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How to Start Writing a Short Story

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For my English class I have to write a short narrative story and/or a narrative poem or play. How do I choose one? What would be good ideas for a topic and how can I create one?

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Tips on how to start a creative writing assignment are provided in the solution.

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Thank you for submitting the question. I'll see if I can give you some ideas to get you started. First off, you may want to read a few short stories (or narrative poems or plays if you choose those forms) to give you feel for how the pros do it and to help get you in the right frame of mind. Your library should have some short story anthologies you could pick up (such as the "Best American Short Stories" annual). If you like Stephen King, you could pick up one of his short story anthologies. Or if you want to stick to the classics, pick up some O. Henry or Chekhov.

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