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Short Stories

Blogs dedicated to the art of short-form storytelling, where we explore the world of short stories and other short fiction while sharing valuable insights, resources, and guidance for UK writers. Explore the benefits of participating in writing contests and find advice on selecting the right opportunities to further your writing career.

Writing short stories: for beginners

You’ve just discovered what a short story is, or maybe you’ve been writing them for a while but you want to take them more seriously. I’ve compiled a list of questions around writing short stories for beginners like you – and me! A short story is generally seen as a self-contained, short piece of fiction, no longer than a maximum of 10,000 words. We’ll go into how long a short story usually is further down. We’ll also look at some great tips for writing short stories, where to publish them, and where to find inspiration. How to write a short… Read More »Writing short stories: for beginners

Writing prompts for short stories and other fiction

Before you can start a short story, you need an idea. Sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly where to start. That’s where my writing prompts for short stories and other fiction come in. I love coming up with ideas. But I don’t have the time or the motivation (or the focus, thanks, ADHD!) to actually write all of it myself. So why not share my ideas with other writers? Think of writer’s block: is it actually an inability to write, or is it a problem caused by a lack of motivation and ideas? One of the most common recommendations for… Read More »Writing prompts for short stories and other fiction

Should you hire a short story proofreader?

Whether your short story should be proofread is down to what you want to do with it. A short story proofreader corrects errors and inconsistencies before you publish it. So ask yourself: Do you want to publish your short story professionally (in a magazine, anthology, or in a writing portfolio) or are you just writing for pleasure? If the answer is the former, you might want to look into your options. Why should my short story be proofread? If you’re submitting to magazines or writing competitions, getting your short story in the best possible shape will help you win over… Read More »Should you hire a short story proofreader?