How to Master the Key Elements of Short Story Writing
by Margaret MacMillan

Magic can't help you write a short story, but mastering the key elements can.

A short story is a work of short fiction written in prose that involves the reader in a world of imagined characters and events. But how do you write a story that compels the reader, and leaves them breathless? It's no easy task. This blog will help you master the key elements of short story writing, and offer helpful examples so you can do just that. As a bonus, it will reveal an element that will elevate your story above the rest.

The Six Key Elements of a Short Story, Plus One:

1.)   Character: The characters are the people inhabiting your story. You must bring them to life, and divulge what motivates them as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is with illustration. For example, if your main character is a woman who is unhappy in her marriage, show her discussing the marriage over a drink with a friend, or reveal her inner monologue while spending another evening at home watching television with her husband. Her character traits will surface as her reactions to her circumstances and the other characters are described, as will theirs. Incorporate descriptions of physical traits into these moments by describing movements and bearing, as well as features other characters notice and their reaction to them.

2.)   Setting: The setting is the “where and when” of the story, and establishes a sense of place and mood. Make your descriptions accurate and evocative so the reader feels like they're there. For example, if your characters are sitting at a bar, describe a few of the other patrons, the sounds around them, the smell and taste of their drinks, the blemishes on the bar itself, the lighting, and so on, so the reader understands what it’s like to be there.

3.)   Conflict: The conflict is the central struggle between the main character, and one or more of the other characters.  It can also be internal. Continuing with the example of the unhappy wife, the conflict could be between her and her husband and anyone who sides with him, or with herself. It can be subtle or obvious, but it must be evident to the reader that it exists, and can be illustrated in a number of ways, such as: the wife pulling away from her husband as he attempts intimacy, the wife not attending a function that is important to the husband, or the wife contemplating leaving the husband.

4.)   Plot: The plot is the series of events and character actions motivated by the main conflict. The plot must have a beginning, which introduces the central conflict and the characters; a middle, which builds the tension through a series of events and actions; and an end, which will conclude the events of the story.

5.)   Theme: The theme is the unifying idea or belief central to the story. You have the whole gamut of human feeling and experience to choose from. Some possibilities include the fleeting nature of first love, remorse, loss, hope, or revenge. If you’ve done your work properly, your reader will recognize your theme.

6.) Point of View:  The point of view you choose determines the perspective through which the narrative is viewed. Choose the one that best allows you to tell your story. If you choose the first person, you're writing from the perspective of a character or characters in the story. It's more personal, but also more limiting. If you choose the second person, you're bringing the reader into the story as a character. If you choose the third person, you're writing from the perspective of someone outside the story, but not involved in it. The third person allows you to be more versatile, and tell the story from a variety of angles.

Plus One: Killer Ending: This is your bonus. Have you ever come to the last paragraph of a short story, and been shocked, elated, devastated, or brought to tears? If you have, it’s because the author has surprised you by taking the story to a conclusion you hadn’t expected. A killer ending can turn the story on its end, but must still fit. The reader will recognize that’s where they were being led all along, but just didn’t know. If you can lead your reader to an ending they didn't see coming, only to realize that's where they were headed, you'll have delivered a story that stands head and shoulders above the rest. One of the best examples of this is Daphne du Maurier’s Don't Look Now. Read it if you haven’t, and you’ll see what I mean.

Understanding the key elements of a short story, and knowing how to use them will help you write a compelling story that engages your reader. Having a satisfying ending that catches your reader off guard will make it that much better. Not only will your reader not be able to stop thinking about your story, they’ll tell their friends and family to read it, too.

So what are you waiting for? Isn’t it time you got started?

Special thanks to Dr. Carrie MacMillan for her keen eye and suggestions for making this blog post better.

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