Sure, writing a short story seems simple.
Simple, that is, until you realize you need to craft an entire plot with engaging characters, compelling stakes, and an ending that's both logical and unexpected—all without surpassing 4,000 words (for our short story contests, at least). Not so simple now, is it? Don’t panic. You are totally capable of writing a gripping short story that will knock the socks off of your readers.
I've been a short story reader, writer, and editor (a connoisseur, if you will) for a long time now, and I've picked up some tricks that may come in handy when it's time to get your story across the finish line. Read on to find out how to write snappy stories that stick!
Show Versus Tell
A compelling story reveals a character's true nature through their actions rather than just explicitly stating it.
For example, which is the "better" sentence?
Maurice was a maniacal man who attempted to use magic to torment anyone who he believed had crossed him—especially if that someone was his neighbor's nosy, yet unassuming orange cat. (31 words)
OR
As Maurice dropped the final toxic ingredient into the cauldron, he stared menacingly out the window at the orange cat who was, once again, climbing over the fence between his and his neighbor's yard. (34 words)
In both sentences, we learn about Maurice, his affinity for magic, and his disdain for his neighbor's curious orange cat. The first sentence reads like a summary of a story, as the reader takes a passive "backseat" to what's going on.
In the second sentence, we are "shown" Maurice in action with only a few extra words. We learn additional information that sets the scene, and his actions pique our curiosity. What is Maurice going to do to the cat in his yard? Now, the rest of the story can provide the answer.
Ultimately, "showing versus telling" comes down to trusting your readers to understand you through subtext instead of explanation. Keeping this in mind as you write is a fantastic way to bring the reader into the world you're creating, rather than just having them sit on the sidelines.
Not only will this make your writing stronger, but it will give each word more purpose. And in a short story where space is limited, every word counts!
Move your story forward
We often see authors fall into the trap of explaining something insignificant at the expense of the actual story. Sometimes it’s excessive world building; sometimes it's spending too much time fixated on an emotion or an action. It's easy to get caught up in a moment that may be gratifying to write, but ultimately stalls the story.
When you're working with limited space, it's important to prioritize information that advances the plot. This isn't to say your short story can't have detailed world building, complicated emotions, or the slow-mo action scene of your dreams. You just want to be mindful of how those sentences contribute to your overall objective.
When writing short stories, ask yourself the following questions about each and every one of your sentences. If the answer is not a resounding "yes" to at least one, the sentence should be reworded or simply cut.
Is the information provided in this sentence crucial to how I want this person/place/thing to be understood?
Is the action (external or internal) compelling?
Is this relevant to the plot?
Does this sentence make us ask "what's next?"
If the answer is "no" to any of these questions, it's a super easy fix! Just use tip number one and present the information through a plot point. Even world building can happen through the eyes of your characters, which is a really engaging way to present new information. And lucky for you, we explain what makes a short story actually work in more detail.
It might seem like a lot at first, but once you get used to asking yourself these questions, you'll develop the skill of effortlessly writing sentences that meet the criteria and easily identifying the ones that don't.
Let it spill, then make it sparkle!
I know I just gave you a lecture about keeping things concise and informative, but at the end of the day, you're a writer. For that first draft, don't be afraid to just write! If you're stuck getting started, we have advice for beating the first draft blues to get you writing consistently and easily.
But sometimes, it takes seeing ALL your thoughts on paper for you to realize that maybe this point isn't as important, or maybe that point can be said in a more interesting way, or maybe a character should be added here to amplify this plot point (I had this happen recently). The most important thing for a first draft is to trust yourself, get your words down on paper, and write a story that makes YOU happy. You can always go back and incorporate the previous two tips to trim it down.
Even our Lead Editor says it takes her a few drafts to get things right.
"I re-wrote my story submission for the 2025 anthology 4 times before feeling comfortable submitting it. In each draft, I cut entire scenes, characters, and rewrote the ending until I felt confident that it was in a good place to submit. But at the beginning, my first draft was over 6,000 words!"
Any bestselling author will tell you it's totally normal to do multiple rounds of proofreading and editing to get your story to really shine, so if it isn't perfect on the first pass, don't be discouraged. There's an entire industry that's struggling—but succeeding!—right alongside you.
Pro Tip: when working on rewrites, save every draft as a new document. Version histories in web-based word processors are also helpful in tracking your progress and keeping a record of how far you've come. That way, you have a “time capsule” record of your process!
Complete your story
While every writer sees their story as a continuous work-in-progress, it's important to know when to put down the pen (or keyboard) and decide it's finished. But how?
This is why deadlines are incredibly helpful, as are cheerleaders who are excited to read your finished work. Having people waiting to read your story is a great motivator, and a "pencils down" deadline ensures you're taking your hands off it (at least for a little while). As it happens, Dreambridge gives you both when you submit to our annual short story anthology contests.
You can always return to your story after writing it to polish it up—we encourage healthy editing!—but knowing when to mark it as "complete" as it can be for now ensures you have time to write even more imaginative tales, without getting mired in the editing bog.
Yes, short stories are...well, short. But it's because they're short that they demand serious precision, voice, and punch. No matter the content, we write with the same goal for our readers every time: hook them, shake them, and leave them thinking about it long after the final line. We’re rooting for you!
Thanks for this! Well said and so helpful! 💙 I appreciate it!