How to Write a Good Short Story ELA 8 G/T Adapted from wikihow

Step 1: Get Inspired Humans are natural story tellers, but when it comes to writing a good story, you may get stumped…even if you have a vivid imagination and a millions great ideas. To write a good story, you have to get inspired! Humans are natural story tellers, but when it comes to writing a good story, you may get stumped…even if you have a vivid imagination and a millions great ideas. To write a good story, you have to get inspired!

Pay attention to the world that is going on around you Watch the local news. Watch the local news. Maybe you’ll hear about a woman trapped in a car for hours or a man who won the lottery twice in one lifetime. Maybe you’ll hear about a woman trapped in a car for hours or a man who won the lottery twice in one lifetime. Notice interesting character traits. Notice interesting character traits. Maybe you know a kid who takes his cat for a walk every morning or a lady to talks to her plants every night. Maybe you know a kid who takes his cat for a walk every morning or a lady to talks to her plants every night. Pay attention to your surroundings. Pay attention to your surroundings. Maybe you’ll see a pair of sneakers sitting on a park bench. Or maybe you’ll see a single flower planted in the ground. How did they get there? Maybe you’ll see a pair of sneakers sitting on a park bench. Or maybe you’ll see a single flower planted in the ground. How did they get there? Listen to people talk. Just one interesting sentence can inspire an entire story. Listen to people talk. Just one interesting sentence can inspire an entire story. “I never did homework when I was in school.” “I never did homework when I was in school.” “My dog doesn’t like men.” “My dog doesn’t like men.”

Consider “What if” Scenarios When you pay attention to the reality of the situation, don’t forget to consider the possibility of the situation! When you pay attention to the reality of the situation, don’t forget to consider the possibility of the situation! What if my parents decided our family was moving to another country? What if my parents decided our family was moving to another country? What if my school enforced mandatory uniforms next year? What if my school enforced mandatory uniforms next year? What if my neighbors suddenly disappeared? What if my neighbors suddenly disappeared?

Use Your Experiences Consider experiences or situations you have already had and take them to a fictional level. Consider experiences or situations you have already had and take them to a fictional level. If you get too comfortable with writing about things that have already happened, you won’t have room for creativity. If you get too comfortable with writing about things that have already happened, you won’t have room for creativity. Maybe you had a childhood friend who disappeared without telling a soul. What happened to him/her? Maybe you had a childhood friend who disappeared without telling a soul. What happened to him/her? Maybe you were fascinated by a ferris wheel operator as a kid. What happened to him/her? Maybe you were fascinated by a ferris wheel operator as a kid. What happened to him/her?

Get Inspired by a Setting A story can come from a strong sense of place. It doesn’t have to be a breath-taking beach or an amazing vacation to Italy. Consider more simple settings as well—a local apple orchard or an amusement park. A story can come from a strong sense of place. It doesn’t have to be a breath-taking beach or an amazing vacation to Italy. Consider more simple settings as well—a local apple orchard or an amusement park.

Read Short Stories! Find a few stories to read and consider the different styles and techniques used by authors. Find a few stories to read and consider the different styles and techniques used by authors.

Take out a sheet of paper.

Let’s Practice Think of a person with an annoying habit. Now write a paragraph from his/her point of view. Try to make the reader sympathize with that person. Think of a person with an annoying habit. Now write a paragraph from his/her point of view. Try to make the reader sympathize with that person.

Let’s Practice Describe two characters who are sitting next to each other. Without using dialogue between the characters, let the reader know exactly how these two people feel about each other. Describe two characters who are sitting next to each other. Without using dialogue between the characters, let the reader know exactly how these two people feel about each other.

Let’s Practice On your birthday, a strange-looking lady came to your door and handed you a wrapped present. You rattled it. It made a noise. Write a paragraph about this present. On your birthday, a strange-looking lady came to your door and handed you a wrapped present. You rattled it. It made a noise. Write a paragraph about this present.

Let’s Practice! Using as many sensory details as possible, write a paragraph to describe the setting. Using as many sensory details as possible, write a paragraph to describe the setting.