A “short story” is a brief work of fiction, usually focused on a single theme or event to evoke a specific mood or insight. It typically centers on one or a few characters, with a concise narrative and limited settings. Unlike novels, which have complex plots and subplots, short stories often focus on a snapshot of life, exploring character development or a key moment in time.
Short stories are not only small in size, but the technique of telling them is also different. H. G. Wells considered short stories to be worth 10 to 50 minutes of reading time. They typically range from 1,000 to 7,500 words, although lengths can vary. Some famous short story writers include Edgar Allan Poe, Anton Chekhov, and Flannery O’Connor.
Several renowned authors and literary figures have provided insightful perspectives on the definition of a short story.
Here are a few notable opinions:
1. Edgar Allan Poe:
Edgar Allan Poe, often credited as a pioneer of the modern short story, described it as a “narrative that can be read in one sitting.” He emphasized the importance of unity of effect, suggesting that a short story should aim to evoke a single, powerful emotion or idea in the reader, with every word contributing to this goal.
2. Anton Chekhov:
Anton Chekhov, one of the masters of the short story, believed that a story should not be overly dramatic or preachy but should reflect real life with honesty and subtlety. He said, “The task of a writer is not to solve a problem, but to state a problem correctly.” Chekhov’s stories often focused on moments of quiet introspection and character rather than grand plots.
3. William Faulkner:
William Faulkner, known for both his short stories and novels, viewed the short story as a form with its own distinct power. He stated, “In a novel, you can be careless, but in a short story, you have to be perfect.” Faulkner highlighted the necessity of precision and conciseness in short story writing.
4. Alice Munro:
Alice Munro, a Nobel Prize-winning author famous for her short stories, believes that a short story “is more focused on moments of realization” rather than a continuous narrative. She has often compared short stories to novels in terms of the complexity of characters, but shorter in structure and scope.
5. Frank O’Connor:
Frank O’Connor, in his book ‘The Lonely Voice’, argued that the short story often focuses on marginalized individuals, those at the edges of society, and explores themes of isolation and vulnerability. He saw the form as a means to express personal experiences in ways a novel might not.
Each of these perspectives emphasizes different aspects of the short story, from brevity and emotional impact to its focus on moments of life and character. The short story does not want to break through the deep secrets of human life. The writer keeps a steady eye on the weak and weak waves that rise, fall, and break in the constant stream of life. It does not have the breadth of drama, novel, or epic poem, the fragmentary form of life takes a special form here. To make this form of creation worthwhile, the author tries to make the story’s material and mood oriented to a single level of humor. This is the epitome of short stories.
How to write a short story:
How to write a short story is very difficult to answer. It is impossible. Because true creativity has no manual. Every work of a true artist is original. It will not match with anyone. The only thing that can be done is to learn about other people’s experiences. Because experience is very valuable.
But the beginning of writing any short story is important. A short story by definition begins abruptly, but the opening sentence should be such that the reader becomes interested in what happens next after reading the first sentence. There will be such a mystery in the expression, language, and description that the reader will concentrate on the heart of the story to know the next sentence, the next description, and the next event.
A short story will start differently. It will start suddenly, and it will end suddenly. In this case, the first sentence or the first paragraph may contain the entire story. Some short stories appear to focus on a single incident. Sometimes it presents a single principle or idea or a single feeling to the reader. Again, writing fiction is not an easy task, especially here the first sentence is very important. Sometimes the first paragraph is important too. Remember, dear, a good opening draws the reader like an intoxicant till the last page of the story. There is a hint at the beginning, which captivates the reader and drags him to the end.
The style of writing should be as follows:
Every writing style can be different. Not everyone starts writing the same way. Analyzing the short story writing style of famous authors, some strategies are given below for the knowledge of new and aspiring writers:
1) Setting the scene: First imagine the scene. That is, a dreamy world should be imagined at the beginning. Then the short story has to be started by describing him. The beginning of the story should give the basic idea of the character or event and also inform the reader about the creation of the story. However, it is necessary to add the scenario that informs it and describe the scenario in terms of spacetime. At the same time, it should also inform the reader about what our short story is going to unfold. Then in the next, second, or third paragraph, the same character’s more detailed analysis will help the reader to understand the background of the story.
2) Conflict: Some short stories start with conflict. It also has a kind of charm that will draw the reader in right from the start. By reading it, the reader can understand from the beginning that the main character of this story is in one or more conflicts from which he is trying to escape. In addition, the reader will be introduced to the main character, situation, place, time, and conflict. In this, the reader can easily guess any kind of danger the main character is in. This is actually starting with risk. The dramatization seen in many cases attracts the reader and is highly appreciated.
3) Mystery: Some stories can start with a mystery. Because the general reader loves to unravel mysteries. Using this instinct and love of the reader can be done by killing someone at the beginning of the short story. Finally, a new episode of the short story may be ready to unravel the mystery of this murder.
4) Addition of third-person quotes: You can directly relate to the reader as a third person and give the source of the story. The storyteller can provide the reader with important information at the beginning as support. It can be said that everything mentioned here is a mixture of my personal experience and research. By starting like this, the reader can easily connect with the story’s importance, necessity, and other attachments.
5) Description of First Person: A writer can start the story in the first person. Here he will narrate the incident like writing prose. This is also a kind of starting strategy.
6) Use of words: Some people can start short stories with the words of prominent people. It is very useful for short stories. A few sentences at a time are a good way to give the reader a summary of the story. Sometimes a short story can be started with a riddle. The reader also likes to spend time unraveling these puzzles. Therefore, short stories can be started by exploiting this natural attraction of the reader.
Short stories have the power to leave a lasting impact with their tightly woven narrative, delivering insight and emotion in a complete and thought-provoking way.