How to Write Short Stories Fast

And Finish Your Book in Five Days

7 min readAug 16, 2023

Disclaimer: Everything in this story is human. My works may be found in real libraries and on the internet. I am a traditionally published writer, literary translator, and MEDIUM-verified author. Any AI snippets found in this story are purely accidental and do not compromise its quality.

Imagine a world where wishes blossom like enchanted roses in the blink of an eye, where people walk over the rainbow, and where magic transforms you into a sorcerer of words.

Step 1: Visualization

Put on your favorite music, choose a cozy spot, close your eyes, open your heart, and mind, and let your imagination lead you to visualize YOUR OWN book!
Look closely!
What does it look like?
How’s the cover?
Think about the colors, the format, and the width… the title… the author’s pen name — YOUR NAME.
Flip through it.
How does it feel?
Do you smell fresh ink?
Listen to the rumors.
Can you hear the characters speak?
Argue?
Make love?
So, who are the characters?
And… what’s the book about?
Ask yourself as many questions as you want, but don’t expect to answer them all.
Relax.
This visualization exercise is only the first step in your journey as an author.
Once you see YOUR book in your mind’s eye and feel it with all your senses, it will begin to manifest in your outer reality.
But wait, you might wonder, is it truly possible?
Can YOU really do this?
Absolutely, and I’m here to show you how… because I’m also writing a book right now.

Picture this: in only five days, I will complete the first draft of a brand-new short story collection.

Five days may seem like a blink in the larger scheme of things, but they contain the potential for limitless creation.

So, five days and 10 pages daily.

That means 50 pages.

Achievable?
Sure.
Challenging?
Undoubtedly.
But with determination and a touch of magic, anything is possible.
I understand the naysayers among you.
A 50-page volume sounds like a joke.
Not to mention that publishers and critics may prefer thick volumes over tiny ones.
Not even readers will like buying a booklet which might be even more expensive than a 150-page book.

But hey, that 50-pager will be only a FIRST DRAFT.

Together, let’s embark on this enchanting journey of writing the first draft of your book.
Are you ready?
Then let the adventure begin.

Step 2: Choosing a Theme

Every year, there is a list of popular themes. However, some green motifs remain timeless. Like those inspired by the Bible, mythology, and human nature, as Agatha Christie put it.
These themes inspire specific emotions and delve into various facets of human experience.
Whether we choose a traditional or nontraditional topic, one thing is certain: avoid remakes, old items, and, most importantly, outdated modes of expression.
In this sense, today’s writer should write more naturally.

Here are some top trending topics for short stories:

Neurolinguistic programming

NLP-inspired stories can reveal the secrets of the human psyche.
It is about the power of language, thoughts, and behavior in uncovering latent potential and self-discovery.
Create stories that dive deeply into the psyche, bringing readers on an enthralling voyage of introspection.
But first, research the issue.

Love and Relationships

Love stories, whether they be romantic, erotic, platonic, friendly, collegial, familial, or even… obsessive love… remain timeless themes that touch the hearts of readers.
Consider the eight varieties of Greek love: Eros (sexual passion), Philia (deep friendship), and Ludus (playful love). Agape (love for all), Pragma (long-lasting love), Philautia (self-love), Storge (family love), and Mania (obsessive love).

Fantasy and Magic

Short stories centered in magical or imaginative worlds have long been popular.
These stories enable readers to leave reality and immerse themselves in enchanted worlds.
By being married to a fine artist and surrounded by hundreds of unicorns and other fantastic animals, one may say that I am living in Fantasia — and so it is…

Technology and its Impact

With the rapid growth of technology, stories about our increasingly interconnected world, AI, or virtual reality have become popular topics.
For example, some Black Mirror stories are really thought-provoking.

Military Stories

When writing military stories, the tone is personal, introspective, and sensitive.
The purpose of narrative storytelling, descriptive language, and emotional introspection is to convey personal experiences and emotions to the reader.
This reminds me of Nan Constantin Ilie’s novel, An American Story of Love, War, and Revenge.
While reading, I felt a strong connection to the officers fighting in Vietnam.
I truly wanted to be a man, a pilot.

Identity and Self-Discovery

Self-exploration and the journey to self-discovery can produce intriguing storylines that readers will connect with.
This subject evokes thoughts of psychology, philosophy, religion, and even the thrill or horror genre.
Most of my stories revolve around this issue, yet it can be challenging and time-consuming to document.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, and natural resource conservation have received a lot of attention in recent years.
Short stories about these issues can raise awareness and encourage reflection.
Recently, I was seduced by an anti-ecological book, the novel The Art of Kissing or Little Green Russia by Adrian Anghelescu.
Definitely a dystopia, yet a fantastic book with an incredible style. Can’t say much more about it.

Step 3: Choosing a Title

After choosing the title, analyze it with this free resource — Title Analyzer.

Step 4: Planning the Book

So, you have a theme, a title, and the aim of completing the first draft of a book, in five days.
This is achievable if you plan.
Take a pen and make a list of twenty story names (or title suggestions).
One sentence for each narrative.

Please respond to the following questions:

1. Do the stories fit the theme?
2. Does the title correspond, or should it be changed now?
3. What are the book’s subthemes? Make a note of them.
4. Can you write the book’s content? What is the front matter? What about the back matter? (More information in another article.)
5. Is documentation required?

Planning a Short Story. Writing the Plot

1. What is your short story about? (A character/an event/both?)
2. What (secret) problem does the main character have?
3. What sudden event causes the main character’s need to try to solve the (secret) problem?
4. What actions does the main character take as a result?
5. What are the consequences of the actions of the main character?
6. What is the end? (Add a final touch of irony.)
By answering these questions, you will obtain the plot.
Think about the story, improve the plot, and then proceed to the next step.

Step 5: Planning the Short Stories, One by One. Writing the Plot

The First Draft

Plan all stories, then write them one by one. Do it fast, and you might finish the draft in less than five days.

The Second Draft

Allow the text to sit for two weeks to two months.
Read and edit as desired.
Check with Grammarly and make any necessary changes.
Send the draft to a Beta Reader.

The Third Draft

Re-read, edit again, and send the third draft to a Proofreader.

Final Thoughts

Do study, explore, and seek inspiration in our wonderful world and beyond.
But, hey, inspiration isn’t everything, so don’t wait for the muse to emerge, and don’t expect a bottle of wine to help you write a best-seller.
It’s always wonderful to relax with a refreshing drink after work.
How interesting, the first draft of my book is finished and ready to be edited.
Cheers!

Please, clap, engage, and… stay tuned for the next story…! But, most importantly, a profound thank you to each one of you. Your unwavering support has been invaluable.