Writing a truly unique short story can be tricky. This is because through the years a myriad of great authors have created short stories that have changed the literary landscape time and again. So it is very difficult to truly make a short story that can really stand out or at least break new ground.
But don’t fret. One of the best things about writing a short story is the challenge of coming up with something that is truly original. So before you do get started on writing a short story of your very own. You should first have a plan.
Here are 5 great tips on how to write a truly unique short story:
- Your characters are key
If you want to make a truly unique short story, then you should take the time to create a cast of memorable characters. Remember that your readers will experience the story through your characters. The events will also happen to your characters.
So if you want your readers to actually care about your story and the events that will unfold in your story, then you should also make sure that your readers also care about your characters. When creating your characters, take the time to give each of them a unique personality, their own back stories and their motivations. By doing so, you will make each one of your characters more relatable and realistic.
All in all, the more time and care you invest in creating your characters, the more multifaceted and deep your short story will be.
- Take the time to brainstorm new ideas
Aside from making relatable and likeable characters, yet another aspect of the short story writing process you should take seriously is your story idea. Your story idea is extremely important because it is the topic or theme of your short story. And it can affect the overall success of your short story, this is why you should take the time to brainstorm ideas.
As stated earlier, there are already a multitude of short stories out there so you should really buckle down and come up with something truly unique.
- Stay away from old trends and clichés
There are countless short story ideas out there. So if you want your short stories to be as original as possible, it is important that you stay away from trends and clichés. You should stay away from trends because they tend to fizzle out pretty quickly and won’t really attract the attention of potential readers.
You should also avoid clichés because they are just overused tropes and readers tend to despise them. Readers can also spot them a mile away. All in all when you are brainstorming new ideas, just take your time and try to come up with something truly original.
- Avoid overly long sentences
You should also avoid writing overly long sentences. This is because overly long sentences tend to annoy and confuse readers. So if you want your writing to be as effective and efficient as possible, you should make it as short and concise as possible.
You should also try to avoid using unnecessarily complicated words or jargon. Remember that you are writing a short story. So you won’t really have the luxury of time or writing space to explain what the obscure words are about.
All in all, try to make your writing as clean and effective as possible.
- Don’t be afraid to ruffle a few feathers or cross a few lines
One of the best things about writing is the fact that it is pretty much limitless. You can pretty much write about anything under the sun. So when you write your short story, never limit yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ruffle a few feathers or cross a few lines. Don’t be afraid to tackle unusual subject matter. Be brave and adventurous.
By having this mentality you will have the best chance of capturing your reader’s attentions.
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