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Sparknotes Ultimate Style
How to Write a Short Story
TheÌýHow to WriteÌýseries aims to give students a recipe of sorts for creating excellent creative and academic prose and poetry. Each book is constructed as a set of instructions that are meant to illuminate the writing process, eliminating the mystery that so many other books seem to celebrate. Our belief is that writing well is a skill all students can learn, if they have the right guidance along the way.
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200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
SparkNotes
1,261Ìýbooks138ÌýfollowersMany of the editions by this group of authors are actually guides to books rather than the works.
If the author of the SparkNotes is known, they should be the first author. Please leave these SparkNotes Editors as the second author and the author of the original work as the last author. Do not combine with the original work. Do not put the author of the ORIGINAL work first.
If the author of the SparkNotes is known, they should be the first author. Please leave these SparkNotes Editors as the second author and the author of the original work as the last author. Do not combine with the original work. Do not put the author of the ORIGINAL work first.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 5, 2023
A concise writing instruction guide using well-known short stories as examples. It felt like a mini college course. Highly recommended.
July 21, 2013
I bought this book the summer before I started my MFA in Creative Writing; I loved it then and I love it now. I have to say it's the best writing book I've read. It's put out by SparkNotes, so everything is very simplistic and easy to follow. The short stories referenced are those often required for school, so the reader most likely already has a basic knowledge. The book then takes apart these stories to exemplify different terms and methods. The approach is hands-off enough to let your creative mind take over and keep you inspired.
May 31, 2009
This book is amazing, simply put. I am looking through it now and it has great examples. I can hear my professors speaking through it...in different forms...
It should be used as a textbook, plain and simple.
I suggest it wholeheartedly.
It should be used as a textbook, plain and simple.
I suggest it wholeheartedly.
March 18, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it has good information and is presented well. It is easy to read and has good examples from common short stories.
On the other hand, I don't feel it delivers what it promises, guidance for writing a short story. Almost all of the book discusses material that is generic to fiction writing. Little focuses on the short story, it often felt like an afterthought.
I would have liked, and expected the book to assume a moderate knowledge of writing and to focus on the distinctions unique to writing a short story.
Overall, it is a very good writing reference, but not a good one for short stories.
On the other hand, I don't feel it delivers what it promises, guidance for writing a short story. Almost all of the book discusses material that is generic to fiction writing. Little focuses on the short story, it often felt like an afterthought.
I would have liked, and expected the book to assume a moderate knowledge of writing and to focus on the distinctions unique to writing a short story.
Overall, it is a very good writing reference, but not a good one for short stories.
June 24, 2015
A great book encompassing all of the elements needed to write a great short story. Here are some things that I found helpful (for future reference):
1. In every story, an author must clearly determine what the protagonist wants, how he will attain his goal, and who or what stands in his way.
2. Actions come from needs and desires. If a need isn't met, or if a character wants something, the character will act to get what he wants. An author must connect the "whys" of the character's needs and wants, to his actions.
3. Find the "true" beginning of the story. Usually, the true beginning is 20% or so into the story after the "throat clearing."
"Throat-clearing might include dull, irrelevant background information; unnecessary details about the setting or the scene; or a few broad, sweeping opening lines that call attention to your prowess as a writer rather than to the story itself" (page 79).
4. "Effective description hones in on specific, relevant details that really illuminate the story" (page 97).
5. As a writing exercise, imagine yourself in a specific setting in your story and list fifty things that you see around you.
6."Just as motivation drives characters' actions, motivation compels them to speak" (page 116). Cut out unneeded dialogue that has no purpose.
7. I like this book's definition of constructive criticism: "Constructive criticism is feedback that focuses on potential solutions rather than problems" (page 161).
There is a great list at the end, too, that asks the tough questions, such as "does the title fit with the story? Does the author have a good hook?" etc. etc.
1. In every story, an author must clearly determine what the protagonist wants, how he will attain his goal, and who or what stands in his way.
2. Actions come from needs and desires. If a need isn't met, or if a character wants something, the character will act to get what he wants. An author must connect the "whys" of the character's needs and wants, to his actions.
3. Find the "true" beginning of the story. Usually, the true beginning is 20% or so into the story after the "throat clearing."
"Throat-clearing might include dull, irrelevant background information; unnecessary details about the setting or the scene; or a few broad, sweeping opening lines that call attention to your prowess as a writer rather than to the story itself" (page 79).
4. "Effective description hones in on specific, relevant details that really illuminate the story" (page 97).
5. As a writing exercise, imagine yourself in a specific setting in your story and list fifty things that you see around you.
6."Just as motivation drives characters' actions, motivation compels them to speak" (page 116). Cut out unneeded dialogue that has no purpose.
7. I like this book's definition of constructive criticism: "Constructive criticism is feedback that focuses on potential solutions rather than problems" (page 161).
There is a great list at the end, too, that asks the tough questions, such as "does the title fit with the story? Does the author have a good hook?" etc. etc.
July 19, 2015
Excellent guide. I have tabbed the chapters and will continue to refer back to this book in the future. It is a very informative introduction to the short story, and it provides good examples as well as intentionally bad examples.
While the examples and exercises are great, it also helps to apply what you learn to various other short stories too. I really used this as a kind of work book while reading a few collections of short stories (try "The Best American Short Stories" series). This really helped me to apply my new knowledge and expand my ideas about how a short story functions.
While the examples and exercises are great, it also helps to apply what you learn to various other short stories too. I really used this as a kind of work book while reading a few collections of short stories (try "The Best American Short Stories" series). This really helped me to apply my new knowledge and expand my ideas about how a short story functions.
October 23, 2012
This book was very clear and easy to read. Even though I've had several high school and college classes on writing, this book taught me many things I'd never learned before and put abstract ideas into a concrete setting I could easily understand and apply to my work. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs to write short stories for school or wants to write them for pleasure. It's a must-read and I wish I had found it years ago!
February 3, 2015
Tell me something I don't already know.
I had hoped to find out how to take a novel and cut it into a short story, or how to take a scene and make it longer into a short story. Instead it talked about basic writing skills, what is necessary for a short story (plot, characters, etc.) Will need to try and find something else.
I had hoped to find out how to take a novel and cut it into a short story, or how to take a scene and make it longer into a short story. Instead it talked about basic writing skills, what is necessary for a short story (plot, characters, etc.) Will need to try and find something else.
July 26, 2012
This book is more than just a list of directions, it's like a complete lesson on what to and what not to do. Each chapter guided me into completing my short story. If you can't get a complete story after reading this book, then I don't know what to tell you.
August 9, 2017
It was a good refresher, but apart from the things you'd normally pick up, it doesn't contribute a lot. I do like the idea of using one story as the central example in which the different aspects of writing a short story is related to Bierce's story.
October 6, 2015
The book was exponentially helpful. I bought it because I was stuck on a section of my short story, and not only did I become unstuck, but I finished my short story. I was really pleased. It's dissects all the elements of a story in easy bite sized digestible pieces. Loved it.
Want to read
June 29, 2014I thought reading a lot of stories would be good prep for writing a good story, but it turns out there are RULES in writing.
May 16, 2018
If you prefer doing things in an orderly fashion, this book is perfect. It takes you step by step through the process of writing a short story...it provides great examples and does a good job of breaking down the overall construction of a short short story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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