How to write short stories. How to write a good story if you are a beginner
For some, writing a short story is a one-day job, but for others, it can be an incomprehensible task. Especially when the writer is limited in scope and must be able to capture the idea of the story in just 250 words. Such an essay requires careful preparation and professional design. This skill can be learned from the expert of brevity - Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. His works are a great example of how to create a brilliant story.
WHAT IS A STORY?
The story is a literary genre, which is characterized by a small volume and a huge concentration of meaning. In just a few paragraphs, the author must state the very essence of the story - only the most important thing that the author wants to say. As a rule, this is a story about one event or hero, grouped around a specific episode. The small volume of the story also determines its stylistic unity. The whole story must be complete. Do not forget that the plot of the story is also based on dramaturgy. Every essay has:
- tie , it's an introduction - how it all began
- Conflict - the main question or problem that the hero must solve
- climax - the sharpest moment in the story through which the problem is solved
- denouement - what led to the solution of the problem.
IDEA
Initially, the writer must decide what the story will be about, who or what will be the central character or object in the story. Think about what idea or issue you want to raise in your story.
The plot of the story
Do not spray on long and detailed descriptions. Each sentence should add something new to the text and "move" the story forward.
CONFLICT
Focus on one event: come up with a central conflict for your character
climax
In a good short story there is always a gripping moment in which main character or the heroes of the event are overwhelmed with certain emotions. The climax usually occurs in the second half of the story or even towards the end. The original climax makes the reader think about what they have read.
Stick to one style
Style is the main element of speech. Remember that the story must be consistent, both in plot and in language. If you are telling your story in the first person, stick to one angle.
At first glance, the difference between a novel and a short story seems to lie in the number of pages. While the novel tells the story chapter by chapter, the short story provides much more concise information.
It is said that a work must contain less than 20,000 words in order to be called a story. But there is no strict limit: there are stories in less than 1000 words.
Is it possible to write such a short story? Of course, yes. Just be aware that the techniques for writing a story are different from those for writing a novel, so let's look at them.
1. Focus on the action.
Focus on the action - not on the noteworthy event. The writing of a story is a story told by the author, not a transmission of an incident to readers. But at the same time, the number of facts should be less than in the novel, and the author no longer has the opportunity to deviate from the essence of the story.
In particular, there is no place in the story for detailed descriptions and digressions on moral and psychological topics. Of course, this does not mean that the story should be flat and completely devoid of these elements. They can be introduced by subtext or be contained in several separate words. This is what speech economy is all about.
Not too long ago, I came across a quote that stuck in my memory: "Fiction novels describe the fictional world, fiction stories tell about artistic facts." Despite these different characteristics, both of these literary forms allow the reader to take a pause for reflection.
2. Don't try to cover everything.
Sometimes writers take on very ambitious stories, where the amount of detail far exceeds the required size of the story. Remember, in general, the action of the story should develop over a short time period and include two, at least three main characters, and the main idea. If you can't tailor your story to this kind of exposure, then you're probably writing a novel rather than a short story.
3. Find an idea and simplify it.
Any idea can be simplified - just don't think in patterns. For example, let's imagine that you decide to talk about a man obsessed with a thirst for money. He devotes his whole life to work, and finally rises to the top, sacrificing his personal life in the process. Time passes, and he makes a series of financial mistakes that lead him to bankruptcy. In this desperate situation, he realizes that life has a true value.
Do you think there is a future for such a story, if you tell it in a few words? Actually, yes, if you simplify it. For the ending, identify the most significant scene and build the rest of the plot around it. In my opinion, the decisive turn in the above story is when our hero realizes that his ambitions have destroyed the most valuable thing that was in his life. Therefore, the story must begin from the point where he had already lost everything that was dear.
Let's imagine what it will look like... John Doe is a beggar who sits every morning waiting for mercy on the corner of the street where the central office is located, where he used to work. The same employees, once his colleagues, with whom he used to be on a par, now pass by without even noticing his existence. Remember, once you have an idea, simplify it. Look at significant moments in your story and find decisive scenes.
4. Show - don't tell.
This seems to be the most common piece of advice found in writing articles and books. But he is so often forgotten that he has to be reminded again and again, especially when it comes to stories.
A short story and a short retelling are two different things. The story is the whole story. Continuing the example above, you could write that John Doe is a beggar and begging on the corner of the same street where he used to work. He was then extremely successful, despite the fact that he had only recently divorced and did not find time for children at all, since he devoted all his time to work and subordinates. Do you think these sentences are suitable for a story? No, of course not by any means. They would only fit a retelling of some work.
To tell a story, you have to focus on the action - for example, John Doe counts the coins in a box and realizes that the morning has not gone well: he barely had enough money for a hot drink. Show what is happening, give the reader figurative illustrations, and tell through action.
5. Keep the structure of the text.
Even the shortest stories need a beginning, a middle, and an end. For example, a beggar reads coins on the corner of her street, one of the former colleagues passes by, buttoning his coat on the go - this is the introductory scene. It provides context and answers to the questions: ""who, what, where, and when"".
The middle is when our beggar is worried that he doesn't have enough for a drink. He continues to beg for money, but the employees still do not notice him. The end is up to you. You can imagine, for example, that someone took pity on him and gave him money for a cup of coffee.
6. Do not speak directly - hint.
In a short story, not only what is said is important, but also what is silent. As already mentioned, there is no place to change the subject. Forget explaining that the beggar feels bad about his current situation or that he regrets losing his family. This must be implied by his actions. Let your readers know.
Instead of describing that this beggar had a family and lost it along with his job, you can hint that one of the busy businessmen passing by is his son. The protagonist recognizes him and tries to get attention. In response to this action, the young businessman turns to him with a squeamish expression and gives him a coin, not realizing that the man is his father. With this coin, a beggar can buy himself a glass of hot drink this morning, but this is clearly not what he cares about.
7. Make every offer weighty.
From beginning to end, each of the sentences in the story must be there for a purpose. You have to tell the story in just a few words, so make the most of them! This isn't necessary when you're writing your first draft, but it's very important during the revision stage. Analyze each word and sentence in detail, think about their function in the story. Are they necessary? If the gist of the text can be understood without that word or sentence, feel free to delete it.
8. Keep the intrigue.
Don't put all the information in one sentence or paragraph. Dose it, make your readers hold their breath until the very last sentence. If you explain at the very beginning of the story that the beggar was once the head of the company and had just met his son on the street, you will not have any material to continue the story.
Whenever possible, try to include believable plot twists, poignant and unexpected moments at the end of the story in a way that gives new meaning to the text. In this example, it is best to start introducing the reader to the story by describing how a cold beggar needs money to buy himself something hot. This would be a good starting point.
You can then explain that he was once one of the leaders who now pass him by. This will arouse curiosity in your readers as to what kind of character this is. Suddenly, the beggar will distinguish a familiar male face among the elegant crowd and will try to attract his attention (let's add intrigue). This man does not recognize him, but he gives him some money. But the beggar no longer pays attention to the coins, because he just received money from his own son (save the unexpected twist for the end of the story).
9. Create a lasting impression.
One of the hardest skills to achieve, but also the most important, is to write stories that have a lasting impact on readers. After they have finished reading the story, it should give them food for further thought. To succeed in this, the last sentence is fundamental. You are on the right track if it can contain a twist or a powerful image that sheds light on the rest of the story.
Returning to the example described: it would be great if your readers did not understand exactly who the beggar recognized until the end of the story. In the last sentence (which should be short and clear to impress the reader), you reveal the fact that this businessman is actually the son of a beggar (nice final plot twist). You will imply that the beggar no longer worries about money (he doesn't even look at it): he has just realized that his son has become an ever-busy businessman, and he cannot keep him from making the same mistakes he made in the past.
10. Create an environment with a minimum of elements.
You don't have room for long descriptions and digressions, but the story needs to have a well-detailed environment to keep readers hooked. Refer to the intonation, the narrator, the language to keep the text very short, and take care of the correct choice of words. "Swamp" and "bog" can mean the same thing, but they sound different. The same is true for "haze" or "fog". Each word helps you create an atmosphere, so choose your words carefully.
In our example, the world around us is a big city on a cold winter morning, but you don't need to explain it all. Good readers will feel this chill when they see the protagonist's breath steam, or how he rubs his gloved hands before counting coins. Even better, if your readers see everything through the eyes of those business people who are dressed in thick coats, hurrying past a beggar to work. This point of view will give a lot of information. Two or three details are enough to conclude: winter, cold, the working day has just begun.
11. Remember the importance of the title.
You have very little space to tell your story, and by now it's obvious that every word counts, right? Be smart and get the most out of them. The words in the title can be very helpful! The ideal would be a suggestive, intriguing title that throws new light on the text already read.
Try it: Can you think of a title for a story about a beggar that meets these requirements?
12. Consider an additional rule.
Finally, there is a basic tip for those who want to write stories. Even if it has nothing to do with the practice of writing itself, keep in mind that in order to write a story, you must first read a lot of them. If you want to understand the mechanics of storytelling in general, it is important for you to get acquainted with the examples. Read stories by Chekhov, Raymond Carver, Cortazar, Poe, Saki, etc. Read as many short stories as you can.
Translation of an article from the siteliterautas for typical writer
Translators: Taisiya Kravchenko, Tatiana Toshchakova
Editing: Yulia Koneva
Hello friends.
I'm starting a new series: How to Write a Short Story.
Now in the publishing house is my collection of short stories and journalism. And also there is a written story, which was published in the collection "Proverbs of the XXI century". In total, I have written more than 30 different stories, now I am working on publishing them.
To be honest, creating stories is much more difficult than writing a novel. This is recognized by many. But it is not for nothing that many writers admit that the art of the story is much more complex than the art of the novel.
If there are weak points in a major work, they are more than compensated by strong points. The main thing is that there are not many of them. You know how girls read War and Peace? They leaf through the war, and read the world. Because there are weak points even in such a great novel as War and Peace. In the novel, you can carry water, but in the story - never.
But the story is beautiful because if you manage to create a strong work, a strong story, then you immediately grow by several orders of magnitude.
And in their own eyes, not in the eyes of others. Indeed, the best competition is with yourself. And the realization that today you are better than yesterday is the most beautiful thing in self-development.
And to be able to create a story, then write it, and then publish it is something that everyone who writes must be able to do.
And I also promise that I will not write nonsense - that which is not interesting to me. For example, the origin of the story, the history of the story is not always interesting, even to literary critics, I think.
Let's get started!
In this series, I precisely plan 10 parts with detailed examples:
- Storytelling Basics (here it is)
- Three-act structure + composition
- Conflict
- Characters
- climax
- Zachin
- Style
- Detail
- Publication
A feature of the past series was that I not only told the theory, but also showed specific examples of strong texts. So it will be this time.
Story requirements. Components
In fact, the complexity of the story is that you need to not only know in theory what the story includes.
But it's important to practice it. Make it your daily practice.
The minimum that a story should include
- Reasonable construction
- Conciseness
- High plot voltage
- Interesting heroes
- Acute conflict.
- Understatement. It's complicated.
This is exactly what I will talk about in each of the parts, only in more detail.
Typical mistakes when creating a story
Beginners often make common mistakes
- Lack of preparation.
I think it main mistake writing. Especially beginners, but also experienced ones are sometimes not prepared enough.
To begin with, it is worth considering the plan of the story, what you want to say. And only then.
You need to think through all the details, the conflict, the portrait of each hero. And only then begin the story itself.
- conceit
“I don’t need to study”, “I can handle it” - typical thoughts of a self-conceited writer
You need to work, work as much as it takes to make the text work, so that the thoughts in the text are exactly the way they need to be.
- No passion
The old rule of writers says: "What is written without passion, will be read without passion."
Many people write because they want to write. Graphomania of pure water. And everyone goes through this stage. But when you already realize that you shouldn’t do this, it means that inside you have the inner strength not to scribble more.
Learn to write strongly. Learn to write thoughtfully. Do not hurry,
Some define the story by place and time. unity of place and time. THAT is what happens in a certain period of time and in a certain place. Then Joyce's "Ulysses" is a story, just stretched out.
But there are stories where this rule is not respected, and it's still a story.
Best of all, the story is determined by the volume of up to 45 sheets. Why this particular number?
Prose that is longer than 45 pages is already a story. And if there are several storylines, then it’s a novel at all.
Working on a story is like in a carpentry workshop.
Before you start creating a story, you need to think about its structure.
I use 5 elements for each story. Today I will share them briefly, but in the future there will be a whole article devoted to this component of the story.
- Idea
What idea do I want to put into the story. For example
- The rabbit wants to live, but he is sent to the kitchen as the main course of the evening.
- Taking care of a woman is an honor for every man.
- Having children is happiness
That is, an idea is a simple belief that you want to uncover. Moreover, there may be two stories in which directly opposite ideas.
For example, the first story will write loving husband: "Taking care of a woman is an honor for every man." And the second story will be written by a man who just got divorced, and his idea will be: "Women are the meanest creatures." That is why we love different authors - each has its own values.
- Main conflict. A highlight that will move.
Let's take the second idea. Imagine that our male hero loves his wife. And she had an accident.
His reflections, his desires, thoughts, and most importantly, actions and help to his wife - this will be the body of the story. And the more difficult it is for his wife, the sharper the conflict.
- Heroes. Features that I sympathize with, empathize with.
Young people are always in a hurry, headphones in their ears.
Old people are squeamish.
Businessmen are rich, dissatisfied with life.
This is a very simple and primitive view of life, and such stories look flat and read without interest.
Your characters must be interesting. Sit in a cafe for at least an hour. Will you meet at least two identical people there? One speaks loudly, the other is calm, the third has the habit of biting his nails. In the real world, we are all different.
So why do we make people monotonous and boring in the story.
- Three-act structure + composition
All serious films and books usually have three main acts:
- tie. About 20% of the story.
- the development of the conflict. Here we present the main development of the conflict and the whole situation. Usually, on average, this is 60% of the story.
- decoupling. This is 20% of the total.
I will write more about this later, as promised, in one of the parts of the series.
- climax
This is the main thing in any work. You can ideally think through and work out the entire structure of the book, and then blunt the ending and everything will be smudged.
It is after the climax and denouement that the aftertaste remains.
- Strong syllable
Words that catch, which are interesting to read. Each successful author has his own style, which is felt.
You will see this in the examples of stories by Zoshchenko, Hemingway, Chekhov, which I am attaching as a bonus. And also in Zoshchenko's story, which you can read right in this article.
Examples of strong stories. Zoshchenko's story
Mikhail Zoshchenko is a master of small prose, short stories
In the application you will be able to download 3 short stories that I think are very strong.
And here I want to parse one story. It has everything - an idea, a structure, a strong style.
This is Mikhail Zoshchenko, the master of short stories that make you roll on the floor with laughter.
HUMAN DEATH
It's over. Basta! No pity for people remained in my heart.
Yesterday, even before six o'clock in the evening, I sympathized and respected people, but now I cannot,
kids. Human ingratitude has reached the last point.
Yesterday, if you please, I suffered desperately for my pity for my neighbor and,
maybe even stand before a people's court in the near future.
Basta. My heart hardened. Let the neighbors no longer count on me.
And I was walking down the street yesterday. I was walking down the street yesterday and I saw that the people seemed to be standing, crowded near the gates. And someone desperately groans. And someone shakes his hands, And in general I see an incident. I'm coming. I ask what the noise is about.
- Yes, they say, one citizen broke his leg here. Can't walk now...
- Yes, I say, it's not up to walking.
I pushed the audience aside and I come closer to the place of action. And I see - some kind of little man really lies on the stove. His muzzle is desperately white and his leg in his trousers is broken. And he lies, a cordial friend, resting his head against the very pedestal and muttering:
- Like, rather slippery, citizens, I apologize. Walked and fell, of course. Leg is a thing
fragile.
My heart is hot, I have a lot of pity for people and I can’t see death at all.
person on the street.
. - Brothers, I say, yes, maybe he is a member of the union. It must be done nonetheless.
And, of course, I rush to the phone booth. I'm calling an ambulance. I say: a man's leg is broken, hurry to the address.
The carriage arrives. In white robes, four doctors descend from there. Disperse the audience and put the injured person on a stretcher.
By the way, I see that this man absolutely does not want to be put on a stretcher. He shoves all four doctors with the rest, with a healthy leg and does not allow himself to.
- Send you, he says, all four doctors back and forth. I, he says, may be in a hurry to go home.
And he himself a little, you know, does not cry.
- What, - I think, - for the confusion of the mind of a person.
And suddenly there was some confusion. And suddenly I hear - they call me.
- This, they say, uncle, did you call an ambulance?
- I say.
- Well, so, they say, you will have to answer through this to the fullest extent
revolutionary laws. Because in vain he called the carriage - the citizen has an artificial
leg broke off.
They wrote down my name and left.
And so that after this fact I would still upset my noble heart—no way! Let them kill a man in my eyes - I won’t believe it for anything. That's why - maybe they kill him for filming.
And in general I don’t believe anything now - the time is so incredible.
Without many words.
Idea there is.
Conflict- there is.
Style- gorgeous. I must say that in the 20s of the twentieth century there was a flowering of the story, Zoshchenko, Babel, Green appeared. And at the junction of jargon, prison vocabulary, military and colloquial, Zoshchenko's style appeared. As far as I'm concerned, it's brilliant.
Structure- there is. It doesn't matter if it's short or not.
Heroes- simple and understandable.
climax- unexpected
How to write a story. First conclusions
Writing a story is hard work. I like how Yuri Olesha, a writer of the 20-30s of the twentieth century, compared writing with mining work. Indeed, hellishly tired of thought processes. Sometimes I just want to exhale, then I take a book, sit on the balcony and read the hellish work of another. I am touched, especially when I see the serious efforts of other writers.
And by the end of this series, you will have all the necessary minimal arsenal to create a strong story.
And the promised gift: some of the best stories by Zoshchenko, Hemingway and Chekhov.
Briefly about me: Author of two blogs (and Words of Encouragement), head of the text studio “Word”. I have been writing since 1999, I have been earning money with texts since 2013. Let's be friends on social media.
Topic status: Closed.
Topic status: Closed.Watch the world around you. If you want to write a good short story or even a novella, then always listen carefully and look around for inspiration! Soon you will understand what your story will be about! Be interested in people's opinions about the world around you. Your story will be intended for a different circle of readers, so do not limit yourself to your own ideas. Any amount of time, effort, and description spent on a story will not be excessive. Examples of ways to collect materials for a story:
- Read books. Get direct experience. Reading is good for the brain and allows you to find out what good books. Of course, there are millions of books in the world, but try to visit your local library and choose books according to your interests. All books and people are unique. Perhaps you will draw ideas from them for constructing sentences, inspiration, or the general style of the text. Read various books to expand your vocabulary. The more you know, the more ideas for a great story.
- Pay attention to interesting character traits. Perhaps your neighbor talks to plants or goes for a walk with the cat every morning. Look around. Does your sister sometimes behave eccentrically? Try to create a similar character. Imagine the inner world of such a person and think about how it can be used in the story.
- Take a look around. Go for a walk or sit on a park bench and look around. You may notice a bouquet of roses in the gutter, or brand new sneakers on a nearby bench. How did they get there? Let your imagination run wild!
- Listen to conversations. A phrase you hear can inspire you to a whole story. For example, a person passing by may say: “No one understands me...”, or: “My dog does not like all the guys who come to me...”. Is this a bad plot point?
Use a "what if" diagram. This is another way to come up with the beginning of a story. Watching the world around you, pay attention not only to real, but also to possible events. After what you hear or see, you can ask yourself: “What if everything had gone wrong?” - or: "What would he do if...". This line of thought will help you explore all the mysteries that haunt you.
- You don't have to know the end of the story right away. In fact, this approach will even help you see more potential and write a more interesting story.
- The “what if...” scheme can be realistic or completely fantastic. Think: “What if my dog spoke to me?” - or: "What will happen if one day a neighbor steals my cat, which she so loves to stroke at every opportunity?"
Leverage personal experience. Although the stories are classified as fiction, many of them are highly autobiographical. If you describe real events that happened to you or a person you know, you get a documentary story, but you can only be inspired by such events and create a fictional story. This is a great plan in case you run out of ideas.
- Many people say that you need to write about what you "understand". According to this point of view, if you grew up in Chelyabinsk or tried to become an actor in Moscow, then you should write about your experience, and not try to imagine the life of a person in an unfamiliar place.
- Others say to write about "unknown aspects of topics you know." This means that you should start with the known and move in the direction of your curiosity.
- If you are too comfortable writing about real events, then you simply will not have room for creativity. For example, if your childhood friend once moved to another city and never said a word to anyone, or you have always been interested in the fate of the elderly controller on the Ferris wheel, then do not lose the opportunity to supplement reality with your assumptions.
Build on the stories you hear. Always pay attention to stories that your friends or relatives have told that may form the basis of the story. If your mom or grandma loves to talk about their childhood, start writing down their memories. Imagine a child's life in a different time and place. Do not be alarmed if you know little about the past: today you can find any information.
- Listen if one of your friends says, "You won't believe what happened to me last week!" Perhaps this will be the beginning of your story.
- Stories are born in the most unexpected places. Perhaps a DJ on the radio was talking about his childhood, and you immediately imagined his life.
- Warning: Earning a reputation as an author who "borrows" other people's stories can make people more withdrawn around you.
Get inspired by your surroundings. Even a place can inspire you to tell a story. It is important to decide on the genre of the story by this point. A sci-fi story might take place in an underground laboratory, while a horror story might take place in an abandoned shack. It is not necessary to look for inspiration in a holiday in the Maldives or walking around Venice. Draw inspiration from everyday life. Think back to your childhood in the apple orchards next to your grandma's house and hanging out with your best friend in the backyard.
- Interesting characters and conflicts can emerge from the description of the place.
Do literary exercises. Writing exercises help many writers develop their creativity, find inspiration in unexpected places, and keep writing when they run out of ideas. Start with daily warm-up exercises for literally 10-15 minutes to build up, or continue to write for an hour, even if nothing comes to mind. Examples:
- Start your story with a sentence like this: "I've never told anyone about this before." If the story is not told in the first person, then you can start with: “She closed the door. Her eyes became wet with tears. Had he betrayed her?
- Consider a picture of a typical barn in a field. Then describe the barn from the point of view of the person who just committed the murder. Then describe it from the point of view of a girl who recently lost her mother. See how the character's thoughts affect the perception of the world. Put yourself in the shoes of the characters!
- Just write for 10-15 minutes. Reread the text to correct the mistakes.
- Pick someone you know that you don't like at all. Try to write your story from the point of view of such a person. Make the reader feel sympathy for him. Remember, this is your story!
- Let the character surprise you. Write about a character that seems familiar to you, then get them to do something unexpected. This could turn out to be something intriguing.
- Use dispute. Imagine two characters arguing about something mundane (say, whose turn it is to take out the trash or pay for movie tickets). Make it clear that there is something bigger and more important behind the situation. For example, a person wants to end a relationship or is desperate because his feelings are not mutual. State events in dialogue, but don't let the reader get bored.
- Use body language. Write 500 words describing two characters sitting opposite each other. Without dialogue, show the reader how they feel for each other.
Read other stories. If you want to master the genre of short story, you need to constantly read other people's work. Get acquainted with the works of classics and contemporaries. Look for inspiration in the stories you read. A few examples of modern and classic stories:
- "Lady with a Dog", Anton Pavlovich Chekhov;
- "The Cask of Amontillado", Edgar Allan Poe;
- "Where it's clean, it's light", Ernest Hemingway;
- The Worn Way, Eudora Welty;
- "Cathedral", Raymond Carver;
- "Dead Past", Isaac Asimov;
- "Veld", Ray Bradbury;
- "The Things They Carried With Them", Tim O'Brien
- "Beggar Woman", Alice Munro;
- "Girl", Jamaica Kincaid;
- "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates;
- "Tolmach", Jhumpa Lahiri;
- "Sun, Moon and Stars" by Junot Diaz;
- "Eyes of a Blue Dog", Gabriel Garcia Marquez;
- "Transformation", Franz Kafka.
Part 2
How to improve your skills-
Learn to describe people, animals, objects, and landscapes. Also learn to convey emotions, feelings and reactions. A good writer knows how to describe them in unusual ways. Describe the whole world around you.
- For example, there are purple curtains in the room. How do they look? What do they remind you? What part of the room are they in?
- At the same time, it is not necessary to abuse descriptions so as not to slow down the pace of the story. It is enough to create a realistic image in the reader's imagination.
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Focus on engaging storytelling. No one will be interested in a boring story that does not spark curiosity. Use unusual words. Scroll through the dictionary looking for words that catch your eye. Listen to your favorite radio shows. The reader should be fun and curious. Your task is to interest readers.
Follow grammar rules. Your text should be understandable to the reader. Mistakes like "theirs" can confuse him, so it's better to use literary words in the story. Moreover, if your character makes mistakes in speech, then use quotation marks to convey the features of the character's speech.
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Write from the heart. If literature is a passion, then be a sincere storyteller who does not allow falsehood. Write according to your idea of a good story. You should learn to pass the text through yourself.
- Listen to constructive criticism and keep working on yourself. Also be able to recognize useless nit-picking and envy. Knowledge and experience come with practice.
Part 3
How to work on a story-
Consider the style of the story. Most stories are written in the first, second, or third person. In the beginning it is better to stick to one of the options. Examples of use in a story:
- In first-person narration, the reader sees the entire story through the eyes of a character who says "I" and means himself. “I never told anyone about this before” is an example of a first-person narration. it good way tell the reader the thoughts and views of the character, but he will hold you back if the character does not see the whole picture. For a novice author, this way of presenting may be the easiest.
- Third-person narration uses the pronouns "he" or "she" when referring to the narrator (for example, "He's tired"). In the third person, it is easier for the author to get close to the thoughts of the character or keep a distance.
- When narrating in the second person, the author addresses the reader directly with the pronoun "you" (for example, "You are entering your office"). This is a good way to get the reader's attention right away, but it's important not to overdo it.
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Develop the plot. The plot of any story should capture the attention of readers so that they try to predict the further development of events. This does not mean that you need to write about chases or murders. The reader may even be interested in the development of the conversation of people who talk over a cup of coffee. All stories are unique, but there are always basic plot elements:
- Plot: usually occurs at the beginning of the story, when the author introduces the reader to the characters, the setting, and the central conflict. Some stories start right off the bat. At the same time, the author gradually returns the reader to the past in order to find out the beginning of the story.
- Conflict: the cornerstone of the plot. In any story, something important is at stake., otherwise the reader will be bored despite the first-class language of the author. In any story, there must be conflict or tension, like a love triangle or a teenager wondering who his real friends are. The essence of the conflict can be anything, if such events will captivate the reader.
- The denouement: the end of the story. After the conflict is resolved or considered, the story should come to a logical conclusion. A lot of stories don't have a happy ending or just a point in the plot. Often, authors use an open ending that leaves the denouement at the mercy of the reader. If you give answers to all questions, then the charm and mystery are lost.
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Create characters. The story should have characters that the reader can experience, even if they are not good citizens or good-natured people. There are several common ways to describe characters. Here are some examples:
- Describe the character through his lines. A well-balanced phrase in the dialogue will allow you to understand the intentions of the character, especially when words diverge from thoughts.
- Describe the character through actions. Does he get up early in the morning without an alarm, or shifts the signal several times before finally waking up? Every little action helps to better understand the character, even if it seems insignificant at first.
- Describe appearance. Does he go to the store in full dress or smile sadly in moments of sadness? Appearance can give an idea of the mental state.
- Describe the nature of the interactions. Is your character shy or so overbearing that everyone around them is afraid to utter a word? Is he polite to waiters since his mom was a waitress, or is he being rude because a waitress once broke his heart? Maybe he's just pissed off? A person's behavior can tell a lot about him.
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Consider dialogue. Usually the phrases of the characters in the dialogues are taken in quotation marks. Dialogue can tell a lot about a person. Start from what the character says and what is silent. Dialogue should sound natural, not artificial or feigned. Read the dialogues aloud so you don't miss any falsehoods.
- A conversation between two characters can reveal the nature of their relationship.
- Watch out for what's left unsaid. For example, if a boy is upset that his father did not come to a football match, then at the meeting he will not talk about the game, but may ask: “How are you at work?”
- Do not use intrusive remarks in dialogues like: "Masha reported" - instead of: "Masha said."
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Choose a location. In a story, the place of action can be both very important and not at all influence the events. If the plot develops in an ordinary apartment, which does not affect what is happening in any way, then everything is in order. But if a mistress breaks into a character's house where he lives with his family, then every detail in the house can indicate the nature of the relationship between husband and wife or affect the mistress. Determine the level of importance of the setting so that the story can be structured accordingly.
- Even if the location is not very important to the plot, the reader should clearly understand where exactly the events take place, whether it is a farm in an unnamed village or a typical school.
- The time period can be combined with the scene. If events take place in the 1960s, then leave appropriate clues or report it directly, otherwise the reader will think that the action takes place in our days until the middle of the story.
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Develop your own style. Literary style is a unique way of constructing phrases and sentences that allows you to recognize the author. Your text should have its own characteristics, rhythm and sound that no one can repeat. At first, many storytellers imitate their favorite writers, but over time, you need to develop your own unique way of presenting ideas and thoughts.
- Style or author's voice- this is the sound of the entire text, and not just the replicas of the character. Each word of the story shapes the style of the author.
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Don't make common mistakes. There are some guidelines in the literature, but there are no hard and fast rules for writing a good story. If you want to increase your chances of success, then try to avoid common mistakes of unlucky authors. Such errors include the following:
- "Information dump". Do not dump on the reader everything that he must find out (in your opinion) at the very beginning of the story. If you describe the life and appearance of all the characters on three pages without advancing the plot, then the reader will languish with boredom.
- Sudden disconnect. No one will like a story, all the events of which turn out to be a dream or an alien's look at the life of earthlings. O. Henry was the master of such endings, but today they are perceived as clichés.
- Artificial complication. One might think that sublime poetic language would be appropriate in the story. If you are describing the life of high society in the royal chambers, such a decision may come in handy, but in other cases it is better to use simple and concise phrases.
- Basic information in dialogues. The reader should learn the basic information from the narrative, not the dialogue. Dialogue allows you to look deeper into the nature of the relationship between the characters, and not to learn the "initial facts" of the plot. For example, the character should not say: "Semyon, even though you are twenty years old and you are already a sophomore ...", since this is already known to both characters.
- The unclear nature of the conflict. Every reader should know the answer to the question: “What is the essence of the conflict?” during and after reading the story. Otherwise, the story should be considered unsuccessful.
Part 4
How to amend-
Set the text aside for a while. Take a break, even if just for a day. Then read the story again with fresh eyes and try to imagine yourself in the place of the reader. What sentences may seem confusing or unnecessary to the reader? What additional information should be provided? What points are too obvious or incomprehensible? You need to see the story from the outside.
- Sometimes it is enough to print an electronic version of the story on paper.
- If you find it difficult to edit the text, then return to it in a couple of months. You will be surprised how many new things can be noticed after a while.
- Do not delay the editing process beyond measure, so as not to lose interest in the story.
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- It is important to accept criticism correctly in order for it to be useful. Assuming you've created the perfect story, you won't want to listen to anyone.
- Choose the right readers. If you wrote a science fiction story and showed it to a writer friend who is far from science fiction, then his opinion will not be representative.
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Pay attention to important aspects. There are many ways to improve your story, but it all depends on the degree of development of the original version and the remaining work. Very often, stories have to be redone ten times, so don't be discouraged if you need to change almost all. What to look for:
- The need to change the nature of the story. At first it seemed like it would be better to narrate in the first person, but now third person seems more appropriate?
- Too many words. According to the accepted rule, about 250 words can be easily deleted from the finished story (with a volume of at least ten pages). You will be surprised at the number of empty words in the text.
- Messy plot. Would you have been able to fully understand the essence of the story if you were not the author of the text? Perhaps some points are not as obvious as they seem at first glance.
- The story should contain feelings, sounds, and other emotional experiences. Feelings will enliven the text. What can be a story without emotional experiences?
- Do some additional research. If the story takes place in Moscow in the middle of the last century, but your knowledge of that time period is limited, then gather additional information to write a convincing text.
- Be persistent. In case of disappointment, it is useful to remember that the first option is never perfect, but subsequent edits will help you get rid of the shortcomings.
- The author must know his characters well. "Nerds" should not use the phrases of "party people" and vice versa. Explore the characters like the back of your hand. Try to think like one of the characters in the story all day long.
- In conversations, people rarely exchange full sentences. Often the answer is one word. Use words like "aha" and "hmm" occasionally, but don't overdo it! Competent dialogue will not always look like a real conversation: rather, it is a real conversation without all the unnecessary words.
- Improve sentence wording. Find the most accurate words: is the character upset or agitated? Consider connotative shades of meaning. Read the stylistic guidelines for stories to communicate your thoughts clearly, effectively, and in a unique way.
- Check the meanings of names on the Internet to come up with suitable names for characters. This is a useful trick if you're having trouble finding the right name. For example, if there are hunters in your story, then study the names that are associated with hunting. Surely among them you will meet the name Diana, who was the Roman goddess of the hunt.
- Double check and even thrice. Check punctuation, spelling, grammar, sentence meaning. Also, don't forget important questions. To what extent are the actions and actions of the characters believable? Does the plot seem too contrived?
- If you're easily impressed by a piece, then don't read too many other authors. You can draw on familiar books to explore character development, plot, and objectives. There is no need to limit yourself too much.
- Characters must be dynamic: they cannot always remain the same age. As a person grows older, his character and worldview change. For example, he may become touchy or irritable. Use suitable time slots.
- Draw experience and inspiration from your own life.
- Get rid of character references in dialogues (“Andrey said”, “Polina agreed”). How then to understand who is speaking now? Each character should have a recognizable style and dialogue position. During a conversation, people keep moving. Around there are different events. Use contextual cues to point to the speaker. If it is simply necessary to use the word "said", then it's okay (it will be worse if readers get confused), but in a well-designed scene, this need is no longer necessary. Use slurred words, accents, different tone or rhythm of speech, and broken words to distinguish between speakers. Do not abuse dialectisms. If the author knows his characters well, then he will have a clear understanding of their speech, the way they express thoughts and forbidden topics.
- The plot shouldn't be too confusing. Stop if there are too many things going on in the story at once. Take a break and get your thoughts in order. It is always a good idea to read the story first to see the situation from a new angle and determine the next steps.
- Do not copy other authors. In case of a creative crisis, try to find inspiration.
Warnings
- Don't make changes as you go so you don't slow down the pace. It is better to pause often and gradually correct mistakes.
- If you want to create an original story, then never plagiarize. A good story will take time, so be patient!
- The story doesn't have to be endless. Try not to stretch the rubber. There should be enough details so that the reader understands everything and is interesting to read.
- Detailed descriptions of the area may ruin the story.
- Try to alternate sentences of different lengths.
- Often, authors write off characters from well-known people. Try to disguise this fact so as not to offend anyone, otherwise your relationship with loved ones may deteriorate.
- Do not use long and pompous words often. The story will look too unprofessional, as if the text was written by a computer. Also, do not abuse simple and boring words.
- Creative crisis is a common phenomenon. Despite the possible disappointment, do not rush to give up. Take a break and rest, then return to work with fresh thoughts!
