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I write literary fiction but regardless of genre, I believe conflict is central to good storytelling. I think about the overlying emotion of each chapter. Does each paragraph add or detract from that emotion? Word choices and sentence length evoke emotion. Cadence does, too, but never lose sight of the central conflict.

I expect the focus of a short story to be narrow. Keep the spotlight on the central conflict and on a limited number of primary characters. A narrow focus allows for deep exploration. Dialogue moves the story forward or reveals something about character. The ending is as important as the beginning, and the best endings remind me of the first page.

Find out more about the Perfectly Formed Short Story Competition here

Further reading...

The Personal History of Rachel DuPree
By Ann Weisgarber
Paperback Macmillan
Buy now