How to Write Short Stories (and Publish Them)

Name: How to Write Short Stories (and Publish Them)
Rating: 4.5 (37 reviews)

The structure, techniques, and strategies that contribute to writing successful short fiction, with examples.

Highest Rated

Created byGavin Boyter

Last updated 2/2025

English

What you'll learn

Learn what makes the perfect short story.
Examine the three part structure of any tale, long or short.
Study setting, theme, conflict, protagonist, and antagonist.
Look at some classic short story examples from the 1800s to the present day.
Write a 100 word and 1000 word short story, incorporating all that you've learned
Receive tips for how to successfully publish your short fiction.

Course content

1 section • 20 lectures • 2h 32m total length

Introduction2:14
Exploring what we'll cover in this course, from your initial inspiration to the basic elements of any short story, (including structure, characters, and conflict).
What makes a great short story?4:34
Some recommendations for short story writers to explore, and a discussion of what makes their short fiction effective, from ghost stories to science fiction to literary fiction.
Short story structure: the basics.12:19
An introduction to the three act structure, and what can be achieved in even the shortest flash fiction, using this simple design.
Theme: a double-edged sword.8:32
How to unearth the themes of your work, why they are inescapable, and why theme may not be the best place to start your story planning.
Three types of conflict.9:53
Internal, interpersonal, and societal/environmental conflict: why these elements are essential to every story.
Inspiration, and where to find it.8:56
Several different methods for finding inspiration, from observation to random idea generation.
Defining your protagonist.2:55
Finding who your story is about, and why we needn't necessarily like them.
Defining your antagonist.10:22
This can be a person, an environment, or even a state of mind; but it must be present in some form.
Sample short story analysis.7:15
A look at a classic short story from Ray Bradbury, including all the elements we've studied so far.
Assignment briefing: Write a 100 word short story.2:33
Put all you've learned so far into practice with a miniature piece of narrative.
Genre expectations in short fiction.9:13
How genre impacts the reader's expectations, and the anticipated tropes and structure of your story.
The Importance of Setting.9:31
Where you choose to set your story is far from arbitrary. We learn how to select a setting wisely.
Tense and Person.7:48
Two important choices to make before you begin your story, which can subtly affect its impact.
Structure Examined I: Beginnings.9:41
A closer look at structure; specifically, how to begin your tale.
Structure Examined II: Middles.7:49
Examining in more detail the "fun and games" or "rising conflict" section of your story.
Structure Examined III: Endings.9:25
The various ways in which you can choose to end your tales, including some classic examples.
Experimental short fiction.7:39
Explore some short story writers who have broken all the rules... and succeeded.
Assignment briefing: Write a 1000 word story.2:49
In our second assignment, we'll use all we've learned to write a longer story.
Tips for publishing your stories.12:06
Several handy pointers that will help you get your work published.
Short stories to novel writing.6:54
As an experienced short story writer, you're ideally placed to attempt something longer. Find out why.

Requirements

No prior experience required; simply a passion for storytelling.

Description

Short stories are perfect written artworks in miniature. This course looks at short story writing in detail to help you craft compelling short narratives that please readers and editor alike.

In this course, you will learn about the key elements of short stories, starting with a suggested reading list of well-known authors for comparison.

The course will cover common components of short stories, including the three-act structure, various settings, and essential choices regarding person and tense. The concept of rising conflict will be discussed as a dynamic between the protagonist and antagonist, exploring the variety and complexity of these vital elements.

The course will also examine how genre expectations influence a story's impact on readers, considering structure and common tropes that can be either followed or subverted. Experimental short fiction, including works by Donald Barthelme and Oulipo writers, will be addressed as examples of unconventional narrative techniques. The course tutor will also give personal examples from his own published work.

Participants will complete two assignments: a piece of micro-fiction (100 words) and a longer flash piece (up to 1000 words). Feedback will be provided to students who choose to submit their work for assessment. The course concludes with practical advice on submitting work for publication, handling rejection, and progressing to longer fiction, if desired.

Who this course is for:

This course will suit beginners or writers looking to improve their short fiction.