This week: What Makes A Short Story...Short Edited by: W.D.Wilcox  
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Writing a short story is like painting a picture on the head of a pin. And just getting everything to fit is - sometimes seems impossible. Writing a novel, though, is - has its own challenges of scope. And I think of that as painting a mural, where the challenge is that if you are close enough to work on it, you're too close to see the whole thing.
-Rebecca Makkai
To me, art and storytelling serve primal, spiritual functions in my daily life. Whether I'm telling a bedtime story to my kids or trying to make a movie or write a short story or a novel, I take it very seriously.
-Guillermo del Toro
Certain of Poe's tales possess an almost absolute perfection of artistic form which makes them veritable beacon-lights in the province of the short story.
-H. P. Lovecraft
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How To Write A Short Story
I love to write short stories. And doing so, I began to understand what short stories are all about. As usual, they begin with a strong opening that captures the reader's attention. A strong beginning is as important as the ending. Abandon paragraphs of heavy description that don't pertain to the atmosphere of the story. The character description is good, but consider condensing it. The main thing to focus on is the actual story. Show what is happening with as little as you can.
Writing a fifty-word story is good practice. You cut all the fat out and concentrate on what you are trying to say. Here's a good example:
The Wall
The gunshots faded.
The woman sagged against the man behind her, not unconscious, but simply used up.
"Are you all right?"
"Fine," she said, wiping her eyes. "It's not gonna hurt, is it?"
"Naw...just don't look." The lie showed on his face.
"You're next," the soldier said.
She followed him to the bloodied wall.
" The Wall"
Try to use descriptive adjectives or descriptive verbs. This is essential when you've cut out most of the other descriptions. Doing this makes a short story enjoyable to read.
Finally, much like the beginning, your end is essential. Twist it, make it unexpected. This gives the reader something to think about. They walk away from your tale feeling they haven't wasted their time.
W.D.Wilcox
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Short Stories
Excerpt/ Drinking became his pastime. When you're drunk, you don't remember your life is screwed. And when you're passed out half the time, you don't keep regular hours. He'd sleep for days and then prowl around the grounds all night. No one cared. No one checked on him.
Excerpt/ Suddenly, he disappeared. How did he do this when I was looking at him, or did I blink? It seemed to be only a second, and he appeared again dressed in a suit which happened to be very bright and glowing green with some gold to accent the edges of his suit coat.
Excerpt/ Before I can answer your question, I must first give you some history of this little town. As I understand it from the old timers around here, this community was developed around the “I-Gotcha River.” This unique name came about years ago when two settlers were attempting to cross the river. One fell into the river, and the other ran along the shore until he could grab onto his partner's leg, yelling at the top of his voice, “I GOTCHA!!!” The name just stayed with the settlers.
Excerpt/ Frederick planted his feet and braced his quivering legs as he pressed his back against the door, trying to muster one last burst of confidence, but all he got was despair.
Excerpt/ Underneath a sky painted with the hues of sunset, Anna was a free-spirited hippy whose bohemian soul longed for the view of distant countries. Her path began in the rustic town of Boseman, Montana, where the lush fields stretched to the horizon and the mountains kissed the heavens.
Excerpt/ Tilley took him everywhere with her tied to a string, and he'd follow her closely, floating just out of arm's length with his big white head bobbing up and down.
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Answers & Questions
Joy 
Great NL! I like all four options, depending on how the writer utilizes them. When I'm reading a story, I enjoy the unexpected. Writing them, though, that's another story. 
dragonwoman 
I try my best to give my short stories twists, especially the flash.
S 🤦
Yes, a few of mine do. I admit to doing the O.Henry thing when I was younger, but horror twists (which is when I tend to use it) work better as naturally evolving twists, though plot-line twists are something else I drift towards...
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Short Stories: June 11, 2025 Issue [#13170]
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