15 Tips for Writing Better Short Stories! | Writing Tips
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- RELATED VIDEOS:
→12 Tips for New Short Story Writers: • 12 Tips for New Short ...
→Using Form in Your Writing: • Writing Experimental F...
→How to Write a Short Story: • How to Write a Short S...
→Everything About Submitting Short Stories: • Everything About Submi...
→8 Unconventional Points of View: • 8 Unconventional Point...
→All My Published Work: linktr.ee/shaelinbishop
→If you want to support my channel, you can tip me on ko-fi! ko-fi.com/shaelinbishop
MY SHORT FICTION:
☾I Will Never Tell You This - The Puritan: puritan-magazine.com/never-tel...
☾Solarium - Minola Review: www.minolareview.com/shaelin-b...
☾Barefoot - The Fiddlehead [print only]: thefiddlehead.ca/issue/282
☾Wishbone - PRISM international [print only]: prismmagazine.ca/2020/04/19/pr...
☾Wishbone - video reading: vimeo.com/420052282
☾Cherry and Jane in the Garden of Eden - The Puritan: puritan-magazine.com/cherry-an...
☾Hold Me Under Till I See the Light - The New Quarterly: tnq.ca/story/hold-me-under-ti...
☾Beautiful Animal - Room: roommagazine.com/issues/twine
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
MORE WRITING TIPS: • Writing Tips
WRITING VLOGS: • Writing Vlogs
WRITING CHATS & DISCUSSIONS: • Writing & Authortube D...
BOOK REVIEWS: • Recent Reads
Check out more writing and publishing videos from me over @Reedsy!: / @reedsy
OUTRO MUSIC: "l u v t e a [acoustic]" by Autumn Keys
SOCIAL
Tumblr: / shaelinwrites
Ask me anything: shaelinwrites.tumblr.com/ask
Twitter: / shaelinbishop
Instagram: / shaelinbishop
Goodreads: / shaelin-bishop
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
that's my eventual goal!
I think you are already are, Shaelin. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us :)
@@ShaelinWrites your videos are extremely helpful and easy to understand (English is not my first language), thank you
@@michaellindquist6011 "You already are " I guess it is a typing error but I just want to correct :-)
Isn’t that what she’s doing? 😂 … she gonna make a lot more money on CZcams than on a teacher’s salary
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
I find with short fiction, it can be *painful* to write them at first, but one day it'll kind of 'click' and they becomes much easier to write from then on! It took me quite a few stories to get there but if you keep working on stories, they'll become easier to write with time!
@@ShaelinWrites Maybe I should send an ask on Tumblr, but I wanted to ask - is there any possibility for future publications of We the girls. I reeeally want to read that story 😔🙏😁✌
I'm not submitting it at the moment for various reasons, but hopefully will in the future! But if not I plan for it to go in my collection.
Me too! Haha, I attempted to write a short story... and it's 17k now and growing. XD
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 ♡
Aw well thank you!
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.
Im 13 and i dtarted writing short stories a few years ago and now theyre sooooooooooooo much better after watching your videos. thank you
I'm 12 now I started writing when I was 9-10
I love how both of these comments felt the need to add their ages lmaoo
@@aw5kawdv371 true tho lol
I'm 13! I so glad for this video!
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.
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.
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!
Im currently doing an EPQ.is there any tips you have?im a bit stuck
omg FANTASTIC!!! my FAVE videos!!!
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
Ohh what a great goal, committing to writing 12 stories in a year is a great way to improve!
@@ShaelinWrites Yayyy thank you! Hoping I can actually accomplish it
i wanna start writting short stories about my life and what i been trough but i don’t want to use there names i want ♥️. there names to be characters name
I think that's a great goal for anyone to have. I balked when I heard Ray Bradbury's goal is to write a short story each week. 52 stories done by EOY! Hooray!! :) I guess its doable if you're doing it full time or are determined, anything is possible.
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.
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)
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!
Ahh I'm so happy for you!!
Thank you!
Just when I'm writing a short story! You're a lifesaver!
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.
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
that moment could definitely be a starting point for the idea in many cases!
Oh my god, did you read my mind?! I was looking for exactly a video like this!
I did in fact
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!
In your "Core Idea rather than theme" reminds me of an essay I read about how Rod Serling (twilight zone) wrote. He would ask a question with his premise, then the rest of the story is the body paragraph. The conclusion is only sort of a real conclusion, because it doesn't answer the question, it is just the conclusion for the characters, which really just provides more argument about the central question.
Thank you for the video, I was googling for more articles about, short stories
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.
that is so sweet, I'm so happy that stuck with you🥰
Thank you so much! I was having trouble with my short story and I was really starting to hate it. You brought back my love.
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
My dear, you are a treasure trove. Thank you for your writing tips. Not only are they helpful, you present them in a clean, concise manner, making them easy to absorb and implement. Bravo!
This came at the perfect time :) I have to write a short screenplay by Wednesday which I haven’t started because I’ve been having a rough time recently. Thanks for giving me the boost I needed to get it done! Your videos helped me decide that a creative writing degree was right for me in the first place & are still helping me now in my final year, so thank you ❤️
Dude, u r smart as hell, thank you for these tips 😩
Thank you so much for the video, Shaelin. I'm recently into writing short fiction recently and am enjoying the process a lot. I understand why you emphasize on the effectiveness of short fiction so much. The feeling of completing a short story was so much more satisfying than completing first drafts for my two novels. What boosted my confidence in writing short stories was your previous video with tips and this extended list is just what I needed at this point. Love and light.
i really appreciate how you share your knowledge with other writers for free!!! all vibes, good intentions & fun
This might be my fav video you've ever done I'm so glad I went back to it!!!
That last tip is something I've never heard before but makes a lot of sense in regard to short fiction. So thank you for telling it
Also, I fecking LOVE listening to you talk ^.^ You have a nice voice
Oh my gosh! I make lists of words like you suggested in your last tip, and never knew anyone else did that too! I especially like words with multiple meanings or connotations that both/all fit the atmosphere or content of my story. Whichever meaning I manage to work into the story, it'll still subtly evoke its other meaning as well.
I do a lot of writing and I have since I was really little, and I've come to a lot of conclusions and had revelations, and this is one of the only places I've found that talks about those ideas more in-depth. It's nice to know someone else thinks about writing like I do!
I love your POV on POVs. It's totally freeing as a writer.
Oooohhh!! Another short story tips video!! Excellent!!! Thank you!
I’ve been working on short fiction lately and this gave me great ideas for another revision! Thanks so much 🙏🏽
I truly appreciate your writing advice. My way of thinking is I take all advice and run it up the flagpole and see what fits and what doesn't oh, I never want to criticize the person giving the advice
Great tips Shaelin, this'll help me a lot when I'm writing my next short story! :D
Good tips. Short stories are definitely their own beasts with their own sets of challenges. Getting them right is satisfying.
Hi Shaelin, would you ever be interested in talking about working for Reedsy, and more specifically, how it started, what led to it, etc? I understand if that’s too private for you and if you’d prefer not to share, I just thought it might interest other viewers as well, since it is a job associated with writing even if it’s not writing per se, and many aspiring writers - including myself - might like to know how to look for these kinds of opportunities.
I probably wouldn't make a whole video of it since there's not actually that much to tell haha, but the short of it is that Reedsy reached out to me because they were looking for someone to grow their youtube channel, and it was a great opportunity so I started there are as an intern. Later on I started working there full time once I'd graduated university!
Great video! Very helpful. I like the notion of building up a bank of words and phrases for stories.
Needed this thanks
not me using shaelin's videos as the third revision lmao (these videos are AMAZING, they're really helpful!)
Shaelin, these are really amazing tips. It's so hard to find practical tips for short fiction but things like "avoid binary choices" are extremely helpful and make so much sense. I agree with using core ideas rather than themes. I had a professor describe them as "questions" which helped. But lately, I've found if I just focus on telling a good story, as opposed to working towards a revelation or the expression of a core idea, the story works much better, and the "core idea" finds a way to hitch a ride.
I paused this video to read Cherry and Jane in the Garden of Eden
and I'm so glad I did. What a strange, curious story you told. I loved it. Bless.
thank you for reading, so happy you enjoyed it!!
@@ShaelinWrites absolutely my pleasure. Pearl’s feelings. Guilt, awareness, denial..
She’s going to stay with me, I think.
Thank you for all the awesome tips. I finding listening to your videos both informative and soothing :)
I'm convinced your videos are made for me!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it is so helpful to me!!
thank you so much Shaelin! I'm a 15 year old writer so I'm not very good, but your videos have been helping me develop my writing tremendously!
Keep at it!
This is so helpful, thank you!
Thank you so much for this video, it's especially helpful since I'm working on a story to submit to a competition right now.
oohhh that's so exciting ! good luck !
@@ShaelinWrites Thank you!!!
Oooh i like what u said at 19:00 , that sounds like a fun challenge and will definitely make your story unique
These are excellent. Thanks!
Fantastic tips - thank you. I particularly enjoyed the linguistic ecosystems 👍👍
thank you for this video! i learned so much!
ahhhh!! i love these tips! im writing a short story called swallowed by silence on wattpad, and i feel like ive been congruent with like this whole list lol, but its fun using them and i feel like im creating such a rhythmic story ☺️✨thanks for the advice :)
Oh my! Your haircut is breathtaking. Also, I am so grateful to watch your content, you helped me a lot as someone with endeavors in writing~
The short hair looks so good on you.
Thanks for this video! The linguistic ecosystem tip makes me want to add that as part of my brainstorming! And make a list of fun words to save for later lol
I like things that are universal because psychological axioms exist even within different cultures and its hard to care soo much about a character that doesn't exist unless he or she is acting out an axiom which is statically relatable.
i havent seen ur most recent videos- that haircut ahhhhhhhh its so goood omlll~ & tysm for your ✨immaculate✨ content, have an amazing day
THE NATURE OF CHOICE
Human nature dictates that each of us will always choose the “good” or the “right” as we perceive the “good” or the “right.” The choice between good and evil or between right and wrong is no choice at all. Therefore, if a character is put into a situation where he must choose between a clear good versus a clear evil, or right versus wrong, the audience, understanding the character’s point of view, will know in advance how the character will choose.
A two-sided conflict is not dilemma but vacillation between the positive and the negative. “She loves me/she loves me not, she loves me/she loves not,” for example, swings back and forth between good and bad, and presents insoluble story problems. It isn’t only tediously repetitious, but it has no ending.
True choice is dilemma. It occurs in two situations. First, a choice between irreconcilable goods: From the character’s view two things are desirable, he wants both, but circumstances are forcing him to choose only one. Second, a choice between the lesser of two evils: From the character’s view two things are undesirable, he wants neither, but circumstances are forcing him to choose one. How a character chooses in a true dilemma is a powerful expression of his humanity and of the world in which he lives.
An original work poses choices between unique but irreconcilable desires: It may be between two persons, a person and a lifestyle, two lifestyles, two ideals, two aspects of the innermost self-between any conflicting desires at any level of conflict, real or imagined, the writer may devise. But the principle is universal: Choice must not be doubt but dilemma, not between right/wrong or good/evil, but between either positive desires or negative desires of equal weight and value.
Great video. Cutting the connective tissue is a great idea. Not so much for novels. Especially (forgive the genre fiction reference) in books like The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Those connective tissues are usually the best part of the novels, and are usually where her sequels work themselves out. Starting with book #16 she for some reason cut those. It took a lot of the fun out of reading them.
So useful!!!!Thank you.
So helpful, thank you 🙏🏽
Your tips really helped me get back into my childhood writing habits! Thank you so much! I try to write something every day now and have been posting my short stories in Reedsy. P.S. I've read some of your published work: It's amazing and inspirational for me!
Wonderful advice, Shaelin! Also, every enby or gnc person has this outfit and shdsj, I'm including myself in that.
I love your tips
I love what you did with your hair🔥
thank you
Regarding the binary choices, this reminded me of the movie Swing Vote. The premise is that the presidential election is completely tied, but they discover one man didn't vote, so they track him down and try to make him vote. He's apathetic, so the whole struggle comes from making him interested. The movie ends when the character has made a choice, he does vote but that's it, the end, we never see what he voted for, because that would actually be so lame and also the movie itself would be taking a side. Thinking of your sport example, the main character could be making their choice just before or during the final game, but maybe the audience never gets to see the end of the game, as it would really emphasize that the choice itself was the resolution we were building up to. It would take courage to put that in a movie though, because you know a lot of people won't interpret that correctly and will be seriously disappointed.
Thank you! This video was really helpful for me! Do you by chance have any tips on choosing a setting and/or how to include it in a story? That's something I really struggle with and I feel as though it's starting to hold back my writing.
Usually the setting is just wherever I see the scenes take place in my mind, so I basically just pick the story that looks aesthetically how I imagine the story!
Interesting style and description
Great video! I really liked the bit of cutting connective tissue, great way of describing it -- would love to see a video on *how* you cut the connective tissue in practice, since I feel like my default path of taking screen breaks sometimes has less flow than a quick connector like 'After driving through roads half-submerged in floodwater, Protag....'. Very curious if your professor advises fully cutting those bits out or just cutting them down/reducing the wordcount.
I think that sentence is fine and good for clarity! I think the issue is more if that bit about driving was several sentences long or even a whole paragraph.
Like your points helpful advice like your style
Hello.... my CZcams friend. Listen to your short story tips for well now years. Your personality is conscious friendly and informative. I have learned a lot. Thanks...
Suggestion: when you edit these videos, could you add a little more “pause” between talking segments? I think it would sound more natural and would be more effective for viewers. I find it hard to listen to rapid speech with no pauses. It’s like reading a chapter that is one long paragraph. (Keep up your good work)
A super contrived title often scares me off, like it's compensating for a weak story. A simple title is a challenge to the reader, shows confidence in what's about to come.
You're such a wonderful word-nerd. And I love listening to you going off on so many interesting little topics. I mean, looking for an excuse to use a specific word for 4 years, how awesome isn't that? :D
💕💕💕 video idea: a novel made up of flash fiction sections (
Thank you
The idea of a linguistic ecosystem made my entire being light up. What an incredible concept. Does anyone have any tips on how to populate or organize these lists?
I just posted a full video on this topic yesterday!!
Just finished "A Swim in a Pond in the Rain," a new book by George Saunders where he talks about his lectures on the Russian short story for his MFA class at Syracuse. He includes work by Tolstoy, Gogol, Turgenev, and Chekhov whose story "The Darling" follows what you mentioned about creating patterns specific for the main character. Where's a good place to discuss this book, or any ideas about short story writing besides the comments here? You mentioned Tumblr, I think.
You talk so fast! lol but that's the plus and that's why I watch ur videos. In case you didn't know, ur videos have helped to improve my English skill in a very efficient way. Thank YOU!!!!
this video is - "KNOWLEDGE GALORE", Cheers!
Great to know
This is an ooolllld video, but I was wondering if you had any tips for how to brainstorm a word bank like the one you mentioned? Do you use a dictionary?
I usually start just noting down words I like that I encounter while reading + or good alternatives I find when using a thesaurus or something, and build it over time!
Great!
Your videos are absolutely incredible. Wow, what a hidden gem. Tbh when searching for advice I almost watched another channel because you have such low views. I was a fucking moron.
Thousands of people watch her videos and are subbed to her. That isn’t low. Maybe compared to celebrities, but numbers on CZcams have been so warped.
Tip - your mic is too much echo. Get a more sound proof area or put up some sound suppression around your recording station. It will make your video sound a million times better.
Hi. I'm new to your channel. Forgive me if I'm not very coherent right now. I was curious to read something you wrote so I've just read "I will never tell you this". I'm... disconcerted by how good it was. I... I guess I just wanted to thank you for writing it. How did you..? Never mind. I guess I'll have to watch all your videos now. Thank you.
I watch your channel a lot because you talk a lot about short stories and that's what I want to write now. Would you recommend reading Chekhov? He's supposed to be the greatest short story writer of all time. What do you think?
Hi Shaelin. This is one of the best videos of yours I've seen!
On another video, you mentioned writing workshops which you use to improve your story when it is still in the editing stage. How do you find these workshops and how do they work?
Also, does your tumblr "ask me anything" work? I tried the link and it wouldn't let me access. Thanks in advance!
Sorry, the ask me anything doesn't work right now because I keep my asks closed most of the time! This is just to manage the influx of questions since if I keep it open all the time, I get too many to answer. If you keep checking back they'll be open at some point, usually earlier in the week!
I found my workshop through university, but anywhere you're involved with a writing community, whether local or online, you can connect with other writers to form a workshop. Basically, you just take turns submitting work, and then you meet to discuss it, and send your written critiques/line edits to the author.
@@ShaelinWrites Thanks for explaining!
What do you think about the 8 point story arc?
I'm trying to look for that short story you wrote for an assignemnt!! Please help 😢
It was one where you were given a sentence to start the story with. Summer something.
The anarchist older brother of the main character had dragged her out into the desert. I really loved that one but I can't find it anymore.
I looked something up and am getting mixed answers so I figure I'll ask u. Can u make a nonfiction short story? Or would u have to call it like a mini memoir or something?
Also,does a short story actually need conflict if it is nonfiction? The story I'm thinking of is a personal experience taking place entirely in the person's head so its pretty much only got internal conflict, if u can even call it conflict at all.
Yep! These are usually called either creative non-fiction or personal essays, depending on their style.
@@ShaelinWrites creative nonfiction sounds good lol. Its based on my experience at the store the other day. Pretty simple, but its in my POV, and my pov is autistic n very neurodivergent. Its just a simple errand, going to the store and shopping. But for me that can be difficult sometimes. Except this shopping trip was special cuz I met a stranger for only a few moments and she made my entire day. I wrote the outline in the car and wrote the first draft when I got home. Almost 2000 words on the first draft.
Also, forgot to say, i blame u for my interest in POV lol.
I do short stories
Whenever I use any type or form of theme, I try and make it as subtle as possible. I hate hitting the audience over the head with something so obvious. That said, I've submitted to science-fiction magazines like Asimov, but no dice. I'm not sure it it was due to length or quality, because the short story I submitted to them was about 8000 words long.
I disagree with what she says about the two possible endings of sports movies (a team winning or losing a match / tournament): "neither is going to be surprising by the end, and neither is going to be satisfying." The ending can be both surprising and satisfying, for example, if the team made it against all odds. A movie that exemplifies this is Chak De! India.
Hi ignore my username! I wanted to ask if you could make a video talking more in-depth of writing perspectives and how to use them. For example first person, tips and tricks on how to stay away from using “I” so much? Also side question, are there more writing perspectives then the main 3?
Hi! I have a lot of videos on POV (specifically one called the ultimate guide to tense and POV, and another called unconventional points of view) that I think will elaborate on those topics!
As a chess fan and a writer I want to read your story Zugzwang now 😂😅
That German rooted chess term you mention at 20:34 - the automatically generated subs spell it "suggs wong", which makes no sense at all. Could it be Zugzwang? ("Zug" in this connection means "move", "Zwang" is "compulsion", "obligation".)
Haha yes it's Zugzwang!