How to Structure a Short Story | template for advanced or beginner writers!

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MY SHORT STORIES:

FAQS
→How old are you? - 25
→How long have you been writing? - Since I was 8
→Where do you live? - I keep that private for safety reasons, but I grew up in Vancouver.
→Where did you go to university and what did you study? - I keep my university information private, but I majored in writing with a concentration in fiction.
→What are your pronouns? - They/them or she/her
→Where can I read your books? - None of my books are published yet, but you can read my published short fiction in my linktree (linked above!)
→So when will your book be published? - I don’t know! I’m in the revision process right now, but I can’t predict exactly when I’ll have a book published. But I’m working on it!
→Do you plan to traditionally publish or self publish? - Traditionally publish
→Will you read my book/story/chapter/mentor me? - Unfortunately I cannot accommodate these requests because editing/critiquing is a labour intensive task that I can’t afford to do for free alongside my job, my own writing, and running this platform. If you would like to hire me for paid editing work, contact me privately on twitter or instagram.

OUTRO MUSIC: "l u v t e a [acoustic]" by Autumn Keys

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[wangtoriojackson]

I remember a succinct way of thinking of the structure of an argumentative essay I was taught in middle school, splitting it into three basic parts. It was "First, you tell em what you're gonna tell em, then you tell em, then you tell em what you just told em."

[jonnydavis]

Shaelin, your videos have helped me fall in love with writing again. You've taught me countless invaluable lessons (and saved me so much time). I just wanted to thank you for being so awesome!

[em.meraldmone]

When I was having doubts about pursuing writing, I watched your videos and I am now studying Master’s in Creative Writing and honestly without your videos and your advices, I wouldn’t have been this ambitious in writing stories I have to tell. Thank you for that.😊

[bramblequeen]

Starting my first short story since high school. I’ve been working on my passion project for a while now, but I’ve realized that I need to start and finish more stories to really feel confident in myself as a writer and artist. I have OCD and this exercise has become part of my exposure therapy as my obsessive perfectionism has caused me to be afraid of creating, a process that is often times inherently messy. Finding your channel has been so helpful! Also, I love your shirt!

[artieo]

I started writing short stories thanks to you
Any short story related content you put out is a blessing to me 😁

[xezazase]

A few observations from a humble viewer:

1. Your videos are awesome. No bs whatsoever and the information is presented clearly and in a way that's engaging enough to keep one's attention.

2. It's very clear that you have a powerful engine for creativity. Impressive.

3. You've probably heard this before, but I bet you'd make an amazing teacher.

Keep up the good work :)

[firesword]

I've had a project collecting dust for a while now and with coming back to it now. I've come to realize how a short story can help build me up as a writer and breathe life into a fictional world. This outline is simple, and having a thesis/theme built into the planning helps so much.

[biancavirginiapuchalskijim]

Watching this video was like a revelation! After watching this, I must confess the idea of starting a short story now seems a bit less menacing.

[Amaiguri]

Shaelin, you have basically singlehandedly explained to me how to write prose. Plot is something I've known how to do forever but prose and syntax and diction is something I've never been good at

I am now very excited to learn more about Short Fiction "D

[hzlkelly]

Introduction

Body

Conclusion.

Yeah I still use this structure for my short stories.

My body really has more than 3 paragraphs nowadays. I'm just getting back to writing

[inkbythebarrelandpaperbyth]

In case you're looking for any criticism there is none.

You're brilliant and this is great.

[BigPhilly]

Wow. I always viewed my use of a thesis statement in short stories as a weakness. I’m a lawyer by training, so I had assumed I was using such academic tools as a crutch. Thanks for your video.

[abbyl]

I would love a video of you analyzing a short story or a few short stories, maybe giving more examples of theses that tie to closing paragraphs. Just to see how it can be done well without being too obvious. I definitely want to make my short stories stronger! Thanks for video.

[mdnegative]

This is so informative! I am struggling with writing my short story, but I am so happy I watched this because I now have a sense of direction of how to structure it.

[Slaaneshy_Concubine]

You earned yourself a new subscriber. I‘m currently outlining a longer story without any prior writing experience and thought about writing a few short stories to practice before getting into it writing. This video helped a lot about how to structure it and understanding what‘s actually important. Big thanks 👍

[jeremyhennessee]

oh, forgive me. But I must also (fairly ) add that I think you're one of the more brilliant and inventive writers I've seen in quite a long time ma'am. And many of your short stories I've found online are wonderful. You do great work.

You have a lot to offer the world.

good day/morning/somethin.

JSH

[zenebornman]

This is so amazing honestly. I am always so overwhelmed over how short stories work. 😊❤

[AdamFishkin]

Holy shit I remember this from school !!! We had to argue things without believing in them!
(cue traumatic flashbacks of trying to get homework done)
Now that you've brought it up, it's a structure that has the potential to be very helpful in filmmaking, regardless of whether it's short or long. Narratives can avoid the cookie cutter look by actually having a point, as in a thesis that you give to the audience with the right balance of clarity and subtlety. Now I'm getting why "The Lion King" is so popular ... it's the story structure.
Inciting Incident - Simba's presented at Pride Rock, his uncle be trippin'
Thesis Statement - Mufasa schools Simba on everything having its proper place
Body 1 - drop a body
Body 2 - be nobody (hakuna matata)
Body 3 - return in a new body
Conclusion - Simba takes his proper place

[wordcharm]

Look at you taking care of us plotters with a structure video! 😋

[lxitscomplicated]

This Video reminded me on Kishotenketsu and its pretty good usable for short stories, Japanese comic creator (Mangaka) use it all the time for any kind of work for example 4 Panel shorts also called Yonkoma, and short comics called Doujinshi.
In longer stories, they stack it, every chapter has its own Kishotenketsu, inside the main story.

the kiku (起句) is the opening part, setting the scene and introducing the characters.
shōku (承句) is the development part, highlighting an event or incident involving the characters and that builds up.
tenku (転句) is the changing part, the twist, leading the story to its climax, and tipping over to its conclusion.
kekku (結句) is the outcome part, showing the consequences and transformation of the event and characters.

Its main focus is on character and their development and not conflict, unlike western story structures, which makes it easier to be used for interesting and compelling stories.


Yonkoma

Firstly, the kishōtenketsu makes the structure particularly appropriate for a yonkoma (four panels) manga story. Each panel in the yonkoma can be matched to a part in the kishōtenketsu. The first panel sets the scene, the second one highlights an element, the third one shows the twist and the last one the conclusion.


When used in short stories such as (20 pages) one chapter Doujinshi, its roughly used as follows:

10% for the introduction (kiku),
60% for the development (shōku),
20% for the twist/change (tenku)
and 10% for the outcome (kikku).

Basically, for a 20 pages chapter, this would give approximately:

kiku: 2 pages
shōku: 12 pages
tenku: 4 pages
kekku: 2 pages

Of course, these figures are indicative, but see that the development part, and then the twist part, shall be given the more room.