A short story is like a kiss in the dark, from a stranger.
I didn’t say that. Bestselling writer of horror stories, Stephen King, said that.
So what is a short story?
Well, it should be short. It must have impact, be meaningful and unforgettable. Usually, the considered length is from 1000 to 5000 words. It can be more than that but then it tends to become long-drawn and may fall into the genre of a novella.
Many writers believe that an interesting plot makes a short story, but as a genre, the short story is not very different from long fiction. How does Lorrie Moore, the author of several humorous short stories, compare the two? She says,
‘A short story is a love affair; a novel is a marriage.
A short story is a photograph; a novel is a film.’
As in a novel, a good short story must focus on all the four elements, namely character, plot, setting and language. The distinction is, the short story, being restricted by lesser words, needs a simplified version of these elements. So it’s best to concentrate on
The way to make a short story memorable is to build the main character into a three dimensional figure---a real person, whose qualities or fallacies the reader relates to. Other characters can be peripheral and kept two-dimensional. As the story unwinds, this main character must undergo a change. Something must happen to the person. Some kind of insight must make the person either win over the situation or give in to it. Either way, since the reader navigates the twists and turns with the protagonist, empathy builds up to such a degree that nothing can shake the loyalty to the main character. So when the climax peaks, the reader tumbles into depression with the character’s downfall or flies with elation at his success.
The plot must go through the cycle of a beginning, middle, a climax and end. However, it is best to cut to the chase and get to the nitty-gritty without too much beating around the bush. So, less of the back story and open the first scene as close to the action as possible. This makes for the impact and hooks the reader to read on.
Settings are essential as an environment to elicit compassion for the main character. It also creates atmosphere in the story, such as stormy weather reflects turmoil in the character’s mind or in the plot. But, remember to keep the descriptions succinct and short. No way, can you bore the reader by long descriptions.
And eventually, we come to the language. Needless to say, as in a longer work of fiction language errors are like hiccoughs. Once your reader leaves the story to get a glass of water, he may not come back to it. Short sentences, terse comments and exact words will forcefully push forward your story. They are the page turners. Convoluted sentences, full of adjectives and adverbs, usually leave a reader confused about what you want to convey. Dialogues are also a preferred mode to narrative, which may drag and become long-winded.
Many writers feel that they must spent time and words, in their stories, on the introduction, to describe the setting or character, give the back story or a perfect sense of time. They get so busy garnishing the meal that they don’t notice the reader has rushed out to get a burger.
How does one write that perfect short story?
I just practise what Ray Bradbury advises, ‘Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.’
Practice makes perfect?
Meanwhile, it is heartening to remember that some of the finest pieces of fiction have been short stories. You may not take a long time to read a short story but you may remember it forever.
Copyright@Sutapa Basu. All rights reserved. First published at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/How-to-write-that-perfect-short-story/articleshow/49239799.cms
