HippoCampusLiteratureOpen-endedBeginner3 chapters
Writing short stories
I want to write short stories. Teach me structure, character, point of view, voice, dialogue and revision, and let me steer toward what my writing needs next.
What you'll learn
3 chapters
- 1
Finding the Core of a Short Story: Structure and Conflict
- Define what a short story is and how it differs from longer fiction.
- Identify the basic parts of short story structure in simple terms.
- Choose a main conflict that can fit the length and focus of a short story.
- Shape a story idea around a character, a problem, and a change.
- 2
Creating a Main Character: Motivation, Point of View, and Focus
- Create a main character with a clear want, problem, and simple motivation.
- Recognize how character choices drive a short story forward.
- Identify common point of view options for short fiction.
- Choose a point of view that fits the kind of story being told.
- 3
Drafting the Story: Voice, Dialogue, and Revision
- Recognize the difference between narrative voice and character voice.
- Write simple dialogue that sounds natural and serves a purpose.
- Use basic scene-level choices to make prose clear and readable.
- Revise a short story by checking structure, clarity, point of view, and sentence-level issues.
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