Things You'll Need:
- pen or pencil
- paper
- computer
- imagination
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Step 1
Write About What You Know: If you write about a topic you know about, it'll be a lot easier for you. This is not a requirement. Plenty of writers have written about football players, doctors, and politicians without actually having worked as one. However, you might find you place the story in a town where you lived or where you live now. By doing so, you can easily access your impressions and memories of the locale or details without having to conduct research.
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Step 2
Read Short Stories: In order to become good at writing a short story, it's necessary to read short stories on a regular basis. You are following in the footsteps of excellent writers such as Raymond Carver and Flannery O'Connor. These writers can provide you with an excellent - and free - education if you let them.
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Step 3
Read Your Short Story Out Loud: When you read out loud, you'll hear any clunky wording and find spelling and other errors. This is one of the easiest ways to edit and improve your story.
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Step 4
Share with a Friend: You can gain a lot by sharing your drafts with a friend. They might be confused by sections of the story that seem completely clear to you. Listen. If you try to defend yourself, your friend might not be truthful for fear of hurting your feelings. You want an honest and respectful assessment of whether your story makes sense to your readers.
