Guest Author - Caroline Coleman
You are ready to write. You have all the skills and tools to do it, but you are missing the most important thing - a story to tell. Most people think that coming up with a short story is quite easy, but, in fact, it is far more difficult to come up with an intriguing plot and memorable characters in a limited number of words. Thankfully, there are effective ways in which you can get the inspiration you need.
The best stories are the real ones. There are no two opinions about this. Hence, the best source of ideas for your work is real life. Look around you and note what people are doing and saying. Can you find a conflict in their relationships? Can it be used as the basis of a plot?
You can also consider some major events that are happening and affecting the lives of people. These can serve as the basis of a really intriguing story. For instance, you might tell the story of a single person who is affected by natural disaster or by a decision taken by politicians.
You can readily find plenty of intriguing stories in magazines as well as in newspapers. You might get inspired by the story of a famous person or by something that has happened to an anonymous person or by the problem of a reader writing to the magazine for advice.
Many writers get inspiration from their personal life. It is widely believed especially by publishers that younger people have very little life experience to be able to come up with a deep and thoughtful short story. However, this does not mean that you should not write about things that have happened to you and that have affected you in any way.
You can readily tell the story of a friend or a family member, if you think it will capture the hearts and minds of readers. You should definitely write about something that has made you laugh, cry, think or change your perception. The good results are guaranteed, even if they come after a number of attempts.
Another effective way to come up with ideas for your short story is to use brainstorming. Think of an event. It can be extraordinary, dramatic or something from the daily life. Then explore various ways in which the protagonist can react to this event. Try to come up with different further developments of the story. Eventually, you will be able to put all the pieces together.
