Writers: How To Write Amazing Short Stories—Ask Writer’s Relief

If you’re a short story writer who wants to get published, you’re always on the lookout for the best writing advice. You want to know: What elements are always found in good short stories? And how do you write a fully developed plot with multidimensional characters in 3,500 words or less? Fortunately, Writer’s Relief has the answers that will help you write amazing short stories.

In this installment of our Ask Writer’s Relief series, we’ll take a look at some of our best articles about writing short stories, as well as a few great resources we’ve found on the Internet.

Ask Writer’s Relief: “How Do I Write Short Stories That Editors Will Want To Publish?”

Below is a list of informative articles—some written by our staff, others taken from various sources—that can help you improve your short stories:

5 Important Elements Of A Short Story. This article gives you a clear definition of what a short story is and lists the essential elements. Check out the examples by famous short story authors.

How To Write A Short Story—8 Expert Tips. Don’t confuse short with easy! Short stories take skill and practice, and you might not be completely happy with your first few tries. This step-by-step list provides some great tips on how to make the process smoother.

Short Stories: Start Off With A Bang. Usually it’s the first page or so of a novel that need to capture a reader’s attention. For short stories, it’s the very first sentence! In this article, we share some advice on how to craft an opening sentence that will keep your audience reading.

5 Ways To Shorten Your Short Stories. Editors take word count very seriously. If you find yourself consistently writing stories that are longer than 3,500 words, these tips will help you trim your work down while still maintaining the integrity of your story.

8 Techniques To Up The Drama Factor In Your Short Stories. Your short stories must have all the emotion and intrigue of a longer work. If you’re having trouble injecting some excitement into your stories, use the techniques in this article to build drama.

8 Things Literary Magazine Editors Love To See In Short Stories Right Now. What editors look for in short stories can change over time. In this article, we use our years of experience and research to bring you the eight elements editors consistently love seeing in shorter works.

Short Story Checklist: Techniques For Getting Short Stories Published. It’s time to start submitting your short story! But before you do, take a look at our checklist and make sure you’ve used all the techniques and elements that will maximize your chances of getting an acceptance.

Question: What’s your best advice for short story writers who are trying to improve their skills?