From parish records and village memory to tense, place-aware storytelling: a practical guide to researching a British local legend and turning it into a short story.

Twenty autumn writing prompts drawn from British imagery — mist, conkers, bonfires and hedgerows — plus practical advice for turning a seasonal idea into a finished short story draft.

Length, scope, structure and publishing options compared, with practical ways to work out whether your idea wants to be a short story or a novella.