How to Write a Short Story (for BEGINNERS) | 4 Easy Steps

Summary

This video provides a four-step process for writing a compelling short story. It addresses common misconceptions, such as the difficulty of creating meaningful characters or delivering impactful endings within the limited length. The process focuses on defining a character's predicament, introducing a disruptive event, building toward a climactic moment, and concluding with a final revelation that changes the character's perspective. Through an example from the speaker's own short story, the video illustrates how each step can be applied to craft a well-structured and engaging narrative.

Takeaways

• 📚 Writing a short story can be simplified into a four-step process, making it less daunting for beginners.
• 👤 The first step is to establish a character in a particular predicament, which forms the core of the story and is often linked to the theme.
• 🔗 The theme of a story is the underlying idea that it explores, usually related to the character's change by the story's end.
• 💥 The second step involves an event that disrupts the predicament, acting as the inciting incident that propels the story forward.
• 📈 The third step is the event peak, which is the climax of the story where the character's predicament begins to shift due to the disruptive event.
• 🌟 The final step is the revelation, where the character experiences a change in their perspective on the predicament, leading to the story's resolution.
• 🤔 A common mistake for new writers is neglecting the importance of the character's change, which is crucial for a compelling short story.
• 🎭 The character's change can be positive or negative, but it's essential for demonstrating the impact of the story's events on the character.
• 📖 The example 'Jasmine's Brows and Cuts' illustrates how a character's internal conflict can be challenged by an external event, leading to a revelation.
• 💡 The script suggests that even if a character doesn't seem to change, a closer look might reveal a regression or a different form of transformation.
• 📝 The guide encourages新手 writers to embrace the challenge of writing short stories, offering a structured approach to craft impactful narratives.

Q & A

What are the four basic parts of a short story according to the script?

The four basic parts of a short story are: 1) Character in a particular predicament, 2) Event that disrupts this predicament, 3) Event Peaks, and 4) A final Revelation that changes the predicament.

What is a predicament in the context of a short story?

A predicament in a short story is a problem or conflict that the character faces, which can be internal or external. It is the heart of the story and the reason the character is telling the story at that time.

Can you explain the role of a theme in a short story?

A theme in a short story is the unspoken core idea that the story explores. It is usually related to the change the character makes by the end of the story.

What is the significance of a disruptive event in a short story?

A disruptive event, also known as the inciting incident, is what causes the story to happen. It is an external or internal conflict that exacerbates the internal conflict and sets the story in motion.

How does the event Peaks contribute to the short story's climax?

The event Peaks is the story's climax where the character's predicament starts to shift due to the disruptive event. It is the tipping point of the story where a change in the character's situation occurs.

What is the purpose of a final Revelation in a short story?

The final Revelation is crucial as it recontextualizes everything that came before it. It signals to the reader what the story was about and often involves the character making a significant change or realization regarding their predicament.

Why is it important for a character to change in a short story?

A character's change is important in a short story because it signifies the impact of the events on the character and provides a sense of development or transformation, which is a key element in storytelling.

What is the example of a character in a predicament given in the script?

The example given is from the short story 'Jasmine's Brows and Cuts', where Jasmine, who lost her job, starts an at-home eyebrow waxing business while struggling with her body image.

Can you provide an example of a disruptive event from the script?

In 'Jasmine's Brows and Cuts', the disruptive event is when Sada, a confident woman, becomes the first client of Jasmine's at-home salon.

How does the final Revelation in 'Jasmine's Brows and Cuts' illustrate the character's change?

In the story, Jasmine's final Revelation occurs when she looks at her reflection in the mirror and sees herself tinged gold, indicating a shift in her self-perception and a challenge to her previous worldview influenced by her mother's criticism.

What advice does the script offer for新手 short story writers regarding character change?

The script advises新手 short story writers that characters in short stories typically undergo some form of change, whether positive or negative, and that stories where characters do not change at all are less common and should be approached with caution for beginners.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Art of Crafting a Short Story

This paragraph introduces the challenge of writing short stories and presents a four-step process to overcome it. It emphasizes the importance of a character in a particular predicament as the core of the story, which is often a conflict that can be internal or external. The paragraph also touches on the concept of theme, which is the underlying idea explored in the story and is usually connected to the character's change by the end. An example is given from the short story 'Jasmine's Brows and Cuts,' where Jasmine's predicament is her struggle with body image and societal beauty standards, which is disrupted by the arrival of a confident client, Sada. This disruption is the inciting incident that propels the story forward.

05:01

🌟 The Climax and Resolution in Short Storytelling

The second paragraph delves into the climax of a short story, known as the event peak, where the character's predicament begins to shift due to the disruptive event. It illustrates how Sada's confidence challenges Jasmine's worldview, leading to internal conflict and reflection. The paragraph highlights the importance of a final revelation that changes the character's perspective on their predicament, recontextualizing the entire story. Using Jasmine's realization about her own beauty and worth as an example, the paragraph shows how a character's change, whether positive or negative, is crucial for a compelling short story. The author encourages writers to consider whether their characters undergo any transformation and to ensure that the story events lead to some form of change, which is a hallmark of effective short fiction.

Keywords

💡Short Story

A short story is a brief work of fiction, typically characterized by limited character development and a compact narrative. In the context of the video, short stories are presented as a challenging yet rewarding form of writing that can encapsulate profound ideas and emotional arcs within a small framework. The script emphasizes the importance of crafting a compelling short story through a four-step process, highlighting the brevity and impact of this literary form.

💡Character

A character in literature is a person or being with certain attributes and traits that contribute to the narrative. The video script underscores the centrality of a well-defined character in a short story, as they are the vehicle through which the story's predicament and theme are explored. Characters can be human, animal, or even a setting, and their development is crucial for engaging the reader.

💡Predicament

A predicament refers to a difficult or awkward situation that a character finds themselves in. In the video, predicaments are identified as the heart of a short story, serving as the conflict that drives the narrative. They can be internal, such as a character flaw, or external, like a challenging situation. The script uses Jasmine's struggle with body image and societal beauty standards as an example of a predicament.

💡Theme

The theme of a story is the underlying message or the central idea that the narrative explores. According to the video, themes are often related to the character's change or growth by the story's end. Themes provide a deeper layer of meaning and are typically connected to the predicament that the character faces, guiding the reader's understanding of the story's purpose.

💡Inciting Incident

The inciting incident is the event that disrupts the character's predicament and sets the story in motion. In the video, it is described as a crucial element that propels the narrative forward, creating tension and interest. The script uses the arrival of Sada, a confident woman, as the inciting incident in Jasmine's story, challenging her preconceived notions and initiating the plot.

💡Event Peaks

Event peaks refer to the climax of a story, where the character's predicament reaches a turning point. This is the moment of highest tension and is pivotal in driving the narrative towards resolution. The video explains that event peaks are the tipping points in a short story, leading to a change in the character's situation or perspective.

💡Final Revelation

A final revelation is the moment of insight or realization that changes the character's understanding of their predicament. It is a critical component of a short story's ending, as it recontextualizes the events that preceded it and signals the story's conclusion. The video emphasizes the importance of a powerful final revelation in providing closure and depth to the narrative.

💡Internal Conflict

An internal conflict is a struggle that occurs within a character's mind, often reflecting their emotional or psychological turmoil. The video script mentions internal conflicts as a type of predicament that can be explored in short stories, contrasting them with external conflicts. Internal conflicts add depth to a character's portrayal and contribute to the story's complexity.

💡External Conflict

External conflict refers to the struggles a character faces in their interaction with the external world, such as other characters or circumstances. In the video, external conflicts are highlighted as events that can exacerbate internal conflicts and drive the plot of a short story. They provide a tangible challenge for the character to overcome, adding tension and dynamism to the narrative.

💡Change

Change in a literary context refers to the transformation or development a character undergoes throughout the story. The video script stresses that change is a fundamental aspect of short stories, as it signifies the impact of the narrative on the character. Whether positive or negative, change is essential for creating a compelling and meaningful short story, as it reflects the character's growth or regression in response to the events of the story.

Highlights

Short stories may seem hard to write, but following a structured process can make them easier.

A short story can be broken down into four parts: character in a predicament, disruptive event, event peak, and final revelation.

The predicament is the core conflict and can be either internal or external.

The theme is the unspoken core idea your story explores and is tied to the character's change by the end.

In the example short story, Jasmine’s predicament is her struggle with body image, leading her to start an at-home salon.

A disruptive event, like a confident character entering Jasmine’s life, challenges her views and pushes the story forward.

The disruptive event is often external but can exacerbate an internal conflict, forcing the character to evolve.

The event peak is the climax where the character’s predicament shifts due to the disruptive event, like an avalanche of change.

In the example story, Jasmine’s views on beauty are challenged as she questions her mother's teachings after interacting with a confident client.

The final revelation is crucial for recontextualizing the entire story. It signals to the reader what the story is truly about.

In the example, Jasmine’s revelation occurs when she sees herself in a mirror, noticing a glow, symbolizing a shift in her self-perception.

Short stories require a character change, whether it’s a positive progression or a negative regression.

Even if a character regresses, this type of change is valid for a short story.

Writers should avoid stories where characters don’t change at all, especially when starting out.

Mastering short stories comes from understanding the process, which simplifies the mystery of storytelling.

Transcripts

short stories suck or at least they seem

like they do until you know how to write

them they're so short nail in the ending

is so hard there's not enough time to

get to know a character these are all

things I thought when I first started

writing short fiction what if I told you

writing a short story doesn't have to be

hard here's my four-step process for

writing a killer short story a short

story can be broken down into four basic

parts number one character in particular

predicament number two event unrolls

that disrupt this predicament number

three event Peaks and causes number four

a final Revelation that changes that

predicament one character in a

particular predicament you can't have a

short story without a character I'm

focusing on human characters but your

character can be an animal or a setting

or whatever you want it to be short

stories occur because of a problem or

predicament the predicament is the heart

of your story it is why your character

is telling this story at this time

predicaments are conflicts and conflicts

can be internal or external AKA your

predicament can be a character flaw

versus a situation or vice versa this

predicament will be linked by your theme

but hold on what is a theme a theme is

the unspoken core idea your story

explores it's usually related to the

change your character makes at the end

of the story so what's an example of a

character in a particular predicament so

this is from my short story Jasmine's

brows and cuts which you can read for

free on the Puritan I'll link it in the

description if you don't want to read it

before continuing this video here's the

log line an eyebrow wax are questions

for ideology on beauty standards when a

bold woman named Sada becomes the first

client of her at-home salon so what's

Jasmine's predicament well Jasmine lost

her job because she lost her job she

starts an at-home eyebrow waxing

business she does this because she likes

making people feel beautiful as she

herself struggles with her body image

here the predicament is highlighted in

yellow the link to the theme on the

other hand is blue two event on rolls

that disrupts this predicament now that

you've identified a character and their

predicament you need to identify an

event that disrupts this predicament

this disruption causes the story to

actually happen AKA role on the page

this disruptive event is also known as

the inciting incident so what's an

example of a disruptive event in this

case SATA a Confident Woman a similar

age to Jasmine becomes the first client

of her at-home Salon if Santa didn't

show up in the story it wouldn't occur

at all yeah okay but what's disruptive

about sata's presence well she's very

confident and social all things

Jasmine's been taught not to be most

importantly she's Jasmine's age and

Jasmine's been taught that women in

their 30s can't be confident here's also

where I leave you with a special note a

disruptive event can be internal but

more often than not is an external

conflict that exacerbates the internal

conflict three event Peaks this is the

story's climax it's the moment the

character's predicament starts to shift

due to the disruptive event think of

this like an avalanche everything starts

falling apart to create something new at

the end of the day the event peaking is

the Tipping Point of your short story a

change whether that's progression in for

your character or regression will occur

because of this moment so what's an

example of an event peaking well sata's

confidence increasingly challenges the

world view Jasmine's mother taught her

about beauty standards Jasmine's

confused because Sada in her opinion is

everything she's not supposed to be but

at the same time sat is still totally

successful despite going against what

Jasmine's mother taught her about beauty

standards this leads to Jasmine asking

SATA if she ever feels old four a final

Revelation changes the predicament this

is a step a lot of newbie short story

writers including myself mess up the

ending of a short story is so important

because it recontextualizes everything

else that came before it essentially

signals to the reader what the story was

about this can be very daunting if you

don't know where to start but the answer

is simple all you need is for your

character to make a revelation that

changes their positioning on their

original predicament this revelation

will be the direct aftermath of the

event Peak finally what's an example of

a final revelation status flabbergasted

response to Jasmine calling herself old

really gets Jasmine thinking Jasmine

dips into internal reflection and has a

moment where her previous world view is

challenged she returns on the other side

changed I'm gonna read the ending of

Jasmine's browsing cuts to illustrate

this point Jasmine turns for the warmer

and quickly pulls up a glop of wax on

the popsicle stick she turns it around

around she'd always thought she'd like

to make people beautiful like she does

now to SATA she liked the idea of

changing someone's face so they'd be

surprised by the reflection they'd see

in the mirror as She lays the wax down

between sata's brows she tries to

remember the last time she felt

beautiful the last time she felt the

type of young her mother wanted her to

remain Untouchable maybe it was this

morning brushing her teeth in the mirror

maybe it was five years ago sitting

alone at her New Year's party sporting a

new lipstick color as she Twirls the wax

on the popsicle stick she catches a

glimpse of her face in her makeup

mirror's reflection she can hear her

mother now commenting on how she should

get some rest try Olay tea bags a cold

compress every morning but then there's

saddest voice coming from the chair I

know what that's like she says and

closes her eyes as Jasmine holds her

skin taut but when you get to a certain

age you've got to make a choice it's

either you choose you or get eaten by

wolves and I'm not a big fan of wolves

Jasmine looks at herself again something

softens on her face or maybe it's just

the way the LEDs hit her jaw but for a

moment a slow honeyed moment she's

tinged gold if you're at home and you're

like I don't get it what's the change

let me break it down the change in this

story is the moment when Jasmine sees

her reflection in the mirror and notices

she's tinged gold this indicates that

for once she looks at herself and isn't

seeing her mother's criticism but

someone new and glowing full of

possibility but Rachel my character

isn't supposed to change if this is you

listen closely if you're writing a short

story believing your character doesn't

change this might not be as true as you

think are you sure the character doesn't

change at all or do they actually

regress that's another type of change

really take a moment meant to think of

who your character is at the start of

the story and what happens over the

course of the story that might change

them perhaps the events of the story

don't change your character positively

but negatively at the end of the day

short stories are little nuggets of

writing that require change there are of

course exceptions but if you're just

starting out I wouldn't recommend

starting out with a story where a

character doesn't change at all on the

first go if your character isn't

changing you might need to revisit your

original idea and ensure the events in

the story do incur some kind of change

whether that's positive or negative so

that's it now you know how to write a

short story I honestly wish I had this

guide when I first started writing short

fiction short stories are a mystery but

not anymore what's your favorite short

story I'll link a list of my favorites

that you can read online in the

description so go forth and write a

short story you got this

[Music]

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