Short Stories - Success Checklist

Following a checklist can be useful until the process of reaching a final draft becomes second nature.

1. Can the Heart of the Story be Summed Up in a Short Sentence?

In What If?‘Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers (Harper-Collins, 1991), Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter point out that, ‘Meaning is something that emerges as the characters act and react, as the story is written and refined.’

This is not the same as the plot or the outline but is the overall theme at the centre of events – what is the story really about?

2. Is There a Clear Line of Development?

Short fiction needs focus and a strong sense of direction. Does the story wander? Does the resolution feel crammed in or unconvincing?

If the story was developed from an outline, going back to the original plan can be useful. The story is very likely to have changed in the writing process but the outline can help the writer make sure it kept its direction.

Make sure the story can be seen as a progression, subtly handled but clearly focused.

3. Does the Story Suit the Form?

A short story telling the tale of a family over six generations or with several subplots will be a struggle to turn out successfully.

Remember that the story needs to suit the form – keep it compact, ideally with a small cast of characters and a short time-frame. A perfect example of both these features is Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour’ in The Awakening and Selected Stories (Penguin, 1984).

Make sure there is a strong opening that gets straight into the story and that the point of view is consistent throughout. The flow of reading should move right through without a break – if the reader has to go back and read something again, that flow is lost.

4. Is the Writing Economical?

By its very nature, a short story has a limited word count. Its brevity is its strength so make every word count and choose them wisely.

When revising the story to come up with a final draft, be ruthless and cut back anything that does not move the story towards its resolution. Imagining that each word costs money can help in developing a thrifty writing style!

5. Is the Ending Satisfying?

A strong ending makes for a satisfying read in any story. However, in a short story, the reader needs to be offered a complete reading experience in a small package so the ending carries a lot of weight.

The resolution doesn’t need to be happy to be satisfying nor do all the loose ends need to be neatly tied up – indeed an ending which is too perfect can be unconvincing. However, one which just fizzles out can ruin any pleasure the reader had in reading the rest of the story and no-one likes to be left feeling confused or cheated.

Think about balance and outcomes, don’t forget the theme and keep that clear focus working throughout – know where the story is going and make sure it arrives.

Know where the story is going.

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