15 Tips for Writing Better Short Stories! | Writing Tips

RELATED VIDEOS:

MY SHORT FICTION:

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:19 - Making every character an antagonist
2:10 - Core idea rather than theme
3:26 - Specific rather than universal themes
5:11 - Challenge your protagonist's misbelief
6:07 - Pick a unique setting
7:13 - Use the setting to put pressure on the character
8:11 - Avoid binary choices
10:05 - Find your moment of knockout
10:58 - Specify the point of view
12:36 - Create form, not structure
14:18 - Connect opportunity and revelation
15:46 - Cut connective tissue
16:44 - Create patterns
17:33 - Don't waste your title or first line
18:32 - Create a linguistic ecosystem

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

SOCIAL

[shayzreads]

PLEASE become an English/creative writing teacher. I cannot imagine how much better of a writer I'd be if I had you as a teacher when I was younger lol

[rev]

I honestly struggle so much with short fiction! your content inspires me to write it, even though I suck ass at it and every thing I try to write gets larger and larger and becomes too huge to be a *short* story

[peachy-wdci]

Im 13 and i dtarted writing short stories a few years ago and now theyre much better after watching your videos. thank you

[AlexRider]

That note on connecting two points really resonated. I've been thinking about that same thing. For me right now, the two points are: repression/release. Protag is repressing their true feelings about a previously suffered trauma until they are forced to confront it in the climax, resulting in a release. Creates mystery and emotional charge.

[yawish]

im like a month late with this but i just wanna say that your haircut is very pretty and it looks really good on you, i love it ♡

[ella-skvm]

Shaelin you are giving me everything I need! I'm doing an EPQ on a short story collection and I can't tell you how much my writing has evolved from my years watching you, I am truly so grateful!! Thank you!

[QuotidianWriter]

Amazing content, as always. You really go above and beyond the basics to examine the craft on a deeper level, from form and character to diction and details. It's been cool to see you grow as a writer across the years, and your high-quality short stories underscore the advice you share here. You know how to practice what you preach. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights.

[nayaranoor]

I JUST started writing short stories like back in December and I made a v doable goal for myself to write 12 this year, and this video just came at a perfect time thank you so much <3

[gregorcrawford]

Hello Shaelin,

I’ve been watching your channel for the past 2 months now, and honestly these videos encouraged me A LOT to pursue a degree in writing. I showed my dad some of your videos and I think it really made him consider helping me out with tuition (He dropped out from a BA in English when he was young because we couldn’t afford it). Somehow these videos made him nostalgic of what he could’ve done with the degree... I thought you should know.
Now I’m only waiting for a yes from Uvic and I’m all set!

Keep up the videos, they’re gold!

[writeitdown]

This is really helpful! I like the tip on finding a 'moment of knockout.' I feel like finding that moment is so hard. I wonder if it's better to start a story knowing what the knockout moment will be, or just start writing and hope during the revision process it just comes to you

[marthamugnaio]

Oh my god, did you read my mind?! I was looking for exactly a video like this!

[madmagus]

The word choice tip was, for me, a very important point. Atmospheric words really create the underlying feeling that puts the reader in the proper mood.

[krishnarchanakg]

Thank you for the video, I was googling for more articles about, short stories

[authorgreene]

I've been a submissions reader for 3 magazines, and there are stories I rejected that have a single image, a scene, or some lines that still come back to me to this day. Making sure there's something that *sparks* or stands out in a story may not make it ready to be published, but it's an important aspect of a memorable story. And memorable stories are important for any publisher to print.

[Makeupvine]

This is just an idea to expand on what you said about setting stories in bizarre places. I think it would also be potentially interesting framing everyday places or settings in bizarre or new ways. Loved the video as always!

[NanaSomebody]

This is the only channel I found that gives unique advice. Most of your tips I've never heard before, and they elevated my writing tremendously. I am addicted to these videos haha.

[pauline_f]

I read a short story once in which there was this POV change midway that worked as a sort of knockout because one character had been masquerading as another. It worked as a reveal, and what blew my mind was that despite the story being in second person (I remember correctly) and the character not being announced, you understood immediately what was going on (it was fanfiction, but still, despite the reader already knowing the characters, it would've been so damn easy to mess that up. I was really impressed)

[imaginativebibliophile]

Shaelin, I love short stories because of the ideas explored and the focus on one character’s revelation. I have been recently experimenting with form and style in the stories I am writing. Your short story, Cherry and Jane in the Garden of Eden is my favorite of all your short stories and I am excited to see it included in your short story collection, Pareidolia. I often create all of my story’s conflicts through setting. I love short stories that flow naturally like soft pearls in a stream. I just started writing another short story yesterday and I am really enjoying writing it. Symbolism is an important part of most of my short stories. I love you

[nabilamiah]

Just when I'm writing a short story! You're a lifesaver!

[backflipbaby]

Shaelin, I love this video, and I wanted to say: your moment of knockout for me in Barefoot is when Sunan spends a second holding the money in front of him, just for that little bit of time. That image has always stuck with me! I just wanted you to know, because I love Barefoot so much and that moment lives in my mind rent-free.