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For this revision, you will choose one of the scenes you wrote in Writing Exercise #21, or #22. As you write your revision, consider the following:

Title:
Is it unusual enough to grab the reader’s attention? Does it indicate what the story is about? Does it sound intriguing? Writers need to think about how the title reflects the content of the story.

First paragraph:
The quality of the writing has to stand out from the first line. Plunge the reader straight into the action. We don’t want any sort of build up or preamble or being told what has happened leading up to the main event. Show the main event and flashback later, if necessary. Give your work a visual quality.

Good attention to detail:
The best short story writers are those who observe and record the small details of everyday life. Sharpen the focus!

Setting:
The story’s setting has to be interesting or unusual. The reader should feel present in the scene. Begin with an interesting location.

Character:
In some cases, the characters are more important than plot. The best stories show how a character changes, no matter how subtly, during the course of the story. A change in perception, a new insight into their own lives or someone else’s, or a fresh perspective on an experience. Make the reader feel empathy for the main character. It’s okay for your character to be flawed. No one is completely good or completely bad. What has made your characters the people they are today?

Use of Language:
Have fun with language. Use stunning imagery and metaphor. Beware of clichés and aim to come up with something original. Vary sentence and paragraph length. A one-sentence paragraph, for example, can bring the reader up short and create an impact. Long sentences denote a more leisurely, relaxed pace. Always remember to show. Show your character’s emotions; show your character in action; show the scene in question. Allow the reader into your character’s world by showing them the details.

Use of Senses:
Use all of the senses. Make the reader see, feel, hear, taste, etc. what is happening in the story.

Originality:
Get away from your comfort zones. Latch onto a strong emotion you’ve experienced. Try to describe it. Now put it into a context. Create a brand new setting; create characters very different from yourself.

Structure:
Unusual structures in a short story are appealing if done well.

Is Your Story Memorable?
The best short stories have resonance. They have the ‘X’ factor – that certain something that a reader can remember. The images remain in their head, as do the characters. There’s something unusual about them, or the images are so striking they stay with the reader.

Layout and presentation:
Indent each new paragraph and only leave white space between paragraphs if indicating a gap in time or change of viewpoint. Make sure dialogue is on separate lines with the correct tags.

Message and Theme:
A reader shouldn’t have to work too hard to understand a story’s message. If he/she does have to work hard to understand it, this usually means the writing lacks clarity. Take a risk with your subject matter. Up the stakes. Make the reader care about your characters and their situation.

Good, Authentic Dialogue:
This is so important. What your characters say must count. Don’t sweat the small stuff when it comes to dialogue. Get straight to the point. Again, be sure to format dialogue correctly.

Satisfying Ending:
So often a good short story is spoiled by the ending. Write an ending that fits. At the end of a short story, your character should reach some sort of conclusion about themselves, their world, or their experience. In some ways, the end should mark a new beginning, not necessarily in a dramatic way.

Remember less is more. Sometimes what is left unsaid has a greater impact than hammering the point home.