rush your story. Try and make a consistent schedule when you can sit down and write. This is not full proof ( idiomatic expressions, homonyms, etc.)so you must still proofread your story.
If possible, get someone else to check it out as well. They may errors that you don't.
I suggest you then put away your story for a week or two, and then objectively reread it,
making sure it seems as good as you think.
Before sending out the story to an editor, transfer it onto a writeable CD that can be filed and printed out when needed. Carefully read the guidelines of the editors to make sure your story is the type that fits into their publication.
You may have to paste the story directly into the body of the email if requested.
Never get discouraged if your story is rejected. It may not be what the editor is looking for, or it may still need some polish. Remember that opinions vary. Stick to the genres you feel comfortable writing in. Don't let comments of people who know very little about writing influence you. If you are talented, determined, and consistently keep at it, you will eventually succeed in getting a story accepted into a publication."
