Short Story Writing: How You Can Make Them More Than Tall Tales

Short story writing is a skill in its own right. Like poetry, condensing meaning into fewer words takes discipline and consideration. Here are my thoughts on short fiction.

 

 

Why Short Story Writing?

Short story writing is a skill in its own right. Like poetry, condensing meaning into fewer words takes discipline and consideration. Some people believe that creating pieces of short fiction is more accessible than writing full-length novels or novellas. However, that is not the case.

As a fan of Disney / Pixar’s shorts growing up, I have always had a love of short stories. Whether the story is in prose or movie form, there is something beautiful about a well-composed tale that has been bundled together into a neat package.

Short story writing is not to be seen as a lesser form of writing. I believe it is incredibly skilled and takes a tremendous amount of talent to limit the words on a page or minutes on a screen. If beginner authors spent more time limiting themselves to a set time or word limit, it would help when it came to making revisions and cutting down on the unnecessary words that litter so many manuscripts in the redrafting phase.

I love reading short story collections and watching Pixar shorts on YouTube. When I work with young people, I find the use of the Pixar Theatrical Shorts a real joy. As the children and teenagers are all familiar with the work by the studio who brought us Cars, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo, their imaginations are already ablaze.

Likewise, as adults, many of us remember the first time we saw Toy Story and immediately remember ‘To Infinity And Beyond’ or ‘You Got A Friend In Me’. The use of animation helps us to relive our childhood, rekindle our imaginations, and be touched by the more intricate themes held within.

In the coming months, I will work on the next of my fiction books. I plan to compose and release my first collection of short stories, The Hexingham Chronicles. By rewriting a selection of short fiction that I used during the Inside Iris, Anna’s Awakening, and book three’s writing process, I want to give readers a glimpse of the ordinary people of Hexingham – the dystopian metropolis within The Iris Trilogy.

By looking at the composition of short story writing, I want to share creative writing tips and also find out what you guys think about short fiction as a genre. Let’s start a conversation about short stories and understand why they are more than tall tales.

 

Short Fiction Writing Tips

I love writing short fiction. I feel they can be a device for planning longer works but, more importantly, be a piece of fiction in their own right. 

When I am writing a short story, I use the following creative writing techniques to create the piece of short fiction I have in mind.

1. Write The First Draft In One Sitting – As I sit down to write the short story, I try to be as disciplined as my two young children allow me to be and write the short story in one sitting. By doing this, we can focus on the piece at hand and also give ourselves a deadline. If we have two hours, we need to get the first draft down within that time. If something comes up, that cannot be helped. However, if you can get a clean run at your short story writing, take advantage of it and knock it out of the park.
2. It’s All About The Character – I have always believed that characters are the most crucial element of all fiction writing, but, with short fiction, they are fundamental. When I sit down to create short stories, I think about a person who has something to say. From there, I take some time to think about them and what has made them the person they are. When I feel I have an interesting person, I will then sit down and start the disciplined first draft process described above.
3. Practice Makes… – If you have never sat down to write a time or word-limited piece of fiction before, I advise you to make it a regular occurrence. This is not only a key element within short story writing; it is also an excellent way to develop your discipline as a writer. No doubt limiting yourself to a set time or word count can help hone your craft and allow yourself to focus on what is necessary for the story you wish to tell.
4. Write About Key Life Events – In some other blogs, I saw how people focused on writing about traumatic events within short fiction. Yes, those can be compelling topics, but they are not the only powerful emotions or events that shape our lives. Look at some key events within your life or the lives of others around you, and use them to inspire a short story. If there is a joyous tale you want to tell, think of making someone smile or be in awe rather than be left feeling deflated.

The few creative writing tips above are there to get you started, but there are many others. If you have another short story creative writing hint, put it in the comments below and start a discussion.

Short Stories Or Tall Tales?

When you consider the art of writing short stories or flash fiction, do you see them as a lesser form of fiction writing or as an art form in their own right? 

When we reduce storytelling right down to its most microscopic form, we can get some short fiction like the pieces below:

• I met my soulmate. She didn’t.
• ‘Mum taught me how to shave,’ the man said.
• He brought roses home. His keys didn’t fit.
• The smallest coffins are the heaviest.
• Passengers, this isn’t your captain speaking.
• They smile — one more than the other.
• My reflection just blinked.

When writing short stories, they don’t need to be tall tales with unbelievable elements. When we look at short movies or short fiction, the most real and mundane stories can be equally poignant and hard-hitting. Consider the most normal and relatable times in your life, or those around you, and think about how you can share the emotional impact with those who may read it.

The most powerful piece of flash fiction I heard came from my days in university. The lecturer shared the piece,

‘For Sale. Baby’s Shoes. Never Worn.’

Is there a piece more powerful? If you have one, share it in the comments below.

 

As I put the final touches to Anna’s Awakening, I am looking towards my next project – The Hexingham Chronicles. Yes, I have used these pieces to plan the five novels that have written and will continue to pen over the coming years. However, I’ve fallen in love with the people within the short fiction and how their environment shaped them.

From my days in university, I have loved short stories. I would buy the McSweeney’s collections and love how I could lose myself within a self-contained piece of short fiction that would engage and move me. The respect I have for those who can create compelling works of short prose and poetry is massive.

Therefore, learning what you guys think about this topic would add to the article. What are your thoughts on short story writing, short fiction, and the art of condensing a story so that it moves and holds the interest of those who read it? Comment below and let’s start a discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

Anna’s Awakening Blurb

Set two years after Iris’ dramatic escape from The Institute, she lives a secretive but peaceful existence in Scotland. Living at Bowmore Estate, with the Benefactor, Raymond, and the Courier, Kyle, Iris’ young life has changed dramatically.

Since the fall of The Resistance, and the dramatic events at the warehouse, Iris goes through therapy in order to lay to rest some of the ghosts that continue to haunt her. By taking this step, she hopes to begin to put her past behind her.

Throughout her counselling sessions with Clara, Raymond’s niece, Iris decides to claim back her real identity of Anna. With the help of Clara and Kyle, Iris pieces together fragments of her past that were nothing more than dark memories.

As Iris becomes Anna, she learns the truth about her time at The Institute. It is this truth that awakens Anna, lighting a fire within her that changes her forever. Could Anna’s awakening finally bring down The Authorities once and for all?

Anna’s Awakening is the second instalment of The Iris Trilogy – a dystopian, sci-fi thriller that is an intense read for adults and teenagers alike. This young adult novel is packed with enough drama and tension that you will not want to put it down.