7 Tips For Freelancers: Writing Short Stories
Writing short stories as a freelancer is a great and fast way to make money online. The good thing about it is that you have the option of writing about anything that interests you; of course it has to be entertaining for the reader. However, you may have been yearning for a long time to start writing short stories but you don’t feel you are ready yet. Do not worry because here are 7 tips for freelancers with an intention of writing short stories.
- Begin with a Character who has a Goal or Problem
- Ensure the Reader Understands the Character’s Thought Process
- Play Fair and Avoid Dreams
- Gradually pin down the Point
- The Genre
- Read other Short Stories
- Write a Series
One of the best approaches to writing short stories is to create a character and a problem. The problem should be solved by the end of your story. The plot of your story should comprise of the goal of your character, the process of achieving it, and the obstacles encountered in achieving the goal. Simply put, your short story should have a beginning, middle, and an ending.
Written work is often more satisfying than film because the reader can understand the character’s thoughts. Use words that elicit emotion and make the reader understand the characters’ thoughts and ultimately empathize with the characters in your story.
A story whereby your character encounters wonderful or horrible things but in the end it turns out that he/she was just dreaming will not satisfy the reader and will feel like a cheat. However, if you are developing a paranormal story and the character’s dreams form some sections of the story, it is okay.
The common structure of a short story includes a set up-where you introduce the character, introduction of the main problem, obstacle, dilemma or conflict, the climax-where all is lost, and the resolution- where the story ends and ideally comes into full circle and refers to events that took place at the beginning of the story. You should avoid bombarding the reader with the character’s main conflict before the reader has gotten a chance to understand the character.
You need to consider the genre of your short story and the entertainment element. The genre could be mystery, romance, fiction etc. understanding the genre is important as it makes it easier for the reader to discover the story. You should select the genre before writing the story.
The best way to improve your skills is to read what other people have written. You ought to visit the library and find some outstanding short stories to read. You will be better placed to better understand the form of short stories by reading more short stories.
Another approach to making your short stories interesting is to write in series. Ensure that you plan well for the series as you develop your stories. You can decide to have four short stories in one series and once all of them are published, you can sell them a package or bundle.
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