Good afternoon, everyone!
Today, I wanted to share a few simple tips for how to write a successful short story!
At Jan-Carol Publishing, we have several popular anthology series. These anthologies are a collection of short stories written by a variety of talented authors, featuring insight into the Appalachian region.
One I wanted to highlight right now is called "Snowy Trails," which would be the perfect holiday or winter read. The book is available for purchase here. The short stories showcase a strong sense of place and belonging, while also capturing trials, tribulations, and triumphs. Readers will become immersed in the varietal settings and characters.
We publish at least one anthology series every year, but sometimes more. The process of these anthologies getting published consists of a lengthy submissions period where we accept stories from anyone who follows the guidelines. During this time, we receive a lot of stories.
But what makes a good, compelling short story?
In my opinion, don't overthink short stories when you're trying to write one. Don't try to write a novel; you're writing a short story. Novels can be drawn out. They can be slow-burns. You have lots of time in a novel to introduce and develop characters and craft complex world-building.
Short stories are much different. With a short story, the goal is to get all the needed information out there as quickly as possible. You want compelling characters and storylines, yes, but you don't need to treat short story-writing the same as you'd treat novel-writing.
1. Pick a simple, central premise.
Think of the general arc you want your story to follow, and go from there. Keep things straightforward and simple. Have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Know where you want your story to end before you begin writing.
2. Build a small but distinct cast of characters.
Introduce your characters quickly, and establish their personalities quickly through their actions or dialogue. Establish the characters' relationships to one another. Since this is a short story and not a novel, you want readers to get a sense of your characters' motivations right away.
3. Don't listen to your internal editor at first.
I've found that, when it comes to writing a short story, it sometimes works best to just write, and think about edits later. Get all of your ideas out there. No ideas are bad ideas. Not at first, anyway. Once you've written your first draft, then you can go back and tweak things and decide what works and what doesn't.
4. Get a second opinion.
It can be hard to view your own writing from an objective point of view, so always make sure to ask someone else to read your story before you move forward with it. Asking family members or friends can be good, but they can also be biased, so sometimes it's best to let strangers read your work and offer an honest opinion.
Those are just a few basic tips for how to write a successful short story, and if you want to hear even more tips, you can listen to our new PODCAST EPISODE this FRIDAY. We will be discussing writing tips in further detail, and you won't want to miss it!
Also, I wanted to mention that our cozy romance anthology, "Steamy Creek," is accepting submissions until the end of December. We want to read your stories! This is the perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to get their name out there in the publishing world or to dip their toes into writing. You have until the end of December, so don't forget about it!
Thank you so much to everyone reading this blog post, and check back again next Wednesday for more bookish content!
Allison Chudina
Editorial Assistant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
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