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Characters

Your characters are at the heart of the story. They must seem real and you should aim to make the audience care about them. The plot of the story should reveal something about your characters. For example, the reader should see them developing, at a crisis or a turning point in their lives.

Your characters should also be consistent, doing and saying things that seem to fit their personality.

Limit the number of main characters to a maximum of three.

Try not to simply tell your reader about the character, instead reveal the character to them through actions, gestures and dialogue.

Plot

Something of significance must happen in a short story. It is advisable, however, to limit the number of plot events.

A significant event does not have to be unusually dramatic or violent. Your characters do not have to be abducted by aliens or involved in international terrorism. If you try to make your story too exciting it can become 'over the top'.

A significant event is one that changes the character. For example, something that makes them grow up, come to a realisation about something or develop. The event itself does not need to be dramatic.

Conflict can arise when a third character affects the lives of two others. Examples of this could be:

• A parent and teenager come into conflict over the teenager's friend.
• Two friends come into conflict when a new friend comes on the scene.
• Parent and teenager have problems when a grandparent comes to stay.
• A new teacher causes problems between two friends.

Setting

Setting is where and when your story takes place. An effective setting can make your story really come to life. You can do this using description, dialogue and details.

If you are struggling with setting, it can be easier to set the story in a place you are familiar with. Your description can therefore draw on your experience and is more likely to be realistic.