Everything you need to write a short story: Where to start?

Give them a backstory. For instance, if your character is a detective, you can say he grew up in a rough neighborhood and saw a lot of crime, which made him determined to fight it. This backstory affects his actions and decisions in the story.

Starting with a setting can also be great. Picture a post - apocalyptic world or a small, idyllic village. Describe the sights, sounds, and smells of this place. Once you have the setting, you can introduce characters that fit into this environment and start developing the plot.

You can start by getting an idea. It could be a simple concept like 'a day in the life of a lonely tree' or a situation like 'a character finding a mysterious box'. Brainstorm different ideas until one really grabs you.

Begin with a mysterious character. Maybe a person who appears out of nowhere, wearing a long black cloak and a hat that shadows their face. Their presence is strange and makes the reader wonder who they are and what they're doing there.

No. You can write a short story using a computer or a mobile device. There are many apps available for writing that are easy to use and offer useful functions like formatting and saving your work automatically.

First, gather all the elements you have. It could be your personal experiences, things you've observed, or emotions you've felt. Then, pick a simple yet engaging theme. For example, if you have memories of a childhood adventure and some interesting characters from your daily commute, you can combine them. Let's say you make the main character a person who daydreams about their childhood adventures during their boring commute. Start with a strong opening sentence to hook the reader, like 'As the train rumbled on, John's mind drifted back to the enchanted forest of his youth.' Then, build the plot, adding details from your 'everything' - the sights, sounds, and feelings. End with a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together.

Begin with a strong emotion. Maybe it's a feeling of fear, like a character waking up in a dark, unfamiliar place. This emotion can drive the story forward as the character tries to figure out what's going on. Another option is to start with a moment of conflict, like two friends having an argument over a precious item.

Start with a scene that grabs the reader's attention. It could be a moment of high drama, like a car crash, or something more mysterious, like finding a strange object in an old attic. For instance, you open with a character waking up in a dark forest with no memory of how they got there. This immediately makes the reader wonder what's going on and keeps them engaged as you unfold the story.

Start by brainstorming. Jot down any random thoughts, feelings, or events that come to your mind. It could be something you experienced, a dream you had, or a concept you find fascinating. Once you have a list, look for connections or patterns that could form the basis of your short story.

One important aspect is relevance. You need to pick out from your 'everything' only those elements that are relevant to the story you want to tell. For example, if your story is about a lonely traveler, details about a noisy family gathering might not be relevant. Another aspect is coherence. All the elements from your everything should fit together smoothly. If you're using different emotions like sadness and joy, they should be connected in a logical way within the story. Also, creativity is key. You can't just list all the things you have, but need to use them in an original way to make the story interesting.