Challenge: Write and Submit a Short Story in the Next 4 Hours
Here's the challenge: write a complete 3,000-word short story from idea to finished copy and submit it to a professional market within the next four hours. I've created this guide to help you succeed with the challenge. Have fun!
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30 minutes | Writing Your Opening Scene | 0 to ~500 words
Writing Your Opening Scene
Write the opening of your story. Start with your character in a setting, facing a problem or situation. It doesn't need to be the main problem of the story.
Don't worry if you don't have a fleshed out idea! Dive into your character and write about their immediate problem and setting through all of their senses, with their opinion and voice.
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Keep writing for 30 minutes. Aim for 500 words that introduces your character, setting (all senses and opinion), and the initial problem.
5 minutes | Take a Break
Take a Break
It's important to take breaks. If you're sitting at the computer get up and stretch. Walk. Take a drink of water. Take care of yourself so that you can continue to write.
5min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Don't look back over what you've written! We're moving forward with the story.
Next 30 minutes | Complicating Your Character's Life | ~500 to 1,000 words
Complicate Your Character's Life
If the initial problem wasn't the main problem of the story, it should be introduced by now if you haven't yet.
Faced with the story problem, your character makes an intelligent attempt to solve it.
And Fails!
The character discovers the problem doesn't have an easy solution. Their attempt to solve the problem makes it more complicated.
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Keep writing for 30 minutes. Aim for 500 words that develops the problems and complications.
5 minutes | Take a Break
Take a Break
Time for another break! Move. Stretch. Look into the distance. Meditate for a few minutes.
5min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Don't look back over what you've written! We're moving forward with the story.
30 minutes | Things Get Worse | ~1,000 to 1,500 words
Things Get Worse
Now your character knows that the problem they face doesn't have an easy situation. They recover from the initial failure and come up with a new (intelligent) attempt to resolve the problem.
And Fails!
Fails, and their attempt to solve it makes the problem worse. Things don't look good!
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Keep writing for 30 minutes. Aim for at least another 500 words.
5 minutes | Take a Break
Take a Break
Time for another break! Move. Stretch. Stay off social media, email, and all of that. Get away from the computer.
5min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Don't look back over what you've written! We're moving forward with the story.
30 minutes | The Situation Turns Dire | ~1,500 to 2,000 words
The Situation Turns Dire
Ever attempt your character made to solve the problem has made things worse than ever. Even so, they rally, dig deep and attempt to solve the problem again.
And Fails!
For the third time the character has failed and things are worse than they ever imagined. All paths seem closed off.
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Keep writing for 30 minutes. Aim for at least another 500 words or so. Be sure to keep the reader anchored and the emotions high.
5 minutes | Take a Break
Take a Break
Time for another break! You probably don't want to take a break at this point. Do it anyway. Step away and rally your strength for the final push.
5min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Don't look back over what you've written! We're moving forward with the story.
30 minutes | Final Attempt | ~2,000 to 2,500 words
Final Attempt
This is it! Your character takes the only option left, all cards on the table, the last big push to resolve the problem
And Succeeds!
The final attempt, the character's last heroic effort succeeds in solving the problem.
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Keep writing for 30 minutes. Aim for at least another 500 words. Put all of the emotion and detail on the page. Don't stop!
5 minutes | Take a Break
Take a Break
It feels like the story is done, but not quite yet! Take a quick break and come back refreshed to finish the story.
5min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Almost there, you're doing great!
30 minutes | Resolution and Validation | ~2,500 to 3,000 words
Resolution and Validation
Your character succeeded in solving the problem with their final attempt. This last scene wraps up the outcome of that resolution.
In the very end, provide a validation which tells the reader that the story is over.
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Keep writing for 30 minutes. This may not run a full 500 words, but be sure that you provide the reader with validation.
5 minutes | Take a Break
Take a Break
Final break before you dive in to finish up the story and submit it to an editor.
Get away from the computer!
5min
Set Your Timer and Start!
You've written the story! Take a final break before the last sprint.
30 minutes | Clean Up and Submission
Clean Up and Submission
Many writers struggle with this part of the process. The fear of sending out the story keeps them coming back at the story, editing it until they strip out anything original about the story.
Spell check. Go back and fix anything that you noticed that needs quick corrections. Make sure you use proper manuscript format.
Then send it out to a market!
30min
Set Your Timer and Start!
Right now, this is the hardest part of the challenge. Don't hesitate. Submit the story. If it makes you feel better, take another look at it if it comes back, but submit it before your time is up!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Congratulations on getting through the challenge!
You've written a complete ~3,000-word short story in 4 hours, cleaned up the manuscript, and submitted it to an editor. Great job!
I'm sure that there are questions. I've answered a few below, ask more in the comments!
240min
Questions
What if I want to write a story shorter or longer than 3,000 words?
Great! Go for it. The challenge isn't meant to suggest that a story needs to be that length, or that it needs to be written in 4 hours! It's a challenge meant to help writers overcome blocks that prevent them from completing a short story and sending it out to editors.
I can't send my story out without spending more time editing it!
You can. You're afraid to send it out but I doubt anyone is preventing you from doing so. If you completed the challenge trust yourself and send it out. Nothing terrible will happen. If it doesn't get accepted you can look at it again with more distance.
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