![]() ![]() It should take them by surprise and exemplify the theme in an unexpected way. The bottom line is that the reader shouldn’t see the ending coming. This can also include having a big reveal or surprise known as a twist ending. ![]() ![]() Short stories are famous for using irony, especially when it comes to the ending. Read More: 8 Films You Didn't Know Were Based on Short Stories You don't have a lot of space to develop complex plotlines, so focus on creating well-rounded, relatable characters and exploring themes that will resonate with your readers.Įxample: Sue is relatable because she loves and misses her father, is single-minded in her goal to catch a fish (the plot) and doesn’t want to let go of the past despite being in a new world (theme). One thing to keep in mind is that short stories are often more about character and theme than plot. All these things make it more difficult for Sue to achieve her goal of catching a fish. Sue might even experience equipment interference from mysterious radio waves coming from another of Jupiter’s moons, increasing the amount of risk she’s taking on. She might get caught in unexpected bad weather and begin to doubt her fishing abilities. Things like other people, weather, difficult terrain, even self-doubt all create conflict for your protagonist.Įxample: As Sue becomes more and more focused on catching a fish, she might neglect her research duties, causing pushback from her colleagues at NASA. Read More: Why Do Short Stories Make Great Movies?Īll About Eve (1950) Conflict comes in all shapes and sizesĮxplore multiple sources of conflict – the more the better. Will her father’s style of fishing work the same way on Europa? She’s certain of it – but is she in for an unexpected surprise? You might start the story with Sue quickly preparing her pole, bait and tackle – just the way her father taught her – before she sets out to take advantage of the good weather. If the climax in the story is Sue catching an alien sea creature, maybe a brief heat wave will give Sue a short window to achieve her goal.Īdd to the story that Sue is using the fishing pole her recently-deceased father gave her as a child back on earth, and you’ve created history and an emotional through-line. A visit from an old friend, a high school reunion or even a break in the weather can create a window allowing the protagonist a limited time to get to the climax.įor example: Maybe your protagonist, we’ll call her Sue, is an astronaut whose dream is to go ice fishing on Europa, Jupiter’s smallest moon. It’s important to start your story as close to the climax as possible to give the story a sense of urgency. Short stories tend to take more risks with their settings, which is likely the reason short stories are so popular with so many sci-fi writers.ģ:10 to Yuma (2007) Start your story as close to the climax as possible Brainstorm all the settings you personally are curious about and start there. ![]() There’s nothing wrong with setting your short story at a local grocery store, just remember your word count is limited and you want to create as much novelty and excitement as possible to hook your reader upfront. So treat your short story like a vacation to an intriguing place that offers exciting locations, institutions or creatures. Short stories are meant to be read in a single sitting and function as an escape to a world different from our own. Read More: 12 Best Short Stories to Read for Screenwriting Inspiration Settings for Short Stories Like a novel, a short story may use various literary techniques like foreshadowing, symbolism and irony to elevate the story and make it more interesting. The story may be told from a first-person or third-person point of view and sometimes is divided into chapters or sections. A short story typically ranges anywhere from 1,000 to 15,000 words, though there is no hard and fast rule. ![]()
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