Practice makes perfect. Read a lot of short stories first to understand different structures and styles. Then start with simple ideas and focus on having a clear beginning, middle and end. For example, you can start with an interesting character or situation in the beginning, build some conflict in the middle, and resolve it at the end.
A good short story needs a clear plot. It should have a beginning that grabs the reader's attention, like starting with an interesting event or a mysterious situation. Also, vivid characters are important. They should be believable and have their own personalities. For example, in a short horror story, the villain should be really creepy.
One example is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells the story of a young couple who are very poor but deeply in love. The wife cuts and sells her long, beautiful hair to buy a chain for her husband's pocket watch, while the husband sells his watch to buy combs for his wife's hair. It shows the selfless love between them.
Practice writing regularly. Set aside time to write short stories. Start with simple ideas and gradually work on more complex ones. You can also join a writing group where you can get feedback from others. They might point out things you didn't notice, like if your plot is a bit dull or your characters lack depth. Another good tip is to keep a journal. Jot down interesting ideas, observations, or snippets of dialogue that you can use in your stories later.
To be good at telling short stories, start with a clear idea or theme. For example, if it's about friendship, make sure all elements of the story revolve around that. Then, create interesting characters. Give them unique personalities and goals. Use vivid language to describe the setting and the actions. Don't make the story too complicated. Keep it simple and focused on the main point.
First, know your story well. Outline the main plot, characters, and the beginning, middle, and end. For example, if it's a fairy tale, clearly define the hero and the villain. Second, use vivid language. Instead of just saying 'the princess is beautiful', you can say 'the princess has skin as white as snow and eyes like bright stars'. Third, practice your delivery. Speak clearly and vary your tone according to the mood of the story.
To be good at story telling, you need to have a clear idea of your plot and characters. Focus on creating emotional connections with your audience. Also, pay attention to your pacing and use vivid descriptions to bring the story to life.
Another set of synonyms would be 'reporting' in the sense of reporting an event which is like telling a story about it, 'presenting a narrative' which is a more formal way of saying telling a story. And also 'spinning a yarn' which has a more informal and sometimes even a bit of a fanciful connotation, like when someone is telling an interesting or perhaps a tall tale.
A clear plot is essential. It should have a sequence of events that make sense. Also, characters. They can be human, animal or even inanimate objects given human - like qualities. For example, a talking pen. And a setting, which gives the story a context, like a spooky old house or a sunny beach.