Advice on starting out?

I think you're on the right track deciding to start with short stories. It's a good way to get into the habit of writing, and they're easy to finish which helps give a sense of making progress, which is really important.

As far as advice goes...
Pick a simple idea and work with that. Keep it to one plot, one main character, and one event. That way you'll be able to focus the story on one thing and you won't have to include elements that distract from what you want to say.

Also, use established fantasy elements that readers are likely to be familiar with (elves=good, orc=bad, etc.). Otherwise you may have to spend too much time explaining concepts that aren't necessarily important to the story itself.

As for the actual plot. There are plenty of ways to do that depending on what kind of story you want to tell, and there are others here who are better suited to giving advice on that. I'll take a shot at it though, just to get the discussion going:

1. Begin with introducing the situation and the main character.
2. Make things worse (or more complicated/interesting)
3. Surprising yet logical resolution.

Something like that maybe? In the end it really depends on what kind of story you want to tell.

 

With a short story you generally want some sort of change--usually in the character. Something that signifies a transition from how things are at the start of the story to how they are at the end.

 

This ^^ is a similar way to how I learned to plot. I teach my students how to plot short stories by using the Pixar Short Films, which you can find on Netflix, and by reading a ton of short stories. I teach them about basic short story three act structure, I love this formula:

Dirty 30s! - The Lester Dent Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot

I show my students how almost all stories follow the three act structure, and make them pick out the opening scene, inciting moment, midpoint reversal, etc in the short films and short stories.

Then practice, practice, practice.

 

I'll give you some advice intended to keep your mind right while you're learning, because writing is hard...really hard.

1) Don't feel like you're copycatting if you want to try stories and styles of authors you love to read. Emulation is a great way to learn. Eventually, as you progress, your influences will mesh together and your own style will shine through.

#2 goes hand-in-hand with #1....

2) Don't compare yourself to those authors and stories you love. It's important to remember they've had years, or even decades, to hone their craft, multiple drafts, and the benefit of professional editing. You haven't, so allow yourself to suck from the get-go, content with the knowledge that you will get better, so long as you're working hard at improving your work.

3) Don't let fear get in the way. The fear of not being able to write eloquently can stifle creativity. Failure is a necessary part of creativity. You will fail and that's okay.

4) No writing, performed in earnest, is wasted. So, don't be afraid to try new things. Stretch your skills, regardless of experience. Challenge yourself by trying new techniques and methods. Push yourself to learn from the greats, and steal from them anything that fits your authorial goals and story visions.

5) Above all, make sure you have fun. Writing can be hard work, and sometimes it can feel more like work than fun, especially when you're on a deadline. Step back and remember why you jumped into storytelling to begin with.... You thought you'd be good at it. You thought it was fun.

Good luck!

 

Those are clever entries, but I think it's a mistake to call them stories. They're more like a joke--a setup and a punch-line, though not necessarily funny. A story has a different structure and purpose.

As for short stories, I've gone back more than once to Poe--his Philosophy of Composition and especially his remarks on the importance of the "single effect" in prose. His 19thc language may prove a bit of a slog for some readers, but the ideas behind it are pure gold.

 

I agree with pretty much everything that's been said.

Your first attempts will be stinky. Heck, almost everyone's first drafts are stinky, even ones from pros.

Everyone can write stinky.

But not everyone knows how to edit and turn stinky into sweet. This is where all the heavy lifting is done. This is where lessons will be learned.

In summary.

1- Write stinky. It's OK.
2- Turn stinky into sweet, or at least try.
3- Don't be afraid of falling down, because it's inevitable.
4- Get back up and learn. You will get better, and your stories will get better.
5- Don't expect to hit a homerun on the first try.
6- Have fun.
7- Have fun.
8- Have fun.
9- Have fun.
10- Have fun.