Top 10 Story Ideas
- Tell the story of a scar.
- A group of children discover a dead body.
- A young prodigy becomes orphaned.
- A middle-aged woman discovers a ghost.
- A woman who is deeply in love is crushed when her fiancé breaks up with her.
- A talented young man’s deepest fear is holding his life back.
Then, how do you start a short story idea?
These are our tips for starting your short story:
- Shock your readers by writing something they wouldn’t expect or something that doesn’t quite make sense.
- Create sympathy for your character by throwing them in the middle of a struggle.
- Avoid info-dumping by beginning your story with action instead of information.
One may also ask, what to write when you don’t know what to write? So, here are eleven things to write about when you don’t know what to write about.
- Ask, ‘What’s hot right now?
- Teach readers how to do something.
- Steal from competitors.
- Read forums in your industry.
- Write a sequel to a previous popular post.
- Use a keyword planner.
- Write about your biggest mistake.
Similarly one may ask, how do you write an idea for a story?
Try these pre-writing methods on for size.
- Brainstorm Like Mad. The first thing you need to do with the spark of an idea is add more ideas to it.
- Do Your Research. Many a great story element was born from research.
- Meet Your Characters. Sometimes your characters hold all the answers.
- Ponder Your Plot.
- Just Start Writing.
How long are short stories?
Precise word count definitions will vary, but as a general rule of thumb, a short story is anything up to about 7500 words (sometimes 10,000), with higher word counts typically called novelettes, and short novels called novellas.
16 Related Question Answers Found
How can I start writing?
8 Great Ways to Start the Writing Process Start in the Middle. If you don’t know where to start, don’t bother deciding right now. Start Small and Build Up. Incentivize the Reader. Commit to a Title Up Front. Create a Synopsis. Allow Yourself to Write Badly. Make Up the Story as You Go. Do the Opposite.
How do you start a scary story?
Steps Describe something that scares or revolts you. Think about your greatest fear or fears. Turn an ordinary situation into something horrifying. Trap your characters in a terrifying setting. Create distinct main characters. Give your main character an extreme emotion. Create a plot outline.
What are some good story starters?
Story starters I didn’t mean to kill her. The air turned black all around me. Icy fingers gripped my arm in the darkness. Wandering through the graveyard it felt like something was watching me. The eyes in the painting follow him down the corridor. A shrill cry echoed in the mist.
What makes a good story?
A good story is about something the audience decides is interesting or important. A good story, however, does more than inform or amplify. It adds value to the topic. The Elements of Journalism, in fact, describes journalism as “storytelling with a purpose.”
What is the topic of a story?
Main Idea or Topic? When you read, it’s important to make sure you know the difference between the main idea and the topic of a story. The topic is what the story is about, or the primary subject. For example, the topic of the Harry Potter series may be ‘witchcraft’ or ‘wizardry’.
What are some good topics to write about?
Narrative Writing A cozy spot at home. A day at the beach. A day in the desert. A funny time in my family. A great day with a friend. A great place to go. A great treehouse. A helpful person I have met.
How do you write a short mystery story?
Part 1 Writing Your Mystery Know the scope of your story. Determine the crime. Choose a setting for your story. Set a time period. Include realistic details. Create compelling characters. Describe your sleuth. Consider motives and emotions.
What defines a short story?
: an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot. Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about short story.
How do you conclude a short story?
Tips for Ending a Short Story Nice writers finish first. Keep your ending short and sweet. Finish at the beginning. Circular ending is a good way to round up your story and make the readers feel like the circle is closing and the journey has come to an end. Shock your readers. Zoom out of the story. Keep it vague.
What makes a successful short story?
What makes a great short story? Short stories have to achieve a lot of story in only a few words. There are four elements that really make a story stand out: character, plot, setting, and tension. Balancing these elements is the first step to making your short story amazing.
How do I decide what to write about?
Part 2 Picking a Topic Brainstorm ideas. Taking about twenty minutes, write down what themes interest you. Identify your personal expertise. Is there an area in which you are interested about which you already know? Research your top themes. Do a bit of background research on your favorite theme. Narrow your topic.
How do you organize a story?
10 tips for organizing the pieces of your story Set up an organizational plan as early as possible. Make copies of your most important research materials. Surround yourself with your most important reference works. Work with pixels and paper. Back up your files. Index and cross-reference. Create a wall map. Research it again if necessary.
How do you brainstorm ideas for a story?
Brainstorming for Story Ideas Pay Attention. Paying attention is perhaps the most obvious and difficult way to generate ideas. Always Have a Notebook Nearby. Ideas can strike at any time—when you’re in the shower, in line at the grocery store, drifting off for a nap. Get Silly. Keep an Idea Box. Do Something Else. Be Happy.
How do you write best selling?
Here are five tips to set your book up for success so that it has a chance of becoming a bestseller. Start with a big idea. Bestsellers are built on a big idea. Write with the audience in mind. Bestsellers are sticky. Edit for clarity, not perfection. Package your book to spread. Never stop launching.
How can I improve my story writing skills?
Here are some suggestions for improving your fiction writing skills, gleaned from trial and error over time. Start With a Seed. Let the Story Tell Itself. Use Realistic Characters and Dialogue. Write What You Know. Close the Door. Keep Pushing Forward. Put it Away When You’re Finished. Start a New Project.
What is a good plot for a story?
Here are some good rules to know. Theme. A theme is something important the story tries to tell us—something that might help us in our own lives. Plot. Plot is most often about a conflict or struggle that the main character goes through. Story Structure. Characters. Setting. Style and Tone.