How to write short stories

3. HOW DO YOU
FEEL AFTER
READING?

4. WHAT IS THE EFFECT
OF READING
INTO WRITING?

5. “Read, Read, Read”
Read a LOT of Chekhov. Then re-read it. Read Raymond Carver,
Earnest Hemingway, Alice Munro, and Tobias Wolff. If you don’t
have time to read all these authors, stick to Chekhov. He will
teach you more than any writing teacher or workshop ever could.
-Allyson Goldin, UWEC Asst. Professor of Creative Writing

6. READING WILL TURN YOU INTO
WISER PERSON.

7. READING AND WRITING CAN
CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

11.  EXPERIENCES
 EMOTIONS
 HISTORIES
 AUTHORS
 UNDERSTANDING

12. 1. Write a Catchy First Paragraph
The first sentence of your narrative should catch
your reader’s attention with the unusual, the
unexpected, an action, or a conflict. Begin with
tension and immediacy.

13. Write a Catchy First Paragraph

14. 2. Developing Characters
•Appearance. Gives your reader a visual understanding of the
character.
•Action. Show the reader what kind of person your character is,
by describing actions rather than simply listing adjectives.
•Speech. Develop the character as a person — don’t merely have
your character announce important plot details.
•Thought. Bring the reader into your character’s mind, to show
them your character’s unexpressed memories, fears, and hopes.

16. I ran toward the bus stop with my 5 cm high heels, 2 huge hand carry bags and a cup of latte. I was
impatient of waiting for a ride to be not late for my first day of work. Since my office is 30 blocks away from the bus
stop, I needed to arrive before 6:00 am to take me around 30 minutes there .
Well, it was a bad morning for me I guess for I missed the first ride. I impatiently tapped my jeans that
was slightly wet by the tiny drops of rain.
For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and awkwardly silence. I can see on my peripheral vision a
man standing at my right. I glanced at him and gulped nervously. I turned my hoody on, covering my face and
wave my hand quickly to get a taxi. I’m freaking hard enough to grab anything to ride and vanish from the place I’m
in.
“You, miss! Come on, come on.. “ I ran towards the taxi on my right and got inside quickly.
“To Malibatuan High School, Sir.” I commanded the driver.
I turned my eyes on the side mirror of the taxi and watched his face slowly vanishing as my distance
rapidly moves.

17. I ran toward the bus stop with my 5 cm high heels, 2 huge hand carry bags and a cup of latte. I was
impatient of waiting for a ride to be not late for my first day of work. Since my office is 30 blocks away from the bus
stop, I needed to arrive before 6:00 am to take me around 30 minutes there .
Well, it was a bad morning for me I guess for I missed the first ride. I impatiently tapped my jeans that
was slightly wet by the tiny drops of rain.
For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and awkwardly silence. I can see on my peripheral vision a
man standing at my right. I glanced at him and gulped nervously. I turned my hoody on, covering my face and
wave my hand quickly to get a taxi. I’m freaking hard enough to grab anything to ride and vanish from the place I’m
in.
“You, miss! Come on, come on.. “ I ran towards the taxi on my right and got inside quickly.
“To Malibatuan High School, Sir.” I commanded the driver.
I turned my eyes on the side mirror of the taxi and watched his face slowly vanishing as my distance
rapidly moves.
It was 5 years already but he’s still as handsome as before. I will not be able to forget how he had
gazed those alluring eyes on me back then. He’s been controlling, perfectionist and stylishly handsome. He’s a
workaholic who doesn’t really understand how time works. After 5 years of hard work, at the age of 27 he got the
millionaire title. And I was there with him supporting him all the way. But instead of enjoying life like all other
married couples do, he never needed me, I guess.
“You have moved on now, Echa. You did!” I composed myself.
But remembering every detail of his face earlier, he’s unknowing gaze in the horizon in the middle of the
rain-- I have this burning sensation in my chest. Questions were running through my mind.
Is he lonely? But why should he be? He is powerful now. Mind wrecking questions have gotten my
head. And I do not like to be disturbed by him again. I hated myself for being fooled by him 5 years ago, but a part
of me wanted to know if he had really loved me and cared for me through those years. I sighed in frustration.
“Ma’am, we’re here. Welcome to Malibatuan High School”, the driver interrupted my overthinking.
Thanks to him for I had come to my senses. I turned my head up and my eyes landed on a new place. I
was amazed by the picturesque beauty of the school’s entrance. Clear river lying on the edge of the school’s street,
green trees that uplifts spirit and colorful flowers that allures me to come.
“This is it! This is Malibatuan High School and this is my new beginning!”

18. 3. CHOOSE A POINT OF VIEW
Point of view is the narration of the story
from the perspective of first, second, or third
person. As a writer, you need to determine who
is going to tell the story and how much
information is available for the narrator to
reveal in the short story.

20. 4. Write Meaningful Dialogue

21. 5. Set Up the Plot
A plot is a series of events deliberately arranged so
as to reveal their dramatic, thematic, and
emotional significance. –Janet Burroway

23. Possible Conflicts Include:
•The protagonist against another individual
•The protagonist against nature (or technology)
•The protagonist against society
•The protagonist against God
•The protagonist against himself or herself.

24. Find a Resolution
The solution to the conflict. In short
fiction, it is difficult to provide a complete
resolution and you often need to just
show that characters are beginning to
change in some way or starting to see
things differently.

25. •Open. Readers determine the meaning.
Brendan’s eyes looked away from the priest and up to the mountains.
•Resolved. Clear-cut outcome.
While John watched in despair, Helen loaded up the car with her belongings and drove away.
•Parallel to Beginning. Similar to beginning situation or image.
• They were driving their 1964 Chevrolet Impala down the highway while the wind blew through
their hair.
• Her father drove up in a new 1964 Chevrolet Impala, a replacement for the one that burned
up.
•Monologue. Character comments.
I wish Tom could have known Sister Dalbec’s prickly guidance before the dust devils of Sin City
battered his soul.
•Dialogue. Characters converse.
•Literal Image. Setting or aspect of setting resolves the plot.
The aqueducts were empty now and the sun was shining once more.
•Symbolic Image. Details represent a meaning beyond the literal one.
Looking up at the sky, I saw a cloud cross the shimmering blue sky above us as we stood in the
morning heat of Sin City.
Ways to end your story

26. When writing a short story, what factors should
a writer needs to consider? Explain how these
factors affect the readers, authors and language.