Have you ever sat down to write a short story, only to realize that—once again—you’ve actually started a brand-new novel? You're not alone! If you’ve struggled to master the short form, don’t worry—by the end of this blog post, you’ll be well on your way.

If you're finding short stories challenging, there's a good reason for it. We’re often trained to think in terms of long-form content—whether through novels, TV series, or even long blog posts. Short stories? They’re a completely different beast. And because we’re less familiar with this format, it’s no surprise that getting the structure and rhythm right can feel like an uphill battle at first.

In fact, the most common issue many writers face is starting what they believe is a short story, only for it to morph into a novel. It’s natural—your brain is conditioned to expand on ideas, dig deeper into characters, and explore multiple plot threads. But don’t worry! With practice, you can train your brain to think "short," and I’m here to help you do just that.

So, how do you avoid slipping into novel territory? The key is understanding what a short story is supposed to be. It’s not just a mini-novel; it’s a compact, contained narrative that focuses on a single idea, moment, or theme. You don’t need sprawling subplots or a dozen characters. Instead, think of it as capturing a snapshot in time—one powerful moment that sticks with your reader.

What is a Short Story?

How long should it be? What should you aim to achieve? Understanding these basics is key, so let’s break it down!

One of the first things you should consider when crafting a short story is its word count. If you’re new to short fiction, I recommend keeping your word count as short as possible. Why? Because it helps train you to think in a concise, focused way. A great way to practice this is through flash fiction.

Flash fiction is a subcategory of short stories, but with an even stricter word limit. Flash fiction typically ranges anywhere from a couple of words to about 1,000 to 2,000 words. Some people have different cutoffs, but in my experience, once you hit around 2,000 words, you're transitioning into "true" short story territory (not to mention, it rhymes!).

Short stories, on the other hand, usually sit between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Anything above 10,000 to 15,000 words starts creeping into novella territory, which is essentially a short novel.

My advice for beginners: start by practicing with flash fiction. Now, why would you want to do that? Flash fiction is often more challenging than short stories because you need to condense everything down to the essentials. Think of it as writing a single, powerful scene.

You might be wondering, "Who is Char to tell me how to write short stories?" Well, funny story—I’ve written quite a few myself, and not always by choice! As part of my university coursework, I often had to write short stories and flash fiction pieces. I've probably written a dozen flash fiction pieces alone, along with several longer short stories ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 words. And I’m proud to say I earned distinctions on them—just throwing that out there!

The reason I’m telling you this is that I’ve been through the process. I know the challenges, and I know what works. Short stories might seem deceptively easy, but mastering the form takes practice. Starting with flash fiction will sharpen your skills.

Novel versus Short Story

One of the trickiest parts of writing is figuring out whether your idea is better suited for a short story or a novel. How do you tell the difference? Many people might suggest it's all about the "size" of the idea—whether it's big or small. But I encourage you to think differently.

You might have a massive, intricate world in mind, but that doesn't necessarily mean it belongs in a novel. Similarly, not every novel needs to have a sprawling plot with tons of subplots, twists, and an expansive character roster. Some novels are quite simple—one character, one plotline. It’s less about the size of the idea and more about the length of the journey you're taking your character on.

Instead of focusing on how big or small your idea is, think about the scope of your character’s journey. Short stories are about capturing one specific pivotal moment in a character's life.

In a novel, your character undergoes a longer transformation

A short story, on the other hand, revolves around a single event that sparks that change.

Does Your Character Need a Journey or Just a Moment?

Ask yourself: does the change in my character require several events to unfold, or is there just one key moment that pushes them to change? If it’s just one defining incident, it’s probably a short story. If it takes multiple events, twists, or layers for the character to reach a revelation, then you’re likely looking at a novel.

A common mistake writers make is expanding their short stories into novels because they feel attached to the characters or the world they’ve created. And hey, I get it! I’ve been there too. It’s hard to let go of something you’ve poured your heart into. But sometimes, a short story is enough. You don’t have to turn every idea into a novel.

When to Stop Expanding

Think about the moment you’ve captured in your short story. If that moment feels complete, if it stands powerfully on its own, then it’s okay to stop there. Expanding it into a novel might dilute the impact of that single moment. You risk "watering down" your story and losing the magic you created in the shorter form. 

A short story should feel tight and purposeful. If you keep pushing it to fit into a novel, you might find yourself losing focus on what made it special in the first place.

Do You Need to Write Short Stories Before Novels?

This brings me to a question I see pop up a lot: “Do I need to write short stories before I can write a novel?” The answer is no! Short stories and novels are two different art forms. If you're here because you feel like you need to "master" short stories before tackling a novel, stop worrying.

You don’t need to write short stories as a prerequisite for long-form writing. Sure, they can be great practice. They help you develop skills in conciseness and focus, but if your heart is set on a long-form project, dive in! Don’t let short story writing be something you feel you have to do before "graduating" to novels.

Short Story Structure

When it comes to structuring a short story, many writers feel overwhelmed because the "rules" aren’t as clear-cut as with a novel. In longer projects, we often rely on familiar structures like the three-act structure, the five-act structure, or the hero's journey. But with short stories, it can feel a bit more fluid—and that's okay!

Here’s a simple way to approach it: think of your short story as having three parts—beginning, middle, and end. But don't worry about making it overly complicated. Let’s break it down:

1. The Pivotal Moment as Your Middle

In a short story, the most important part is the pivotal moment—the moment that changes your character’s life. This pivotal moment is the middle of your story. It’s the core event that everything else revolves around.

2. The Setup as Your Beginning

Once you know your pivotal moment, think about what leads up to it. The beginning of your story, or the setup, gives us just enough background to understand why this moment matters. It doesn’t need to be a long introduction—just a glimpse of the character’s life or their internal conflict before the big change occurs.

For example, if the pivotal moment is when a character quits their job in a dramatic way, the beginning could be a few sentences showing their frustration with the job, or a scene that hints at their discontent. That’s enough!

3. The Resolution as Your End

After the pivotal moment, your ending can explore what happens next. How does the character react? How are they changed? The resolution doesn’t need to be tied up neatly with a bow, but it should give the reader a sense of how this moment affects the character moving forward.

4. Go with What Feels Natural

The beauty of short stories is that they don’t have to follow rigid rules. If your story feels natural with a simple setup, a pivotal moment, and no clear resolution, that's fine. If your story starts right in the action and resolves quickly afterward, that works too. Let the story guide you.

 

What Makes a Short Story?

Now that you know how to structure your short story, let’s talk about what actually needs to be included. In my earlier discussions, I mentioned that plot doesn’t matter as much as you might think, and I stand by that! Here's what you really need to focus on:

• One character: Focus on a single character’s experience.
• One plot point: Explore a key event that changes that character’s life.
• A story question: Ask a meaningful question through the narrative 
• Minimal setup and resolution: Be concise. Get to the point and resolve it (or leave it open-ended) quickly.
• No over-explanation: Trust your reader to understand the core conflict without needing everything spelled out.