13 things to think about when writing stories you want people to remember

1. It’s OK to be boring.
2. Ask 'What do I actually want it to do for me?'
3. What's it supposed to do for the person who reads it?
4. How will it do what you want it to do?
5. What are the memorable bits? And do those memorable bits help it do what you want it to do?
6. When you've written it, put it away and try to write down what you can remember. Go back and cross out everything you forgot. (or rewrite until it's memorable enough)
7. Read it out loud to someone and ask them to tell you what they remembered, then only use those bits.
8. Keep it visual. How would you draw it? How would you mime it? The visual bits are the memorable bits.
9. It can never be too short**
Kingsley Amis was challenged to write the world’s shortest novel. He used six words.
“For Sale. Baby shoes. Never used.”
10. Write the way you speak. Otherwise, whose voice are you using??
11. Details are always good.
12. Read George Orwell's Politics and the English Language
13. Keep it simple. Try shouting the story to someone in a crowded pub and see if they care.