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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/6263-Defining-the-Short-Story.html
Short Stories: April 16, 2014 Issue [#6263]

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Short Stories


 This week: Defining the Short Story
  Edited by: Aennaytte: Free & Wild in GoT
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hello short story writers and readers. I am Aennaytte: Free & Wild in GoT , and I will be your guest editor for this newsletter.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor


Defining the Short Story


How do I know when my story is a short story?


Length Short stories have no set word count to differentiate between anecdote, short story, or novel. Edgar Allan Poe said a reader should be able to read a short story in one sitting. Considering the differences between his era and ours, his definition of "one sitting" is not very likely to equal that of a twenty first century contemporary. A rule of thumb is that stories with fewer than 1,000 words are flash fiction and stories with more than 20,000 words are more likely to be called novellas. The word count for a short story will often be limited by publishing houses as in the case of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, which requires short stories to have no more than 7,500 words. On Writing.Com, the length of a short story will sometimes be defined by a contest host.

Plot A short story focuses on one self-contained event that is meant to create a specific mood or effect in the reader. Where anecdotes will reflect on a scene and a novel might have several plot lines weaving together, the short story is more straight forward in its plot development. What the plot is, however, is defined by the author. There is no one incident or plot line or even genre that defines short stories.

Characters The cast in a short story should be small with named characters.

History Short stories were the logical follow up to oral story telling traditions. The Brothers Grimm wrote down all the fairy tales they were able to track down and created a body of work with 200 folk tales and 11 legends, but none of those were from their imagination. The same is true of any collection of folk tales from all over the world. In the 17th century, short stories emerged as their own narratives by authors writing from their imaginations.

Why should you write short stories?
*Bulletb* Use it as writing practice.
*Bulletb* Write them to have fun with a single-plot narrative.
*Bulletb* Create a backstory, prequel, or aftermath for one of your novels.
*Bulletb* Explore an event in the life of one of your favorite characters.
*Bulletb* Reveal a subplot that would have weighed down a novel, but will interesting to your fans in short story form.



Editor's Picks

 Night of the Blood Moon  (18+)
Is it the beginning of the end?
#1986252 by Prosperous Snow celebrating

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1986228 by Not Available.

 Lucky Item Indeed  (E)
Contest Entry: Everyday is bad luck. charact finds off-the-wall object changes luck good.
#1986079 by Dobie Mom

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1986062 by Not Available.

 
STATIC
The Flying Funk  (13+)
Toss it for good luck.
#1986055 by Jatog the Green

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1958864 by Not Available.

The Death of Ti-Jack Fontenot  (13+)
The eccentric last wishes of a simple man.
#1982551 by R.B. Cole

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1984448 by Not Available.

Charley's Story  (E)
This is a story about the people we would rather not see.
#1277087 by tYpO/T.Boilerman

 
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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer

This was my first, but hopefully not my last Short Stories newsletter. Let me know how you liked this one by leaving a comment below.

Want to flex your short story muscles? Try your hand at these contests.
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1873271 by Not Available.

FORUM
The Humorous Short Story Contest  (18+)
Fiction, non-fiction, old, or new entries~ Next Round TBA
#1983164 by Lornda~ House of Martell ~

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1817635 by Not Available.

Sensual Fantasy  (18+)
Fantasy/Erotica Short Story Contest for those who love to love mystical creatures.
#1511345 by Christine

FORUM
The Pressure Valve - closed for now.  (13+)
The SteamPunk Authors Guild's short story contest.
#1778153 by CeruleanSon



*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

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