How I Write Short Stories in Less Than an Hour

Seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harriet has advice on how to write.

Or maybe it's because I'm also a writer that I'm keenly aware of all the writing advice out there.

I dunno.

But I do know that I dig writing. And I especially like writing short stories. You know, the kind of creative non-fiction that sucks you in, spits you out, and leaves you longing for more.

Yeah, that kinda ink-slinging.

But one thing I don't like is wasting time doing it.

So I came up with a simple framework to poke and prod me along. Because maybe like me, you too have a tendency to open the Mac, crack your knuckles, then suddenly find other things to do.

Am I write? (pun intended).

It's no secret that writing a short story can be a challenge. Not only do you have to come up with a compelling plot and interesting characters, but you also have to do it all in a relatively short amount of time. In fact, many writers find that they can produce their best work when they focus on keeping things concise and moving the story along at a fast pace.

Yup.

Focus.

So how can you write a short story in less than an hour?

First things first, set a timer

I realize that this step seems pretty lame and that you likely already thought about it, but many folks won't bother. They'll just glance at the clock and start, not knowing when and where to stop.

When writing a short story, it's essential to set a timer and stick to it.

This will help you stay focused and motivated and help you finish your story promptly.

TL; DR: Timers keep your buns in check.

Get clear (as mud) of what the story is about before you start writing it

When you're writing a shorty, it's important to have a clear idea of what the story is about before you start writing it.

Ok, I don't mean clear to the extent that you know the lead homie's name and hair color, but clear that you feel the concept of the shorty.

This will help you stay focused and motivated and help you finish your story within that golden hour. In addition, having a clear idea of the story will help you write in a more concise and focused manner.

Don't try to cram in too much information. Start with the basics and flesh it out as you go.

TL;DR: get clear first. At least as clear as murky water.

Write like you're being chased by a T-rex

Get it out of your head and onto paper...FAST.

The goal here is to do a writer's brain dump. To simply write and write and not fret about where it's going just yet. The pieces may not fit perfectly right now, but when you get to the editing, you'll likely see a much bigger picture. And move chunks, ideas, sentences, and whatnot into the proper place.

Getting it out of your brain and onto paper is the goal here.

This will give you something to work with and help you stay focused and motivated. In addition, writing the first draft lickety-split will help you to keep your story moving at a fast pace.

Don't worry about editing or revising your work at this point. Just get the story down on paper (or screen).

TL;DR: here comes T-Rex...WRITE!

Get 'em hook, line, and sinker

Create a catchy title to hook your readers before they scroll away. Here's what I do.

Working title: start with this. It might be dumb, but at least you'll have planted that flag. My working title for this piece was How to write silly fast. The more I wrote, the more granular I got into the subject.

Use numbers or facts: after I kicked out my fast first draft, I got clearer on what I was writing. My original title then morphed into How to write silly fast stories in under an hour.

Make it curious: I wrote some more. This article grew, and so did my grasp of it. All I did here was add the word "How" to the title. Sometimes that word and that word alone makes folks want to click and read.

Look, there's no one size fits all in title creation. For some writers, it's easy as butter, and for others, like me, I need to put thought into it.

In any case, it's crucial to spend some time thinking about your title and making it something that will make your reader want to read more.

TL;DR: come up with a title that will make your reader want to read more. Keep it simple and catchy, but not click-baity.

Keep it simple and concise, yo!

It's essential to keep your writing style simple and concise so that your story will be easy to read.

This will help keep your reader engaged and make it easier for them to follow along with the story. In addition, keeping your writing style simple will help you stay focused and motivated while you're writing.

Avoid using flowery language or complex sentence structures. Keep your writing style simple and easy to understand.

Remember, you're writing a short story, not an organic chemistry dissertation.

TL;DR: Keep your writing style concise and straightforward to make it easy for your reader to follow along. This will also help you to stay focused and motivated while you write.

The final word

Writing a short story can be a fun and challenging experience.

By following this simple framework, you can write a short story in less than an hour and keep your reader glued to the page.

And who knows? You may even find that you enjoy it.

TL;DR: Follow me here...