Kurt Vonnegut provides 10 tips for writing short stories. Some of the key tips include: give the reader at least one character to root for; every sentence should either reveal character or advance the action; make awful things happen to characters to show what they're made of; provide readers with as much information as possible upfront rather than relying on suspense; and use sensory details to bring stories to life. Listen to your instincts above all else when writing.

1. Kurt
Vonnegut’s
Writing Tips

2. Use the time of a total stranger
in such a way that he or she will
not feel the time was wasted.
2

3. 1. Give the reader
at least one
character he or
she can root for.

4. “Every character
should want
something, even
if it is only a
glass of water.
4

5. Every sentence must do one of
two things--reveal character
or advance the action.
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6. Be a Sadist
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and
innocent your leading characters, make
awful things happen to them--in order
that the reader may see what they are
made of.
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7. Give your readers as
much information as
possible as soon as
possible. To heck
with suspense.
Get right to the point
Readers should have such
complete understanding of
what is going on, where
and why, that they could
finish the story themselves,
should cockroaches eat the
last few pages.
7

8. Sensory details give stories
life.
Write to please just one
person. If you open a
window and make love to
the world, so to speak, your
story will get pneumonia.
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9. Most of all, listen to
your gut!
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10. 10
Information taken from:
http://www.openculture.com/2015/04/kurt-vonneguts-8-tips-on-
how-to-write-a-good-short-story.html