Have you ever written a short story? Have you ever read one? Can you infuse your creativity with short stories? There are tons of anthologies made up of short stories. But, do you know what a short story is? I mean, other than it’s a story that is short?
I was first introduced to short stories in Jr. High when our English class read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. It was short, powerful, and more than a little disturbing. I have never forgotten it. Short stories can pack a punch.
Author Maeve Binchy charmed her way onto my reading list when I first stumbled upon her short-story anthology “The Lilac Bus”. It is a collection of short stories written about the different folks who commute from the Irish countryside to Dublin every day on a Lilac bus. The bus is the only thing the different characters and their personal stories have in common.
Short Story Definition:
A short story is a brief work of fiction, usually written in prose and is about 1,000 to 20,000 words in length. Short stories got their start from oral storytelling traditions, such as anecdotes, fables, fairy tales, and parables.
Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay “The Philosophy of Composition,” said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours.
If a short story is longer than that, it is called a novella which is around 17,500 – 40,000 words. A novel is 40,000 words or more.
Short stories often have a purpose or a point to convey. It might be a moral or an insight that offers a new perspective.
Because of the length of short stories, there is usually only one plot, one main character with a few minor characters, and one central theme. Whereas a novel can have multiple plots and subplots, a whole cast of characters, and several themes.
5 key elements of a good short story:
1. Character: A person or animal who takes part in the action of the story
2. Setting: The time and place in which the story takes place.
3. Plot: A series of events and character’s actions that are connected by the central conflict.
4. Conflict: A struggle between people or things in a short story. The struggle could be with another character, nature, society, or the inner self.
5. Theme: The central idea or belief of the story
It might seem like short stories are easy to write since they are, well, short. However, this is not necessarily true. Often it can be a real challenge to accomplish the Five Story Elements in 1,000 to 20,000 words. As a novelist, I sometimes feel I’m only just warming up around 10,000 words!
CREATIVE CHALLENGE:
Reading can ignite your creativity by stretching your imagination. Short stories have to be creative in order to get all the story elements into such a small word-count.
I challenge you to write you own short story. If you are hard pressed for ideas, try using a writing prompt. Brainstorm the five story elements and start typing. Or even better—write your story in longhand!
Whether you accept the challenge of writing your own short story or simply stretch your mind by reading some, the short story will inspire and enrich your creative mind. Our creativity grows when we try a new craft. It can be as beneficial to your brain as learning a new language.
Short stories by well-known classic novelists you might enjoy:
- ‘A Haunted House’ by Virginia Woolf
- ‘Shooting an Elephant’ by George Orwell
- ‘A Sound of Thunder’ by Ray Bradbury
- ‘The Nightingale and the Rose’ by Oscar Wilde
- ‘Stone Mattress’ by Margaret Atwood
- ‘A Perfect Day for Bananafish’ by J.D. Salinger
- ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’ by Ernest Hemmingway
- ‘A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- ‘Three Questions’ by Leo Tolstoy
- ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County’ by Mark Twain
- ‘Eveline’ by James Joyce
- ‘Symbols and Signs’ by Vladimir Nabokov
- ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald
You can read all of these short stories for free on mic.com
PLEASE contact me and let me know which short stories you love – or hate and why.
If you write a story of your own, send it in. It might be featured on a future blog post.
Would you like to read one of my short stories?
May Contest Winner!
Ellen Pomtier is the winner of the May Contest! Congratulations Ellen!
Ellen is a creative spirit with eclectic interests. She paints, makes jewelry, works in an art journal, and knits among many other things. Ellen loves to try new types of art. This month she is interested in trying alcohol inks, which is new to me too. I’ll have her report what she learns and if we’re lucky, maybe she’ll send in a photo. As the contest winner, Ellen will receive a pack of Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils.
Thanks to all of you who participated in the contest.
Good luck next month!
July Contest:
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To enter the contest in July, email a photo of one of your patriotic works of art.
Your name will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!
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Let’s build a community!
Look for information on these upcoming events:
August: Local Artist’s Show and Garden Tea
September: 1st Annual Artist Retreat Day
