Writing a Short Story

One of the immensely popular kinds of writing are short stories. Even people who are not otherwise fond of reading novels or non-fiction like to read these kinds of stories. There is something about the construction and flow of a short story that makes it pleasurable to read. There are many great writers of famous short stories who are master storytellers.

To write one yourself, you will need to construct a story that is able to capture the reader's interest. It should be fascinating and fun, and the narrative can be either slow or fast-paced. Short story writing is an art, and to be successful you need to have an idea that can turn into a great story. The narrative should have a good flow.

If you've read some short stories, you will notice that they all follow a pattern even if the subject is different. This kind of story is no different from a novel. The only difference is that the story is read in a single sitting, and the events of the plot unfold within a few pages. It is therefore a lot harder to write a short story, as you have to wind up the story in a few short pages.

Given next are the main elements of a short story. Using this structure is not a rule, you are free to experiment and come up with whatever works for you

Introduction - The introduction of your story should be catchy and interesting. It is crucial to build curiosity at the beginning of a story. Use this as a base to introduce your setting and main characters. Creating strong characters is crucial.

The introduction should be brief and to the point. At the same time, add a bit of humor or drama in it, and don't make it dry.

• Foundation - Build the plot of the story gradually and introduce other minor characters that are important for the plot. Avoid using unnecessary and superfluous description of events, otherwise you will break the flow and structure. But, don't forget to build up the story's climax by giving details that lead up to it.

Climax - Write about the
main events of the story. Don't bore your readers with too many details as this will take the focus away from the climax. Use short sentences and edit carefully, to keep the narrative tight and free-flowing.

• Pre-conclusion - Build up a good pre-conclusion where any unresolved issues are settled. In the case of a thriller, this is the time to divulge details about the main mastermind. Having a good pre-conclusion helps to lead to the conclusion, ensuring that the story does not end abruptly.

Conclusion - Wrap up the conflict depicted in the story. The conclusion can be dramatic, depending upon the plot and style of writing. An unexpected twist is also a great way to conclude a story.

These kinds of stories are difficult to write, but with some clear thinking, planning, and lots of editing, you can write a great story.