Have you ever tried to write a short story? 2,000 – 2,500 words and you’re done! It’s a couple hours of effort if you have an idea that captivates you and encourages you to write. Short stories are just like any story, but the hook, what engages the reader first, needs to be right up front, maybe in the first two paragraphs. It has to capture your imagination and, hopefully, engage your reader immediately. Your story could be anything. A ten-minute romance story or a harrowing near-miss at the railroad tracks. Make a heart stop, stop or purr. . . you decide.
A short story can be what engages you. When you write it, in your mind you can see the beginning, middle and end of the story. Envision what “feeling” you want to impart to the reader. Then write! (Yes, you will revise and edit, maybe multiple times) Along the way, read it out loud to yourself. Ask someone you trust to read it. See if you like how the images form in your mind and how they form in your readers’ mind. Don’t be afraid to edit and change your wording to get the images in your mind across to the reader. Get some feedback, revise it and then sit on it for a few days. Read it again and again. If you like it, keep it. Share it with a friend or fellow writer. Share it with your writers group. When you really think it’s ready, submit it to a short story contest in your area. Good luck!