Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of writing a novel? Like you were trying to scale a mountain without any climbing gear? It’s the kind of feeling that makes you think you’re either destined to fail or will be left with the scars of an unfinished project.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
I had the intense pain inside – a pain that tore me up inside until I finally decided to let the idea of the novel go.
Unfortunately at that point, the pressure to write a perfect novel had held me back from the work I truly wanted to do for 2 years.
But one day, I can’t tell you how, it felt like a godly intervention, I realized: It’s not about the format, but the writing itself.
The intervention showed me there was a better way to start your writing journey than by climbing the mountain of a novel.
A way where you don’t have to give up halfway through and torture yourself with a task that feels too complex.
And that better way is called short story writing.
(Caption: Photo by Tyler Scheviak on Unsplash. A perfect representation of how writing a novel is a beautiful, but steep road.)
I turned to short story writing, and suddenly there was no looming “mountain” of work. Every obstacles disappeared. I finished projects.
It was amazing.
So, as a beginner, if novels feel like an impossible mountain, give yourself the freedom to explore and experiment, and I’ll promise short stories offer a much gentler climb.
Short story writing is the way to start: less worry, more writing
When I started writing, I wanted everything to be perfect – unique characters, a gripping plot, and a powerful story. Every aspect had to be great.
But there was one problem: I wrote about a paragraph an hour. And when I tried to write faster, I immediately lost control of the story.
I knew it was still a mountain, but this wasn’t one that swallows the sky. It was just a hill that would take a few days to climb. I calmed down, reminded myself of the mission: “Just 30,000 words” and things seemed easier.
I made a quick outline of the story, detailing the scenes, characters and length of each scenes and slowly started to build the story.
It took time, but eventually I saw the word counter: 750, 3200, 12,000, and suddenly I was at 30,000.
It was wonderful.
I wrote about six short stories, each about 30,000 words, and experienced something I never had before.
I actually enjoyed my writing.
To sit down and just let the words split out for hours until I believed a story was done. It was a refreshing change from the constant start-stop when I wanted everything to be perfect.
“If I lose control of where the story is going, then I’m not going to make it.”
As a beginner, it’s likely this thought has gone through your mind at least once.
It’s a tiresome and frustrating pain, unfortunately, it’s just part of the game, but in my experience, as a starting writer, you need to decide: “Do I want perfect control or do I want more words?”
And once you (hopefully) decide to write more words, then it’s time to keep your head down and get to work.
Short stories are the best way to start writing a novel: A focus on Quantity Over Perfection
Your brain doesn’t conceive the challenge of editing 30,000 words as painful as going through 100,000.
It’s a different pain, it’s tedious work and it’ll still be frustrating, but since short stories are typically around 20-30,000 words you need to advantage of this.
When you sit down to write a short story, your focus should be on letting the story come to you while you just let the words flow.
By letting go of the thought that everything has to be perfect makes the task easier to tackle. You won’t be paralyzed by perfection and will actually get more work done.
That much I can guarantee you.
Here’s a little secret about short story writing: It’s much easier to fill in the gaps when the bulk of your writing is complete.
It might seem tempting to do it on the spot, but try to restrain yourself and I promise it’ll pay off at the end.
Also, if you still feel stuck, don’t fear.
Take a deep breath in and relax. Even if you switch to short story writing won’t fix all your problem, to fully take advantage of the freedom, you need to let the words flow from the hip.
Then you’ll see the words are there.
They are just stuck behind the walls of perfection and the more you write, the faster you break down that wall.
(If you are still convinced you need to write a novel, I’m all for it. I have made a list of easy to follow tips for beginning writers. And I’d recommend you give this a read to get you started: Tips for writing your first novel)
How short stories help you grow: More works, more feedback
Breaking down those walls means writing more, and as you write more, you get more opportunities for growth.
As a new writer, you might be sure of your talent and believe that you are a great writer. I don’t doubt you for a second, but there’s always something that you can improve on.
And that’s where feedback comes in. You need your works in front of an audience. The more short stories you finish, the more feedback you’ll receive.
Does this means you need to target the right audience? I don’t think so.
Sure, a crime enjoyer might not see the wonder of your Sci-Fi book, but they can still tell if your book is great. If the plot is believable, the characters relatable, or if it was worth their time.
Writing lesson learned the hard way
Personally, I haven’t done this a lot and that’s slowing me down now.
I wrote my short stories and enjoyed it. But at the same time, I realized how terrible at limiting myself I actually was.
Hitting 30,000 words? No problem.
And after my six short stories, I felt the momentum and finished my first novel in less than 3 months.
This was huge for me, but that’s also just about the only thing that worked. Because I ditched the short stories right after. With only two published stories and zero feedback.
I mean, I ditched them fast and hard, and I’m feeling that pain now.
“But Jack how can you give me any advice on this then?”
Because I’m currently battling with the things I don’t want you to. I have climbed the mountain just to repel down the side because I saw the gold.
So, I understand if you think short story writing is a waste of time.
They aren’t novels, they aren’t as popular as novels. They don’t have the same power.
Every argument you have.
I understand, but if you are just starting out, then there’s so much to gain from starting with short stories.
And if you wish to become a better writer, you shouldn’t underestimate the valuable feedback you gain.
Why short stories are fun: Less constrains, more experimenting
Writing a novel requires time, patience, and a broad overview of the entire project.
My current novel is 114,000 words long, and I’ve gone over it at least 40 times. And even with a document stretching over multiple pages, I still struggle to keep track of all the characters, plot twists, and story arcs.
Of course this is what makes a novel wonderful and it certainly is easier now than it was in the beginning, but with short stories, the experience is much freeer.
You don’t need to track of hundreds of pages or spent hours going through your plot.
You get to experiment.
Try out new ideas.
Play with new directions and the most outrageous twists for your story, without worrying about the massive work that’s involved in a full-length novel.
And if you are just starting out as a writer then that’s all you can ask for, right?
A writing challenge that’ll make you better
If you feel struck. Like you still can’t quite get started on your journey, even after choosing to write short stories, it seems you have met a writer’s best friend, writer’s block. I have battled it more times than I can count. I have gained my scars, experiences and if writer’s block is holding you back, then I’m sure my tips can ease your struggle.
Because you are able to experiment and you don’t have to worry about fitting your writing into some box.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a bit outside of the story or if you want to introduce a dragon into your romance story.
Because short stories are shorter and have a simpler structure, then you can explore new angles and shift the direction of your story with ease. Even if it’s the completely opposite direction.
You see where this is going?
Yes, back to worrying less and writing more.
And that’s the thing, when you start out as a writer, you need to give yourself the freedom to experiment and have fun.
Short stories: The perfect teacher
Novels are often seen as the ultimate goal for many writers, but they require immense patience, structure, and a vivid imagination to bring to life.
Sure, it’s amazing to say: “I’ve written a novel”
But if you are just starting out and feel overwhelmed, I don’t blame you.
This might be a sign to put your pride aside and give short story writing a try.
They are the perfect way to try the hill before challenging the mountain.
They allow you to learn the craft of storytelling without being buried under hundreds of pages or feeling paralyzed by perfection.
And if you ask me, I’d say they are the perfect teacher to get you started on your writing journey.
That’s a wrap for you today.
Do you feel ready to start your short story journey? Drop a comment below or send me an email with your first story ideas! I’d love to hear how you’re tackling your writing challenges, and don’t forget to share this post with any fellow aspiring authors who need some inspiration!
Until next time – Hope you have a productive and creative day.
Your writing buddy,
Jack