What Exactly is a Short Story?
A short story is a work of fiction with a fully developed
theme. It is a chain of events that creates a "single effect" or
mood.
A short story is a fictional narrative of between 1600 and
2000 words in length. Short stories evolved from the oral storytelling
tradition and typically focus on a single subject or theme, a central
character, and a single setting. Anything under 1000 words is considered flash
fiction, and anything over 20,000 words is considered a novella.
According to Edgar Allen Poe, one of the most influential
short story writers of the nineteenth century, a short story should be
something you can read in a couple of hours. It's the ideal book for a long train
ride. For a more concrete illustration, consider the small, thin paperback
books sold at British railway stations in the 1800s.
Ghost stories, fairy tales, children's stories, and
traditional folk tales are all examples of short stories. These stories
typically begin and end abruptly, with little room for preamble. They are also
frequently in an experimental state.
The 5 Elements of a Short Story
Before you can write a short story, you must first
understand the five basic elements it contains. When writing short stories, all
of these elements should be present.
1. Characters
Your story revolves around the characters. These are the
people, animals, or objects who perform the action and bring the story to life.
In comparison to novels, short stories usually have fewer characters. Consider
these questions when creating your characters.
- Who is your main character (the protagonist)?
- Who is the villain (the antagonist)?
- What distinguishing characteristics do they have? In the
story, you can give them a distinct physical appearance, trait, or even the way
they speak.
- Are they static (stay the same throughout the story) or
dynamic? (changes at one point in the story).
2. Setting
The setting is the location where the story takes place.
Again, short stories have a much smaller setting than novels. In most cases,
one or two are sufficient.
The reader is usually introduced to the setting of a story
through descriptions. It could be a view of scenery, landscapes, buildings, or
anything else. It's a nice touch to describe the time, season, and weather when
the story takes place. It enables your audience to visualize the true feel and
vibe of the setting.
3. Plot
The plot is the sequence of events that occurs in your short
story. There are numerous plot types. Whatever you choose, it should be
centered on a significant moment or experience.
4. Conflict
The struggle or tension that occurs in your story is
referred to as the conflict. It usually involves the protagonist and the
antagonist. The conflict may also occur between the main character and the
environment or between the main character and himself/herself.
5. Theme
The theme of your story is the central belief or topic. It
frequently has an impact on the human condition, society, or life.
How to structure a short story?
Every story is built around some form of logic, whether
explicit or implicit. Short stories, regardless of length, format, or delivery
style, follow a pattern or story arc. This pattern closely follows the plot of
the story.
Many people believe that the basic structure of a short
story is divided into three parts: the beginning, middle, and end. Even though
this is correct, some people still get these parts mixed up. As a result, the
reader loses interest. To make the structure much easier to construct, the
ideal structure should be divided into five parts (and follow). However, if you
want to make something more elaborate, you can follow the seven-part structure
known as the Freytag's Pyramid.
The five-part structure will be used in this article. Here
are five parts of a short story's structure to give you a more comprehensive
framework for writing short stories.
1. Exposition
This is your introduction or the section where you tell your
story. It addresses the five Ws of a story. Who, What, When, Where, and Why are
the five W's.
2. Rising action
This is the section in which your main character must
confront and resolve a conflict. The act of resolving the conflict will serve
as the story's rising action.
3. Climax
This is the most important part of your story. Your
character will now reach the climax after the tension created by resolving the
story's conflict. It represents a watershed moment for your character. It
indicates whether or not your character was successful in resolving the
conflict.
4. Falling action
Falling action, also known as the "denouement," is
the point at which the tension begins to subside. It concludes the conflict and
the character's efforts to resolve it.
5. Resolution
Finally, the conclusion. This is the conclusion to your
story. Depending on your plot and genre, it could have a happy or sad ending.
This section concludes the story.
