How to Think of Topics for a Short Story
Make a list of five things you’re afraid of., Use a story from your life., Look for inspiration in the news., Eavesdrop., Read some “missed connections.” Another great place to find story ideas is the “missed connections” tab on Craigslist.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Make a list of five things you’re afraid of.
A central component to any story is a character’s emotional drive.
Few emotions are more compelling than fear.
Sit down and create a list of five things that you fear. (Don’t think too hard about it.
Just take out a pen and write.) See if you can imagine a character sharing this emotional experience, and think about how it could shape their story., Another tried-and-true approach to crafting a story idea is to take something from your own life.
Think about moments in your life which contained a high-level of emotional intensity:
When have you had the most fun, been the most heartbroken, or experienced the most anger? When you have you learned an important lesson? When has an experience changed you? You can always dramatize and/or spice up your story, but looking back over your life can give you a nice jumping off point., A classic source of story inspiration is the news.
Open up a newspaper, turn on the TV, or go online to your favorite news source.
Some papers may even have a section for humorous or outlandish news stories, and these may be an excellent place to start. , One of the best sources of inspiration is the people around you! Go to a crowded place (a park, a restaurant, a bar) and just listen in to people talking. (It may help to pretend to be reading a book, or put ear buds in without music).
Regular people often say the most funny and interesting things.
Allow something you hear to spark an idea for your story., This is a section where people try to connect with random people they have met in the world.
In some cases, these stories are ripe with story potential.
Take some time to read these over and see if anything sparks. -
Step 2: Use a story from your life.
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Step 3: Look for inspiration in the news.
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Step 4: Eavesdrop.
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Step 5: Read some “missed connections.” Another great place to find story ideas is the “missed connections” tab on Craigslist.
Detailed Guide
A central component to any story is a character’s emotional drive.
Few emotions are more compelling than fear.
Sit down and create a list of five things that you fear. (Don’t think too hard about it.
Just take out a pen and write.) See if you can imagine a character sharing this emotional experience, and think about how it could shape their story., Another tried-and-true approach to crafting a story idea is to take something from your own life.
Think about moments in your life which contained a high-level of emotional intensity:
When have you had the most fun, been the most heartbroken, or experienced the most anger? When you have you learned an important lesson? When has an experience changed you? You can always dramatize and/or spice up your story, but looking back over your life can give you a nice jumping off point., A classic source of story inspiration is the news.
Open up a newspaper, turn on the TV, or go online to your favorite news source.
Some papers may even have a section for humorous or outlandish news stories, and these may be an excellent place to start. , One of the best sources of inspiration is the people around you! Go to a crowded place (a park, a restaurant, a bar) and just listen in to people talking. (It may help to pretend to be reading a book, or put ear buds in without music).
Regular people often say the most funny and interesting things.
Allow something you hear to spark an idea for your story., This is a section where people try to connect with random people they have met in the world.
In some cases, these stories are ripe with story potential.
Take some time to read these over and see if anything sparks.
About the Author
Hannah Kelly
Experienced content creator specializing in organization guides and tutorials.
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