Determine what type of short story you’re writing and the ways in which personification might work best for it. For instance, a horror story might deliver human qualities to objects that enhance the frightening or horrific aspects of the story. A love story might personify objects, such as the moon or candlelight, that will heighten its romantic elements.
Look for objects that can be personified. Again, depending on the type of story, choose objects that will enhance the theme. For instance, in a story about a young girl’s lack of privacy, the thin walls in her bedroom can take on the qualities of a snoop, “pricking its ears over every word she uttered”.
Look for passages that might enhance the mood through personification. In a frightening sequence in a horror story, personification might be used to heighten the tension. For example, a man walking down a desolate country road might hear the tree branches “cracking their knuckles”.
Look for emotional passages in the story that can be enhanced through personification. For instance, curtains in an open window can “shudder with melancholy” while a man is being dumped by his girlfriend, or the air in a room can “hold its breath” during a silent interlude between a feuding couple.
Use personification that mirrors the descriptive qualities of the characters in the story. For instance, an old car can “cough asthmatically” while its engine is gunned, much in the same way as the car’s old owner when he woke up that morning.