How to Write a Short Story by SparkNotes

“Find the key emotion this may be all you need.” This means that you will likely only need one or two major events in your story.Ī blog post on Reedsy sums it up neatly by quoting F. While this also helps in crafting a short story, the keyword is “short.” Novel-writing techniques include creating character profiles and making an outline of the plot. DenouementĪnother word for denouement would be the conclusion or ending, with a resolution to the problem or conflict that was introduced in the first part of the story. Here, the story rises to its peak, where the most exciting events take place, leading towards the eventual resolution. Rising Actionīecause short stories have time limitations, writers face the challenge of crafting high-tension narratives that show the reader the rising stakes. Conflict is considered the most crucial part of any story, and for short stories, this must be clear right from the get-go. ExpositionĪ story becomes most intriguing when it begins in media res, a Latin phrase meaning “in the middle of things.” Because short stories are limited by time, writers normally deliver the exposition within the action.Īlternatively, a short story structure known as the Fichtean Curve opts to skip the exposition and instead goes straight to the rising action. What Is the Structure of a Short Story?Īlthough a short story definitely does not have the numerous plot points that a full-length novel includes, it still boasts many of the same key elements in its story structure. Short stories generally do not exceed 8,000 words, but some writers have written longer ones that went up to 20,000 words.Īny longer than 20,000 words and you start to enter novella territory, which start at around 30,000 words. “Microfiction” falls anywhere below 2,000 words, and might even wrap up neatly below 500 words. Most short stories are consist of 2,000 to 5,000 words. In fact, some writers assert that the skill of telling a full-length story in a short time is more difficult to learn than writing it out in a longer novel. But don’t let the low word count fool you: it’s actually a perfect way to challenge yourself to be concise, yet effective. The short story is an ideal starting point for beginners thanks to its limited word count, and there are many reasons to write short stories. But how can you harness the same power in your own writing? Writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Rudyard Kipling have shown us the power of the short story to fascinate as well as impact readers.

How to Write a Short Story by SparkNotes