Linda McCullough Moore is a short story writer who has published over 300 short stories in various literary magazines, and she has won numerous awards (most notably, The Pushcart prize). Here are some brief notes on what she has to say about writing and writing short fiction.
Moore believes the best short stories, and any story for that matter, have two narratives going on at the same time. The two narratives may be moving back-and-forth like a checkered pattern; or the narratives may be told in giant blocks, telling all of narrative #1 before telling narrative #2. For Linda McCullough Moore, two narratives going on within the same story is the mark of a good short story.
Second, Moore believes that a short story, by definition, is about human longing/yearning. Somebody has to want something. Kurt Vonnegut says, even if it is a nun wanting a glass of water, there must be that yearning for something.
Third, allow your stories and characters to go place you don't particularly like, For example, two people meet and you plan a really nice reunion; however, when you get to writing the scene, the two people end up arguing.
Finally, write a last sentence that will turn a story on its ear! (This is probably the toughest out of all these tips. Even Moore admitted that that is still a goal of hers, having a last sentence that completely changes things.)
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