When it comes to writing, there are no set rules. Nevertheless, there are things you can do to make your writing experiences less tedious. Here are three tips for writing short stories.

(1) Be mindful of word count. After all, you are writing a SHORT story. Narrow the use of adjectives and adverbs and, wherever possible, avoid using them altogether. Be sure to take advantage of the word count feature on your computer if you have it or learn how to do it manually. Judges take this particular matter very seriously.

(2) Put your thesaurus to good use. Substitute short phrases with single words wherever possible. Also avoid the use of long words. Simplicity works best in short stories.

(3) Avoid repetition. Say what you mean to say ONCE. Repetition is okay in other forms of writing, but not for short stories. Here you must make every word count because you are writing within a structured setting.

In summary, when writing a short story, keep it simple. Be brief and to the point, even if it means tossing out certain details. Other than that, just tell a great story and you should do fine.

Learn more about this author, Sheletha Jones.
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