A short story can be defined in only the most general terms, and for every "rule" named here, there are stories that ignore the rule. On the other hand, many stories fail to interest readers, and the reason they fail is most often because they ignore one or more of these general rules. At its most basic, a story has a beginning, a middle, and an end, each with it's own specific purpose. Just as the beginning of a novel introduces characters, setting, and goals, the beginning of a story also sets the stage and introduces the main character's problem or goal. The middle introduces and deepens complications or conflict, and the end forces the POV character to make a decision that resolves his or her problem, goal, or need, so that the character succeeds or fails and readers, knowing the outcome, feel satisfied.

Characteristics of a Short Story

1. captures a thought provoking or profound moment or incident on paper and resolves the problem inherent in that moment in such a way that a change occurs for the character, and possibly for the reader. The change that occurs in a character may be subtle, such as a shift in attitude, or it may be overt, such as a change in fortune.
2. has a definitive beginning, middle, and end. It begins as close to the end as possible, works through some complications to arrive at a climactic moment, and then ends.
3. usually involves a sympathetic character that overcomes some hurdle to achieve a meaningful goal.
4. wastes no time getting started but plunges into the moment in time to be explored.
5. focuses on one central character that interacts with as few other characters as possible around a single incident in a single setting.
6. focuses on only those details that elaborate on and help to resolve the story problem.

Another description

A short story is a narrative involving a conflict between two poles (A vs. B). This conflict needs to develop through a series of actions in which A and B get together again and again and again (three is a good number to start with, but there can be more).

Or, another definition I use: By a story I mean a narrative that extends through a set of articulations, events or event sequences, in which the central conflict is embodied once, and again, and again (three is the critical number here – looking back at the structure of folk tales) such that in these successive revisitings we are drawn deeper into the soul or moral structure of the story. ~ Douglas Glover (The New Quarterly, #87, Summer 2003)

CLICK HERE to comment on the Short Story page


Return from the Short Story page to the Home page