What is a short story?
It is a short piece of descriptive prose that is usually about a single happening. It is limited to between 2000 to 5000 words and contains an introduction, body and conclusion. It has a lot in common with a novel, but is more concise. Here is a guide that will help you any time you are asked to write a short story.
Setting
This is where the story takes place. A short story doesn’t have a lot of space to describe the setting, so it is important to put down the most relevant details. Ask yourself:
- Where is the story set? Consider the period, the time of day, weather, environment, etc.
- Is setting an important part of the plot or theme? How does it impact the story?
- When was the story written? Present, past or future?
Characterisation
It’s important to describe the characters in the story effectively – their physical appearance, thoughts and feelings and interaction with the other characters. Ask yourself:
- Who or what is the main character (the protagonist)?
- Who or what is the antagonist (the opposition to the protagonist)?
- What kind of characters are they? Do they have special qualities?
- Are they familiar to your reader?
Plot and Structure
The story is structured around the plot which is the central part of the story. Consider the following questions:
- What is the most important thing that happens?
- How is the plot structured? Is it linear/chronological or does it start halfway through the action and contain flashbacks? These flashbacks are often shown as memories or dreams.
- Is the plot convincing?
The Conflict or suspense is the main part of the story and is outlined around the main character. A short story usually contains one main encounter.
- How would you describe the main conflict?
- Is the character struggling with an internal conflict?
- Is it an external conflict caused by the environment in which the main character finds himself/herself, or is it caused by the words and actions of the antagonist?
The climax is the highest point of intensity in the story. It can also change the turn of events as the story develops towards its conclusion.
- When does the climax take place?
The resolution is the ending, the finish. It explains how the story ends.
Narrator
The narrator is the person telling the story. The narrator is not the author; he/she is a fictional character and has to be developed in the same way as any other character (see section on characterisation).
- Who is the narrator or who tells the story?
- Does the author use the main character to convey a message or ideology?
- Is the story written in the first person?
- Or is there a third person telling the story?
Theme
The theme is the setting the story is based on. A specific subject, such as love, death, hope, fantasy, etc. and how the topic affects the human condition, society, or life.
