Short Stories: Let's Write A Short Story

Short Stories: September 30, 2026 Issue [#13972]


 


Let's Write A Short Story
       Editor: wdwilcox
                   More Newsletters By This Editor  


Table of Contents
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions


About This Newsletter
Kurt Vonnegut
"Start as close to the end as possible."

Hemingway says in his essay “The Art of the Short Story”:
“A few things I have found to be true. If you leave out important things or events that you know about, the story is strengthened. If you leave out or skip something because you do not know it, the story will be worthless. The test of any story is how very good the stuff is that you, not your editors, omit.”

Neil Gaiman
“I decided very early on, when I was writing a short story, I should write it as if I were paying by the word to write it. If in my head every word is costing me money to put down, I’m going to try and make sure that every word counts; that every word does something. Pulling out a word, pulling out a sentence, pulling out a paragraph, pulling out a page should be really difficult...”

Letter from the editor
How To Write A Short Story

The short story is a fiction writer’s laboratory: here is where you can experiment with characters, plots, and ideas without the heavy lifting of writing a novel. Learning how to write a short story is essential to mastering the art of storytelling. With far fewer words to worry about, storytellers can make many more mistakes—and strokes of genius!—through experimentation and the fun of fiction writing.

Step 1: Start with one moment
A short story is usually about one moment of change.

Step 2: Keep the cast tiny
Two or three characters are plenty.

Step 3: Start as late as you can
Skip the backstory.

Step 4: Build rising crises
Plan three crises, each harder than the last, with a short dip after each.

Step 5: Land the climax and a short ending
The climax is the character's biggest choice.

Step 6: Draft it in one sitting
With the plan on one page, write the first draft fast, ideally in one sitting.

Short story mistakes to avoid
Too much setup. If the first crisis arrives after page three, start later.
A twist with no setup. The ending should feel surprising and inevitable.
An ending that explains itself. Stop one line earlier than feels safe.



Editor's Picks

 Figurehead of the Damned.  (13+)
Derbin dreams of becoming famous so that no one can forget him.

 The Cat's Shadow  (E)
Mother Nature likes playing with changes in life forms, giving them new features. . .
#2365871 by bobaturnMail Icon

 
WRITING
Keys to the Kingdom  (E)
A weekend at the hunting cabin leads to some strange places

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2365796 by Not Available.

 Writer's Block  (18+)
Not merely just a writer looking for his muse, something much worse.
#1429811 by robertg23Mail Icon

 Don't Murder Me  (18+)
I offered it and pleaded for my life, but maybe I shouldn't have as things got worse. 1487
#1649012 by wordsmittyMail Icon

 Gratitude  (13+)
In which nobody gets dinner. Flash fiction.
WRITING
King Of Beasts  (13+)
An afternoon in the park turns into terror
#2136691 by wdwilcoxMail Icon
 
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Word from Writing.Com
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer
Strongbad Emails?

"Emails, emails, looking at the emails. What? No emails!
ASIN: B0DJG3PQV2
Amazon's Price: Price N/A





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