Editor Advice: Writing a Short Story for Hot Dish Challenge

(1 of 5 images writers can use for the Hot Dish Challenge)

1. Get your story Peer-Reviewed! 
-Have someone you know, and trust, look at your work to let you know if your missing spelling or have grammar errors. Who knows, maybe they will find that you forgot to write a whole paragraph. 
2. PROSPECTIVE IS KEY!!! 

​-Much like my tips for poetry, in your short fiction focus on the point of view. The power of POV is almost more important in short fiction than poetry. 

​3. Sensory Details, Sensory Details, Sensory Details! 
-Heighten the reader’s senses with sensory details. Short fiction has more word count to play with then most poetry. Use this to your advantage and really dive into the sensory information surrounding your story. 
4. Broaden the viewpoint. 
-Do not just focus on the sight the POV gives, try considering other factors. If you are writing from the POV of someone looking at an old picture think about the time difference the two have. What underlining plot does this give the story? What senses do time force your reader to experience? 
5. Have a clear plot. 
-You won’t believe how many people forget to have a plot to their story! Don’t be one of them. Your story can have as many amazing details and senses as possible, but if it does not have a plot it isn’t a good story.  
6. Surprise yourself! 
-While you should have a plot to a story don’t make it feel like you're writing an academic paper. By rule of thumb if you are writing and find yourself surprised by were the story went, then your reader will be just as surprised. It may feel like the story wrote you at times, but it’s that feeling that just may get your story published. 

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