Sunday, October 16, 2016

How To Win In Submit Short Stories Competition

By Peter Wilson


To write a short story means to put down a piece of prose that does not take long to read. Most of them require a maximum of fifty hours to write and should not be more than 6000 words. On the other hand, a piece of prose that is more than 6000 words and need up to two weeks or more of consistent writing can be better classified as a novel. It is good for writers who want to submit short stories to know these basic features before they begin.

The first thing you should write about is the premise. The premise is a line or two that kicks off what the writer wants to write about. If the premise is not lengthy and yet succeeds in informing the reader the major lesson in the writing, then the writer is likely to win in his contest. The idea in the premise should be consistent especially with the end of the prose.

Writing requires some tools for those ideas to flow. These tools include a table, chair, pens, books, dictionaries and jotters. Your sitting posture should be good to prevent early fatigue. Try to organize your ideas before sitting down but do not be too apprehensive about it since you can always edit.

Ideas to your story may not come the time you want it. Actually, inspirations for your short story can be gotten anytime. Once your mind is made up to do this, you are encouraged to carry along a pen and jotter where you can note any idea that comes your way. By having many of them, you can come up with a summarized writing that can win a prize.

Another thing to bear in mind is the characters of the story. Choose your characters and define them by their actions. When defining the characters, it is not good to give them roles that counter their underlying premise. For example, if you have initially defined a character as one that fights corruption, it will be wrong to give him a role that shows he takes bribe without remorse.

When you write a small story with several scenes, you are already plotting your own failure. The events in this kind of story should take place within a limited period. It may be about what happened in the winter season or how a girl succeeded in her final year exams.

Choosing the narrators for the story is also critical. There are pros and cons for any narrator you chose so you should weigh them appropriately based on what you intend to write about. The first person style is easy for new writers but it does not tell much about the characters. On the other hand, third person usage is more difficult but can better explain the purpose of the prose.

First time story tellers may not find it easy to write. To overcome the anxiety, it is advisable to start anyhow. Even if you have not yet decided what the entire thing should talk about, your first sentences can spur you to do more especially when the opening lines are quite interesting.




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