Why do most people read fiction? To find out what happens next to the characters in question. So if you wish to try your hand at fiction of any genre, keep these goals foremost in mind: Create interesting characters so readers will want to know more about them. Give one or several of your interesting characters some sort of problem or obstacle to overcome. The problem or obstacle may be internal (from inside themselves) or external (from outside themselves), or both. Plot a short story in which an interesting character has to overcome a conflict within himself or herself so that the character can overcome a problem outside of himself or herself. In one or two sentences, describe the character. In several more sentences, describe the main events of the story.