6 Reasons You Should Be Writing Short Stories....And 5 Tips to Help You Get Started

I recently had a story idea come to me. A really, really good story idea. The kind that consumes a writer’s mind and begs to be written.

At first I thought it was just a plot bunny and ignored it, but it spiraled into a complete storyline with developed characters and an interesting world. I didn’t want to ditch my current book to write this story, but I was also plagued by the realization that this story was something extremely special. Something that needed to be written and shared. But I’m not good at multi-tasking, so writing two full-length novels at the same time just didn’t seem like a good idea. Besides, it wasn’t quite novel material.

But man was it a good idea. I knew that it needed to be written down and published, but not as a novel. As a short story.

So I sat down and wrote it out. 15 pages right from my soul, titled Skies of Dripping Gold and worthy of being my debut story. I haven’t been this excited about my own writing for a long time. I’m pretty sure this is one of the best pieces I have ever written.

I’ve been in the editing and querying stage for my first book for about a year, so actually getting to write something from scratch (that’s not related to a synopsis or marketing plan) was a breath of fresh air. After I finished writing this story, I thought something that regularly occurs to me, "What, are you stupid?" And then, "Why haven't you done this before? You should take breaks like this more often."

What about you? Do you ever take a break from your larger writing projects to type out a short story? Here’s why you should:

1. It allows you to follow some of your better plot bunnies. As a rule, following plot bunnies is an evil practice, since most of them don’t pan out. However, occasionally you’ll come across an amazing idea that you simply can’t shake. It’s something you feel in your heart that you’re supposed to write. Short stories allow you to follow this feeling without abandoning your main project. It also alleviates the occasional depression that may or may not hit you when you realize that most of your amazing ideas will stay locked up inside you forever. Basically, short stories keep you sane. As we all know, madness is like gravity; all you need is a little push. Short stories keep you from getting knocked completely over the cliffs of insanity.

2. It lets you experiment with different writing styles. If you write mostly dark fiction, short stories can let you test out your humorous writing style so that you can see if that’s something you’re interested in pursuing later on. Of, if you write all of your books in 1^st person, you can experiment with 3^rd (or even 2^nd) person in short stories.

3. It just makes you a better writer. Short stories are hard. Like, "one does not simply walk into Mordor" hard. I think part of this is because, unlike novels, short stories are short. Stop looking at me like I'm Captain Obvious and let me finish. Because they are so short, all of you weaknesses are magnified. While this is extremely annoying, it helps you pinpoint exactly what you have problems with when it comes to writing style or idea development. It also forces you to find a way to fix these problems, which not only results in a good short story, but will also help you later on in future projects.

4. You get to write those amazing characters that didn’t quite fit into your books. You know those characters that just didn’t work in your book, but were so great that you felt sad to leave them out? Well, short stories let you bring those characters to life. I’ve always wanted to try writing a character with a mild intellectual disability. He didn’t fit in my books, but he fit into my Skies of Dripping Gold story and he’s amazing. I’m allowed to fangirl over my own characters, right? Or is that weird? But I guess I’m already weird, so one more instance shouldn’t make a huge difference. Anyway, I’m stoked that short stories gave me the opportunity to bring him into existence. Think about characters you haven't been able to fit into your books. Could you write a short story about him/her? It's an exciting thought, isn't it?

5. They can help you get your name out there. If you decide to publish your short story (or short stories), you get to give your audience a taste of what you’re capable of. There are several different routes: You can try and publish in a magazine, team up with other authors and create an anthology, team up with yourself and create an anthology, or just indie publish a single short story. I’m planning on indie publishing Skies of Dripping Gold sometime this year (more information coming on that soon). It's exciting because it gives me the opportunity to give people a sample of my fiction writing style, gain some new followers, and show traditional publishers that I really am serious about this whole writing thing. Pretty cool, right?

6. It lets you take a break from your usual writing routine. Let’s face it: writing a book is difficult and sometimes annoying. It takes a long time and a lot of editing. If you ever need to step back and take a break to gain a new perspective, then push your book to the side for a few weeks and write a short story. You’re still getting to use your creativity and it will allow you to come back to your major writing project with more energy and enthusiasm.

Now while writing short stories has a lot of upside, you can run into a lot of problems, too. Just because they have the word “short” in them does not mean they are quick and easy pieces of writing. Short story writing is a completely different beast compared to writing a novel (or even flash fiction), so here are some quick tips:

1. Less is more. Be concise. "Precision of language, please!"Only include the necessary elements. Remember that your readers are not stupid: You don’t have to spell everything out for them. 

2. It needs a core message or mood. To make a short story good, there needs to be at least one core message, mood, or idea that you work up to. I think Edgar Allen Poe explained this concept well: “A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” 

3. Recurring ideas are key. One common element I’ve noticed in all good short stories is that they each have a recurring thought, idea, theme, piece of dialogue, etc. It can be as simple as the way you describe the rain pattering on the roof. It can be a common phrase a character uses that means one thing in the beginning and morphs to mean something entirely different by the end. A common string strategically placed throughout the story can give it extra power. 

4. Pathos is King. Want to draw a reader in quickly and effectively? I have one word for you: pathos. Play your readers emotions, make them identify with the situation or feel for your characters within the first few pages. If you can do that, then you're doing it right. 

5. Read. Go and read some good short stories. I’m personally a fan of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (If you haven’t read this, then you are seriously missing out). However, there are hundreds of great ones out there, all of them different, but many with common ground that can help you pinpoint exactly what makes a good story. What are some of your favorite shorts?

Do you think short story writing is a good idea? What are some tips you have to share when it comes to writing shorts? I’d love to hear from you!

Also, on a more personal note, I am planning on self-publishing Skies of Dripping Gold (the short story that triggered the idea for this post) on Amazon within the next month or two. It will be my debut story. Pretty epic, right? I’ll be posting the release date, synopsis, and more cool information soon, but I’d love get some input from you guys: Have you ever indie published on Amazon? What tips do you have for me? Also, which title do you like better: Skies of Dripping Gold or Skies that Drip Gold? I can't decide. Pour forth your writerly wisdom in the comment section below! 

Related articles: 
6 Easy Ways to Gain Writing Inspiration
What To Do When Your Story Bogs Down
How to Know When to Stop Editing Your Novel


Enjoy this post? Take a look around. If you like what you see, please don't forget to subscribe by email for a new post every Friday!