How to Write a Good Short Story

Introduction

Short stories have been loved throughout the span of human history. Stemming from oral traditions, short stories can be found in the forms of fables, myths, and legends across all cultures around the globe. They are easier to digest, more compact, and often make do as light reading for those who do not have the time for a novel-length work. Short stories and short story collections have become increasingly popular, as readers’ attention spans continue to decrease given the fast-paced and hectic lifestyles of the modern day.

For any new writers looking to explore the art of writing, beginning with a short story may be a great idea. A good understanding of the short story format also lends itself to a good understanding of how to structurally compose a full-length novel.

Short stories are works of prose fiction and can be anywhere from 1,000 to 20,000 words. They can be read from start to finish relatively quickly. They are longer than short short stories, flash fiction, or microfiction, but they are shorter than novellas. Their genres can encompass anything from action, adventure, comedy, politics, romance, satire, science fiction, to tragedy. Whatever genre you can imagine, a short story of the same genre has been written. There are many different types of short stories. These include fables, flash fiction, mini sagas, vignettes, modernist works, postmodernist works, magic realism, or minimalism.

However, the essential five elements of a short story are generally the same. There are only five things that a writer has to be aware of: Character, Setting, Conflict, Theme, and Plot. These terms in and of themselves are pretty self-explanatory. However, breaking down the specifics and understanding the nuances of a short story could help you write a successful one that is both intriguing and entertaining.

Character

The characters are the antagonists and protagonists of this story. The characters do not have to be a person; they could be animals, a moral, an inanimate object, or even climate change. Either way, we come to understand the subjects of the story as characters by the way the author provides a physical description of them, through the characters’ actions, dialogue, narration of the characters’ inner thoughts, and by what other characters say about them.

Setting

The setting is the where of the story. This encompasses the time and place in which the action transcribes. To firmly establish a convincing and clear picture of the setting, authors use descriptive language to describe geographic locations, buildings, scenery, seasons, the weather, and landscape. Authors often use the literary device known as imagery to firmly establish the setting and ground the characters to their surroundings. Imagery also allows the reader to create a better idea of how the plot is developing and how the surroundings contribute to the overall plot.

Imagery is also used to establish the mood and tone of the plot, which contribute greatly to the overall quality of the story. Strong imagery is important, but any discrepancies in the imagery might be extremely jarring for the reader and may distract from the overall flow of the story. Therefore, firmly establishing a clear image is important.

Theme

Like all prose, short stories usually have a point. That is, each story has a purpose or a message it is trying to convey. The theme is the meaning behind the action and events that occurs in a story. Rather than a simple plot summary, a theme could perhaps be a generalized observation or statement about people or life. Themes can sometimes be philosophical in nature and require much pondering. However, other times, they are more overt and obvious. Themes can be directly or indirectly stated by the author. To decipher the theme, a close reading and analysis of the short story is required.

Conflict

Like all fiction, short stories are centered around a central conflict. Unlike novels that could have many subplots, a short story is devoted to one major event (or conflict) faced by the characters. A conflict is defined as the struggle between at least two people or things. In the context of short stories, conflicts are either categorized as external or internal. External conflicts occur between the main character and others or some element of nature. Take for example “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury.

The central conflict is one between man and technology rather than two people battling it out. An internal conflict is one in which the main character fights against themselves. These could be ideological battles or big decisions that the main character has to make. A popular type of internal conflict is a character’s struggle against their mental illness or their desire to mold themselves into society. Either way, a compelling and believable narration of the conflict is essential to a good short story.

Plot

The plot is the beginning, middle, and end of a short story. Specifically, the plot maps out how events transcribe as a result of decisions or occur as a result of interactions between characters. Simply put, a plot is a series of events that occur and build up to the central conflict before resolving the issue.

A plot can be broken down into five elements:

Exposition. The exposition is the introduction to the story. During the exposition, the author provides essential background information. The characters and the setting are introduced, and the reader is placed in the context of the story, whatever that may be. Based on the exposition, the reader comes to understand the what, where, why, who, and how.

Rising Action. The rising action ramps up the tension that leads to the climax. During the rising action, all the essential events occur, and the reader comes to understand what the central conflict is.

Climax. The climax is the most interesting part of the story and marks the turning point towards the resolution. A big revelation is made, the character makes a life-changing decision, or a big problem becomes solved.

Falling Action. In the aftermath of the falling action, we see the consequences of the characters’ decisions and actions, and it is usually in the falling action that the theme of the story becomes clear.

Conclusion. The conclusion wraps up the story and perhaps ties up any loose ends regarding what we might have assumed. However, many authors are also fond of cliff hangers. The conclusion doesn’t always have to be satisfying; instead, it could leave us begging for more or angry. The beauty of a short story is that readers are far less likely to be mad about an abrupt ending, given that they didn’t invest much time into the work.

Writing a Good Short Story

Like all types of writing, authors become significantly better over time. However, to get you started, here are some tips:

To write a good short story, map out your central theme. Think about what you want your work to say, and create an outline. For example,

Who are your characters? What motivates them? What has made them who they are?

Where do your characters live? Where does the central action take place? Does the setting you chose fit with the overall plot and theme of the story?

What are you trying to say with your short story? Here, it is good to get poetic with your short story. What important message are you trying to convey through your characters, plot, and setting?

What is the main ordeal that your characters have to overcome? Do they overcome the ordeal? What are the events that you will use to build up to the climax? Are these events all important and essential to the climax? Are these events convincing? Do the characters’ decisions during these events make sense? Does the dialogue make sense?

What happens in the aftermath of the main events? How do the characters cope with their decisions? Have you made sure to address each of the characters? Are there any plot holes that need to be addressed?

Is the theme of your story clear?

Answering the above questions could get you far along your writing process. However, should you get stuck, whether this is the creative brainstorming process or with the actual writing of your story, consulting an editor is a good idea.

Editors come in different types, and any type could help you with the composition of your story.

Developmental editors are good to consult regarding the creation and development of your ideas. They help you polish your story, give you an idea of the directions you could take, and could offer their advice on any ideas you might have.

Substantive/stylistic editors could help you with the formatting, structuring, and overall style of your story. Stylistic editors are well-versed in organization and the structure of a short story, so they can tell you if your plot is missing something or if any further clarifications are required.

Copyeditors will help you with the microscopic elements of your work, including grammar, word choice, clarity, sentence structure, and overall composition. They will make sure that your thoughts and ideas are clearly conveyed and readable.

Line editors/proofreaders help to make sure that your work is polished and flawless grammatically. Whether you want to publish the story through your personal blog or submit the short story to a magazine or publishing house, proofreaders can help make sure your work is taken seriously by readers.

No matter which part of the writing process you are on, an editor can greatly help you with your goals. Enlisting an editor’s help could ensure that you produce the best reflection of your ideas possible.