How to Write a Short Story

The model described here is the pyramid plot: The upward slope establishes setting and characters and builds tension; the tip is the climax; and the downward slope is the resolution.

Instructions

1

Choose a narrative point of view. You can write your story as if you were one of the characters (first person), as a detached narrator who presents just one character's thoughts and observations (third-person limited), or as a detached narrator who presents the thoughts and observations of several characters (third-person omniscient). A first-person point of view will refer to the central character as 'I' instead of 'he' or 'she.'

2

Create a protagonist, or main character. This should be the most developed and usually the most sympathetic character in your story.

3

Create a problem, or conflict, for your protagonist. The conflict of your story should take one of five basic forms: person vs. person, person vs. himself or herself, person vs. nature, person vs. society, or person vs. God or fate. If you choose a person vs. person conflict, create an antagonist to serve as the person your protagonist must contend with.

4

Establish believable characters and settings, with vivid descriptions and dialogue, to create a story that your readers will care about.

5

Build the story's tension by having the protagonist make several failed attempts to solve or overcome the problem. (You may want to skip this step for shorter stories.)

6

Create a crisis that serves as the last chance for the protagonist to solve his or her problem.

7

Resolve the tension by having the protagonist succeed through his or her own intelligence, creativity, courage or other positive attributes. This is usually referred to as the story's climax.

8

Extend this resolution phase, if you like, by reflecting on the action of the story and its significance to the characters or society.