Hi fiction lover! How are you doing this December? I am breathing in the cool(er) air in Hawaii and trying not to think about the Christmas shopping I still need to do. I also have been rediscovering my love for fanfiction. For a very long time, I thought I was “too old” for fanfic, and that I should only focus on original fiction. Over time, I realized that fanfic was my first love and that I’ll always have space for it. So, I began to write another TXT fanfic inspired by my trip to Singapore. This time, I tried something I’d never done before—writing a one shot. Let’s talk about how to write a one shot when you don’t know how to begin!
How to Write a One Shot! — a Case Study
When I started to work on sleepy in singapore / number one girl, I was definitely overwhelmed. I am so accustomed to splitting my work into many chapters. Sometimes, one chapter for me would only be around 1,000 words. This time, I wanted to write a one shot, or a single story that I envisioned to be 10,000 words. No chapters to separate! It was definitely a scary prospect.
I began to outline. I knew I wanted to write a story with Huening Kai and Beomgyu, my fave underrated duo in TOMORROW X TOGETHER. I wanted something sweet and touching, something that would tug and gnaw at the heart. I got the idea that Beomgyu would be struggling with his hidden feelings for Kai, while Kai would hide his own love along with his desire to be a softer person for himself and his fans.
Because maybe the one shot was just a bit too frightening of an idea for me, I decided to split it into six sections, with Beomgyu and Huening Kai taking turns. I planned the two middle chapters to be the biggest—taking up the second act. I guess I can’t fully get the three-act structure out of my head!
The first two chapters, about 1,000 words each, were a little more than a breeze. But when the middle chapters came, I hit a true roadblock. I know that 3,000-word chapters are the norm for some authors, but for some reason, I couldn’t produce the words for each section.
Then I stumbled upon my number one tip for how to write a one shot. Usually, one shot writers will say things like they wrote the whole piece overnight without sleeping. Although this might be possible for me, I needed to be more realistic. Although I wanted to complete this one shot as fast as possible, I accepted that it would take me a week or longer to write 10,000 words.
I channeled all my prose abilities to really try to get at the heart of what each character wants. With one shots, there is some build-up, but the revelations and twists will need to come sooner than something like a novel. So does the inciting incident (the trip to Singapore) and the other key plot points (some heartfelt confessions).
In the end, I felt highly accomplished after finishing the 10,000-word one shot. Will I do it sometime soon? Actually, I might just find another story idea.
Embrace the Possibilities
So, if I had to really break it down how to write a one shot, I would split up the steps like this.
1. Decide on the main “draw” of the story. After coming up with the story idea, map out the key plot points—including the beginning, middle, climax, and end. I know this might pain the pantsers out there, but I found that one shots need a bit of planning. If you really do insist on winging it, I suggest at least knowing the general idea of how you want the one shot to end, along with the feeling you want to evoke. This will save you a lot of wandering and going off on tangents!
2. Break up your work depending on how long your one shot should be. For the first writing session, focus on the beginning and inciting incident. The second session can include the first plot point up to the midpoint. After the midpoint, break up the rest into two or three more sessions until you’re finished.
3. I suggest editing in three or four parts. This will really give you time to focus on each section of the one shot.
4. Once you’re done with the deep editing, do one last read-through to check for continuity. I highly suggest utilizing proofreading software at the end—just to make sure there aren’t lingering errors.
5. Write your little synopsis for the story if you haven’t already, and make sure to rewrite (use proofreading tools again). And finally, post on your website of choice! I recommend AO3 (Archive of Our Own, which includes almost every fandom you can imagine).
Of course, I’m no expert, and I’m still pretty new to the one shot scene. But this is what I learned from the experience of writing sleepy in singapore / number one girl. I want to encourage you to write on, and make sure to spread love to the readers who stumble upon your work. I’m praying for fulfilling days in your one shot journey. This is more than just an article about how to write a one shot for me.
Because there’s a reason I wrote this before the year ends. The feeling that I was “too old” for fanfic stemmed from a writer that I really admire who has a negative view of fanfiction. It took me a long time to process why I was so affected by a single comment. In the end, I decided to write what brings me joy. And in fanfic, there are a million ways that our emotions can be mirrored in our characters. I loved rediscovering my first love in online fiction.
Thanks for coming along to learn how to write a one shot! Join me on my blog again next week! I’m here to be your cheerleader and writer friend. Thank you for adoring fanfic, books, and more with me.