The short story has long been popular as a form of fiction. In recent years, flash fiction and micro fiction have attracted fans and readers. It is a literary form separate and distinct from novels, plays, and poetry.
Definition of Short Stories, Flash Fiction, and Micro Fiction
A short story is typically less than 10,000 words, with most publications asking for stories under 3,000. Flash fiction lowers the word count to between 500 and 1,000. Micro fiction, also called the short short story, has a top limit of 300 words.
With the decreasing word limit, it becomes increasingly difficult to create a coherent story. The author doesn’t have the luxury of spending a page or two describing a character or revealing motivation. There isn’t much room for introspection or feeling. Everything must be revealed through the writing adage, “Show, don’t tell.”
Just because it is short, doesn’t mean that it can be written quickly. Perhaps more than in longer forms of fiction, word choice is paramount. To get the exact feeling, impression, or word picture in the reader’s mind takes powerful wordsmithing. Many writers spend days and even weeks perfecting a short story for the desired impact.
Writing Short Story Tips
Even though these stories are extremely short, they still need to have a beginning, middle, and end. If they lack these elements, they become vignettes, or pictures, instead of stories. Every word must be deliberately chosen to enhance the story so all unnecessary words must be cut. Here are five techniques to pack a story into such a small word count.
- Choose a small story idea. When writing flash or micro fiction, the writer should focus on one small story idea like a scientist focuses a microscope on an object. There isn’t time for grand plots and subplots. One small problem, situation, or event will fill the story. A small story idea will have few characters as well. Flash fiction and micro fiction only needs a main character and one or two supporting characters.
- Start with action. There is no room in the word count for backstory, so beginning the narrative in the middle of the action will hook the reader, and also give the story forward momentum. Dialogue can be a good place to start, showing an important conversation or emotion.
- Raise a question that the reader will want answered. This needs to be done immediately, right at the beginning of the story. Readers of flash fiction want something to read quickly, therefore, they need to be invested in the story from the first line.
- Use one focal theme in the story. Since there is no room for subplots in micro or flash fiction, it should focus on one theme or feeling. This theme sets the mood. If the author uses one overall focal point or feeling, it will give the story continuity, instead of it being a disjointed account. The story will be a snapshot of an event in time, with all the parts fitting together.
- Make the ending a surprise. The ending is just as important as the beginning. The ending may be a twist, a surprise, or a shock. Whatever the author chooses, it should be something that the reader would agree was the logical thing to happen. Even when it’s a twist, it must make sense to the story. The ending should result in a pay off to the reader for sticking with the story all the way through. When the ending ties up loose threads, answers questions, and gives an impact, the reader will feel satisfied.
Short stories, flash fiction, and micro fiction are a distinct literary art form. Mastering the skills required for writing this style are different from other forms of fiction writing. Word choice and brevity are essential. Focusing on one small event is the hallmark of short stories.
For holiday themed short stories, see the article Writing Tips and Ideas for a Short Story with a Christmas Theme. Publishers begin looking for these stories as early as May. Check out this article to learn How to Submit a Manuscript to a Publisher. If it's going to be entered in a creative writing contest, be sure to read Benefits of Fiction Writing Contests.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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