As a creative writing tutor, editor and competition judge, I read a lot of short stories. Many of them hook my interest right at the start, and keep it there all the way through, building up vivid scenes in my mind and making the characters leap off the page. I often find myself thinking, Now that’s a story I wish I’d written.
However, there are also stories which need a bit of help and where I find common issues coming up again and again. I’ll take you through the main problems and give you some tips on how to tackle them.
A meandering opening
A story should draw us in, hooking our interest and making us want to know more. Some writers like to take us to the scene and paint a picture of the weather and setting. That’s fine, but don’t overdo it. The reader needs to know there’s going to be a story to get their teeth into.
Here are a few effective ways to ensure you
