We all have stories to tell. Stories waiting for the right audience. Sometimes, we share them verbally, and at times, we pen them down. The stories (fiction) evolve from our imagination. However, they are based on our experiences, expectations, and observations.
The story could be short or long. A short story demands focus, as it has a word limit. However, it still needs five basic elements: a compelling plot, believable characters, natural and honest life-like dialogue, strong and believable imagery, and a pace that keeps readers engaged.
PAHAADI, the English Short Story writing contest, is for writers from Uttarakhand. The word limit is generous, 1200-2000 words. Now in its 6th Edition. The selected stories will appear in an anthology, which will be released on 13th December 2025. There are cash prizes to be won. The top three entries get a cash prize of INR 5,000/-, 3,000/- and 2,000/- in addition to Goodi bags from Nirvana Organic.
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SHORT STORY CONTEST FOR FICTION ENGLISH WRITERS FROM UTTARAKHAND- CLICK HERE.
Here are 10 tips on how to write an engaging short story.
1- A SHORT STORY IS NOT A NOVEL.
First things first, the short story has a word limit. Hence, it demands focused writing. It works best with a single issue, conflict, relationship or event. Readers have a limited attention span. Hence, the opening must set up the expectation for the reader to decide if it is worthwhile to proceed further. The opening line or the paragraph is also your first impression.
2- CREATE THE STRUCTURE.
Before you start penning down your story, invest time in defining the flow of your story. Use a mind map, fishbone diagram, or a simple process flow. It will help you maintain continuity and focus. Check if you can state the idea in a sentence or at most two.
3- UNHINDERED FIRST DRAFT
Write the first draft without evaluating. Don’t worry about the length and the language.
4- DON’T SLOW DOWN.
A short story needs to engage the reader and needs to be paced well. It should always be simmering and build towards the climax. A twist that catches the reader unaware is always welcome.
5- DON’T CROWD THE CHARACTERS.
The more characters you have, the more space you need to introduce and develop them. It is difficult to justify all the characters. Moreover, it makes it challenging for the reader to keep track.
A short story needs a character that readers love or hate. It becomes easier if the character is nearer to reality, and the reader can relate to it. So, borrow character traits from your surroundings and your experiences.
6- KEEP IT SIMPLE AND FOCUSED.
A short story typically needs a strong single issue or a point of conflict. A problem, weakness, passion, favour, pressure, decision, or an act. The more focused it is, the more space to develop the main character and engage the reader. However, a short story is not an eyewitness account or description; it must evoke emotion in the reader’s heart and mind.
7- KEEP THE BACKGROUND OUT OF FOCUS.
Keeping the background, reader engagement, and word limit constraints in mind. Keep the things that help move the story ahead. Always question if it is relevant and if the story can do without it. Some backgrounds are better presented by using dialogues. Now, not all the information may be part of the final story, but you must have the background clearly in mind.
8- DON’T JUST PAINT THE PICTURE. MAKE THEM FEEL IT.
One of the best ways to evaluate a short story is to read it aloud. Check if the listener can visualise the place character and the scene. Use the five senses creatively to bring the story to life.
9- RUTHLESSLY EDIT.
Edit and re-edit until the story is free from unwanted words. Many writers fail to do so, and even a good one can fail to engage the reader.
Editing and re-editing are also a trap. You may like something when you write it, and may not like it when you reread it the next day. Chances are you will try redoing it, and the process may become too iterative. It’s best to give yourself a deadline after which you stop tinkering.
Give your story to a non-biased reader—someone who will be ruthless with feedback. Once you get the inputs, take your call on which one to act upon.
Make every word, sentence, situation, and character count. Merge scenes and remove characters as needed. You will be surprised to note that writing a short story is much more challenging than writing a long one.
10- Title.
Before you close your short story after numerous rewrites, focus on crafting an inviting title. Your title is as important as the first paragraph, if not more. Sometimes, it is the real pull for the reader to decide to read your story.
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