Kurt Vonnegut provides tips for writing a great short story, including to start as close to the end as possible, give readers as much information as possible as soon as possible, and to make awful things happen to characters so readers can see what they are made of. Short stories should have an introduction of setting and characters (exposition), an event that introduces conflict (complication), a decisive moment for the protagonist (crisis), the highest point of conflict and action (climax), and a resolution of the conflict.

1. TIPS FOR WRITING A
GREAT SHORT STORY
Ideas from author Kurt Vonnegut

2. Characters-1
Give the reader at least one
character he or she can
barrack for.

3. Characters-2
Every character should want
something, even if it is only a
glass of water.

4. Sentences
Every sentence must do one
of two things– either reveal
character or amp up the
action.

5. Starting the story
Start as close to the end as
possible.

6. Be mean.
No matter how sweet and innocent
your leading characters, make awful
things happen to them so that the
reader can see what they are made of.

7. Readers 1
Write to please just one
person, not the whole world.

8. Readers 2
Give your readers as much information as
possible as soon as possible. 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.

9. Reference List
Vonnegut, Kurt, 8 tips on how to write a good
short story. Available at:
http://www.brainpickings.org/2012/04/03/kurt-
vonnegut-on-writing-stories/ Accessed
14/9/2015.

10. Short stories should have:
1- exposition - the introduction of setting,
situation and main characters
2- complication - the event that introduces the
conflict
3- crisis - the decisive moment for the
protagonist and his commitment to a course of
action

11. Short stories should have:
4- climax - the point of highest interest in
terms of the conflict and the point with the
most action
5- resolution - the point when the conflict
is resolved
Thankyou Wikipedia.org!

12. Reading short stories:
Let me show you how to find
them in the library
catalogue.Then you can read
one! Or two…
