Basic Tips to Writing a Short Story

Now, I present my short story of a vampiric hero and an attached heroine.

Halloween Riots

The Hounds of Hell were calling me all night. The tower's screams were ringing in my ears, the insanity was not mistaken in their tired and tried voices. I could not sleep, so the sounds were etched in my mind. It was a cold, October night, and the trees were scratching their way out of the earth. I was in my room, trying to fall asleep, when I heard him. The imbecile in which I was to spend the rest of my life with. The soulless, so clique to say, rebel who was soon to take my existence. Vincent.

(First step, introduce the character or setting. My story happens to be in first person. You'll have to choose which view you'd like to speak from. I described the scene in an easy, quick way, but not to quick that the audience has no clue what is going on so far. When writing a short story, you need just enough adjectives to allow the readers to picture the image you're casting with your writing, but not too much that it fills up a whole sheet of paper. Ok, at this point, we know where the character is and what's going on with them. This catches the reader's attention and makes them want to continue reading. You explain more in the next paragraph.)

I was not looking forward to his little nighttime vistit, the feeling he gives off is intoxicating. My head is filled with devious thoughts on how I could get rid of him, but some annoying, patronizing voice cries not to. Of course, I'm listening to it. Just then, a bang came from my window. The bang softly turned into a gentle, swaying sound. It almost hypnotized my ears, making me listen harder till all the other events and objects around became trivial. Finally, my fear got the best of me. I asked quietly, "Vincent?" There was no reply. I gathered up some bravery and tip-toed stealthily to the window. I threw open the curtains and let out a horrifying scream. My father, my beloved father, gazed so steadily at me, swaying with the suddenly calm, freezing wind. Blood ran from his eyes and a noose clung to his neck.

(You gave more details; good. You described the minor problem, which in this case, is the main chacter's vampire-friend. Not the main problem, but something a little extra to let you dwell on. You then introduce the major problem. Reread the word "introduce." You don't just slam it all out there for the reader to take in, you hint at what will come. If you do what I said not to do, then the reader will lose interest and the story will have no excitement. We don't want that, do we?)

When I came around, (yes, I did faint,) I was in a dark, steamy, frightening room. That's when I realized it was the beginning of the rioting, the so called Halloween celebrations. My sister was with me, pacing by the window. The one person I actually wanted to see was not there. He could never be there. He was one of them, the cursed souls who started the massacres that destroyed this city. The Vampires. When I was a child, they took from me my mother and brother. I am almost sure they hanged my father last night.

(More details, quite alright, but get to the point with it. Give more background with the major conflict and with the main character. )

If only Vincent was there. Vincent cam to me when my mother died, a time where others just couldn't understand. He was the angel of my nightmare, my instant comfort for that particular tragedy. Of course, he was already a vampire. He has stayed with me ever since. We have had our arguments and liberal issues, but he has always been there, sadly, only at night. He once told me of how he came to being a vampire. It was a very boring lecture of truth and discovering the true identity of yourself. He had found himself as a vampire. That was all I was told, and I haven't the slightest idea as to why he isn't with the others. Perhaps his heart is not black, but a shade of gold. All I do know is that he has a fierce infatuation with me and that my hated nickname was "pretty pet." I only reason why I put up with him is because; I too, have minor feelings for him. Only minor.

(Ok, you got the background on the minor character, sweet! More details of main character included. You are now able to return to the main plot of the story.)

I was in the Hall when I realized the beginning of the riots. The riots consisted of murder, cannibalism, blood, and mayhem. The villagers suffer the most, with all the screams and profanities being shouted from the nearby streets. I dread hearing the news from the newest life taken. The talk of blood stained streets, the sobbing mothers, its just too much to bear. It all starts 2 days before Halloween.

My sister finally stopped pacing. She ran to me and started weeping. I, myself, being accustomed to death and the living dead, tried my best to convince her she's not the next Van Lourven to die. I had to talk to Vincent. Some one had to stop this madness and it had to be him.

That night, my secret wish came true. He came to me like a shadow comes to a moving object in sun's reach. His presence did that intoxicating thing again. For this, I let out a annoyed sigh. He grinned that gorgeous grin that made me sick being human. I would kill to look that beautiful. Oh, well. I told him my worries and my thoughts, as I usually did when he stopped by. When I got to father, his smiling eyes became serious. He was now prepared to dazzle me with his amazing comforting abilities. Another reason why vampires get all the glamorous recognition. He swept me up and whispered his plans of redemption. I thought they were crazy. I was actually scared of them, almost of him. Then I thought of father, mother, and my dear brother. They were well worth it.

(here, after the minor plot's details are said, you drive full force for the meat of the story. )

The next night, we met by the tower's gate. The plan was to lure them into the church's lake. It was blessed, therefore holy. We went through the forest, Vincent prowling along side me, ready to decapitate anything that came near me. We knew we were at the village now. The screams and evil snickers were clearly heard. The blood had already begun to run. Several corpses lay, sickening the passerby. Windows broke, doors became splinters, necks falling apart in desperation to escape the head, in which it was once fully attached to. Vincent and I crawled behind one of the various burn piles leading to the church. I entered, unafraid, ready to meet my oh-so unpleasant fate. Vincent's hand fell into mine, but I don't know why. He had nothing to fear, he was already dead. I guess he feared for me. He opened the last door standing in our way and we stepped in.

(Build suspense, right before the climax!)

Vampires were feasting on cool flesh, their blackened eyes dancing with excitement. They stopped when they saw Vincent. They rose, blood seeping down their chins. Now the plan was to take place. He grabbed my neck and threw it to the side. His eyes had the same excited look as the others, but with a hint of a mischievous manner. His hand fell into mine again, for the last time I was destructible. His fangs slowly came down to my untouched neck. Then, the bite came. I winced once, then relaxed. My head leaned back even more. I felt his lips lift off. I felt my blood oozing down my shoulder, gliding down into my dress. It was done. Just a few more minutes and I would turn. The rest is a little hard to recollect, but I'll try my best. He shouted at the now crazed monsters ready to pounce. He picked me up and ran so swiftly to the lake. He placed me in the glistening water and took to the sky, smiling as he did. I tried to say something, but I was in a growing daze. The vampires were laughing at me, calling which part of me they wanted to drain first. I felt like I was going to die, but then Vincent came out of no where and swept me away. The vampires, so crazed, ran straight into the water, not realizing what had happened. All I could hear was their terrible, creature screams and hisses. I smiled. They were dead. All hope was restored and the rest of our lives would be fright-free. I was to spend the rest of mine with Vincent.

The story climaxed and then the resolution was given, all on about 3-4 pages, not including my guiding text.