Short Story Writing

Creative Writing 12
 Short Story

The history of short prose fiction is almost as old as language

itself. Throughout the centuries, tales, legends, myths, and fables have
been enjoyed everywhere in the world. The short story was not regarded
as a distinct literary form, however, until the nineteenth century, when
authors in Germany, Russia, France, and the United States began to
compose and define different types of fiction. The American critic, poet,
and short story writer Edgar Allan Poe made an outstanding contribution
to the development of the short story when he wrote that all the details
in a story should contribute to a unique or single effect (Abelos, et al.,
2007). This is the reason why Poe is regarded as the Father of Short Story
in the U.S.
 Definition and Features of Short Story
A short story is a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting.
Generally, a short story develops one major conflict (Applebee, et al.,
2000).
Today, short story may be as brief as five hundred words or as long
as several thousand words. The difference between a short story and
other fictional forms, such as novel, lies in its unity; meaning, the
conversation, the action, and the idea on which the short story is based
focus on one predominant effect (Abelos, et al., 2007). In other words, a
short story must be unified. All the elements must work together to
produce a total effect. This unity of effect is reinforced through an
appropriate title and through the use of literary devices, such as
symbolism and irony (Applebee, et al., 2000).
Short stories are written to be enjoyed. Of course, readers do not
need to understand how a story is written in order to enjoy it.
Understanding the elements of a short story, however, is a must for all
beginning writers.
 Elements of Short Story
1. Character- refer to a real or imaginary individuals who take part in the action
of a story. Characters may also be classified as protagonists or antagonists.
a. Main Characters- the characters who are at the center of the story’s action.
b. Minor Characters- less important ones.
c. Dynamic Character (Round Character)- a character that grows or changes as
the plot unfolds.
d. Static Character (Flat Character)- remains unchanged in the story.
Characterization- the development of characters in fiction.
Techniques an author may employ to help characters come alive
e. Physical description of the character
f. Description by another character
g. The character’s speech
h. Explanation of the character’s thoughts
i. The character’s actions
j. The character’s responses to the other characters or to situations
 Elements of Short Story

2. Setting- the setting of the story is the time and place in which the events
occur. The place can be real or imaginary, and the time can be a particular
time of day, a season, a period of history, or even the future. Setting plays an
important part in some stories, as in stories of local color which emphasizes
the particular characteristics of a region or province and its inhabitants. In
such stories, the setting has a major effect on what happens to the
characters.
 Elements of Short Story
3. Point of View- refers to the relationship between a narrator and the events
he or she narrates.
a. First Person Point of View- when a story’s narrator is a character
participating in the story’s action.
b. Second Person Point of View- when a story is told to a character in the
story.
c. Third Person Point of View- the narrator is outside the action describes
the events and characters. This point of view can be subdivided into:
1. Obejctive- when the narrator narrates the events based only on his or her
observations and without any personal comment
2. Omniscient- when the narrator is all-knowing, able to see into the minds
of all the characters
3. Limited Omniscient- when the narrator perceives events through the eyes
of one character. He or she describes only that character’s feelings and
only the events that the character witnesses.
 Elements of Short Story
4. Plot- refers to chain of related events that take place in a story. Many plots
include the following stages:
a. Exposition- provides needed background information.
b. Rising Action- refers to the part of the plot in which the conflict
intensifies.
c. Climax- refers to the turning point of the action and when the reader’s
interest is at its highest point.
d. Falling Action or Denouement- refers to the action after the climax in
which the conflict often resolved.
Plot may be described also based on its structure. Thus, a plot may be:
e. Linear- when the events are narrated based on the chronology of
occurrence, or through media res when narration begins without
exposition, that is, beginning from the middle using flashback technique.
f. Episodic- when the story is subdivided into several episodes which narrate
chronological events back-and-forth, and said episodes are unified by the
story’s central theme.
 Elements of Short Story
5. Conflict- the reason a story develops in tension and suspense as it builds to
a climax is that the pressure of conflict, the struggle between two opposing
forces, is increased by each event. Conflict in a story may be
a. Man against man
b. Man against nature
c. Man against self
d. Man against society
e. A combination of two or more of these types
Conflict can be external or internal.
f. Physical or external conflict is easy to recognize, especially in an
adventure story which emphasizes a vivid physical struggle.
g. Internal conflict may be represented by a character’s struggle with
conscience, or between what is and what should be.
 Elements of Short Story

6. Theme- is a central idea or message in a work of literature. It is not the

work’s subject, but a perception about life or human nature that the writer
wants to communicate.
Examples:
a. Love conquers everything.
b. Jealousy kills the one we love.
c. Suspicion undermines the trust we have in one another.
d. Rage drives the human spirit from our lives.
 Elements of Short Story
7. Irony- is a literary device where the chosen words are intentionally used to
indicate a meaning other than the literal one. Irony is often mistaken for
sarcasm. Sarcasm is actually a form of verbal irony, but sarcasm is
intentionally insulting.
Classifications of Irony
a. Verbal Irony- is the use of words to mean something different than what
they appear to mean.
b. Situational Irony- refers to the difference between what is expected to
happen than what actually happens.
c. Dramatic Irony- when the audience or reader is more aware of what is
happening than a character.
 Techniques and Literary Devices

1. Tone and Mood

Tone- is the attitude a writer takes toward a subject. The language and
details a writer chooses help to create the tone, which may be sorrowful,
sentimental, angry, ironic, sympathetic, or impersonal, among others.
Mood- refers to the emotional response of the reader to a work which may
be joy, sadness, sympathy, fear, anger or affection, among others.

2. Symbolism- is something that represents or suggests a relationship or

association. For example, a flag symbolizes patriotism; lamp represents
knowledge; a cross stands for the Christian church (Abelos, 2007).
 Techniques and Literary Devices

3. Hints- are statements that have deeper meanings. In other words, this is an
indirect way of saying an intended meaning. In Filipino, this is termed as
pahiwatig.

4. Foreshadowing- means exactly what the word implies- a hint of things to

come. A word or phrase, or a sentence can contain an important clue that the
author may insert to prepare the reader for a later event.
 Tips in Short Story Writing

1. Identify the heart of your story.

2. See things differently.
3. Opposites attract.
4. Craft a strong title.
5. Shorter is sweeter.