Architectural Designs

advice for my short story?

ok so i have to write a short story for english that has a limit of 3 pages, double spaced. i have a tendency to write stories that are longer. way longer. like last year on my short story project my short story was 9 pages handwritten in a college-ruled notebook. but then again, my other friend wrote a 19 page story ha. but im getting off topic; how can i make my story short and good? but my real question is about my idea: so there's this girl. shes smart, brainy, and a little nerdy, but is still bubbly and sociable. she has a knack for solving rubik's cubes (don't ask ha ha its based off of a friend. sorta.) so something happens (im not sure yet; this story is still in the planning phase, but im thinking of involving the california wildfire and somehow alluding it into the story?) and her house burns down and she and her family lose everything. she acts positive and optimistic but inside she faces internal turmoil. what hits her pretty hard is that her rubik's cube is gone. her great grandmother, since passed, gave it to her and it was the last memory she had of her. she tries to tell herself she's being materialistic, but she just can't prove it to herself. she goes through life at this point an empty shell. <and then im not too sure what to do next. i don't know whether to have a resolution or a denouement...but i think i might make her have a dream or something where her great grandmother talks to her but im not sure yet ha ha. my original idea was that she had "magic fingers" when solving a cube and life was good but she lost it in a fire and bad things start happening to her, either by "magic," or just that she's superstitious. and she buys a new one and life still basically sucks and she somehow finds an outlet that makes life good again or it'll end with her staring miserably at the pavement. i really don't know at this point what to do without making it too long.> so if you guys could suggest anything, or critique my ideas or offer any names for the character that would be awesome (: so far my possible names are: charlotte (meaning free), olivia, kate/kaitlyn/katlyn (pure), Nicolette (victory of the people, (angeline as her best friend) amy/aimee [beloved](my friend who im basing this off of name), gwen (blessed) valerie (strength) ava (like a bird; top baby name of this year) claire (illustrious) *and one last thing: what perspective should it be in? like 1st, 2nd (as her best friend), or 3rd...? thanks aniski but what exactly do you mean by like the first part?

Public Comments

1. I think the first part would be a better short story than making a story about her losing her home. I would say try writing only about her being a genius at solving rubiks cubes and then she discovers the rubik's cube that belonged to her beloved grandma. Just a thought! Good luck!
2. I agree that the conflagration would get in the way of the heart of your short story so I'd jettison it. Focus on a symbol for the fleeting nature of her relationship with her beloved, but now dead, grandmother. As for an ending, an "un" ending might work, like in Gone with the Wind. Vivian or Valerie would be my choice of name. I'd try writing it all 3 ways. See which seems to come naturally.