Write the rough draft. Often the best way to create a homemade story for publication is to begin by sitting down in front of a blank sheet of paper or computer screen and writing the story. If the piece is short (2,000 or fewer words) this can be done in one sitting, but longer works will usually require a cumulative effort. Write the best story you can without stopping to check grammar, spelling or plot line. Just let your ideas flow onto the paper or computer screen. Revision and editing will come later.
Revise your work. This is the time to check for correct spelling, punctuation, grammar and proper word choice.
Rewrite your story a second time, but this time your first concern will be story line, setting, plot and characters. One way to create an effective flow of words is to follow the traditional progression of action, background, conflict, development and ending.
Read the story aloud, or better yet present it to a literary critique group.
Revise for the final time in accords with some of the suggestions made during the previous step.
Edit for any remaining problem areas such as word choice, sentence structure or punctuation. You might consider having a copy editor or trusted reader check out the manuscript for errors.
Save your written piece as a word document. Microsoft Word, also called ".doc," is the most common format, but ".rtf," ".docx" or ".txt are also possible.
Upload your short story to a free blogging site such as wordpress, blogger, typepad or livejournal. Facebook or My Space can also be used to publish stories.
Link your story to friends, perspective readers or any sites that might be relevant to the homemade tale.
Use Twitter to bring in more readers.