Writing Tips

Start your story where the action starts

If your story is about someone who is run down by a bus, that is where you start. The reader does not need to know when your character got up or what they ate for breakfast that day.

Show, don’t tell

Don’t tell the reader that your character was e.g. angry, show it. Describe how his face became suffused with red and the vein on his forehead stood out. Let the reader engage in your story and work out things for himself.

Less is more

Don’t overly describe a scene. Pick out the most important things and describe them. A few brief sentences are all you need. E.g. the smell of cigarette smoke, several unwashed cups and the curtains half-drawn and you have a pretty good idea of the setting and the person who lives there.

Use adverbs sparingly

‘He ran hurriedly...’ how else would he run? ‘He walked slowly..’ say ‘He ambled/strolled/wandered/trudged...’

Cut down your use of adjectives

A good exercise is to cut out all adjectives, read your story over and only put back those adjectives which enhance your story in some way.

Make your characters rounded.

Nobody is perfect. Give them some faults. On the other hand, don’t make them all bad. Give them some redeeming feature. The reader must like your main character and care about what happens to them.

Structure your story in a logical way

Don’t jump from one time frame to another or from place to place.

Keep to the one viewpoint

There often isn’t room in a short story to have multiple viewpoints where the writer tells the story from first, one character and then another.

After you have written your story, leave it for a day or two.

Then read it aloud. Listen out for parts that are not right, which don’t make sense, which need rewriting.

Check your spelling and punctuation carefully

If you’re not sure of something, check it out.

Finally, read it aloud again

Imagine you are reading it on the radio and read slowly and distinctly. Give it a final polish.

How to set out a manuscript

Use 12pt type, eg Times New Roman, and plain white A4 paper.
Type on one side of the paper only, using double spacing.
Indent the first line of each paragraph rather than leaving an extra line space between paragraphs.
Leave good margins all round (at least an inch)
On each page, type the title, your pseudonym, and a page number. (Footers can be used for this.)
Complete the entry form giving your name, address and other details including word count. Please do not put your name on the story itself; only your pseudonym
For postal copies, please use a paperclip, not a staple.