Short Story

Key Elements:

Theme:

Every short story must have a central theme. The theme should not be one word, rather a complete sentence, or a question to be answered by the story.

For example, instead of the theme being 'Love', it should be reframed to something like: "Love is not enough to sustain a relationship" or "Is Love dangerous when one experiences too much of it?"

This theme acts as a thesis statement for your short story to keep you focused. It suggests a plot in and of itself:

Element	Description
Exposition	Must have a character that finds themselves in a situation where they give too much love.
Conflict	Must have a character or thing that receives the love.
Rising Action	Must illustrate the effects of this dynamic.
Climax	Must show the consequences of the character's actions.
Falling Action and Resolution	Must provide a moral that amends or ends in acceptance of the damage done.

Further examples may look like:

• Nature → Is Nature is always a positive force in human lives?
• Freedom → Is Freedom worth fighting for?
• Loneliness → Loneliness is only experienceable when alone.

Plot:

• Clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Grab the reader's attention from the start.
• Introduce a conflict or dilemma in the middle.
• Build tension and suspense; use short sentences.
• Resolve the conflict at the climax.

Narrator:

• Most short stories are written in third person.
• First person can be used to give a personal touch.
• Use the personal pronoun 'I' for first person narration, or 'He/She/They" for third person narration
• Ensure consistency in tense use. If you start a story in past tense ensure it remains using the past tense form of verbs throughout. | 1st person present | 1st person past | 3rd person present | 3rd person past | |---|---|---|---| | I wake late the next morning. | I woke late the next morning. | She wakes late the next morning. | She woke late the next morning. | | I feel like crying, but instead I start to laugh | I felt like crying, but instead I started to laugh | Sam feels like crying, but instead he starts to laugh. | Sam felt like crying, but instead started to laugh. |

Setting:

• Decide on the time (past, present, future) and location.
• Create a specific atmosphere that suits the story.

Characters:

Reveal characters' personalities through their actions and dialogue.

• A quiet and shy character's dialogue may look like:
• "Sorry, I didn't know." She murmured under her breath, looking down at her feet.
• In contrast, an outgoing character's dialogue may look like:
• "Sorry, I didn't know!" She exclaimed, wincing and scratching the back of her head.

---

Structure of a Short Story:

Introduction:

• Setting the Scene:
  • Use vivid, clear language to describe the setting.
  • Sensory details: sights, sounds, smells.
  • Example: "The sun set over the village, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets."
• Introduce Characters:
  • Reveal what characters look like and their personalities.
  • Introduce the central character.
  • Example: "Will, practically drowning in his mottled cloak, flitted from one shadow to another. He didn't intend for anyone to see him."

Body:

• Develop the Plot:
  • Establish the conflict early.
  • Use dialogue to reveal characters' thoughts, feelings, and relationships.
  • Example: "'We need to leave,' Will whispered, her voice calm and steady despite the danger they were in. 'They're coming for us.'"
• Build Tension and Suspense:
  • Keep the reader engaged with short, impactful sentences.
  • Example: "Cassandra heard footsteps. Her heart raced. She had to hide."
• Maintain a Consistent Pace:
  • Ensure the story flows logically from one event to the next.
  • Example: "As the whole village was cast into twilight, their fear grew by the second."

Conclusion:

• Climax:
  • Resolve the main conflict.
  • This is the turning point for the main character.
  • Example: "Will shook off his fear and stood his ground, ready to face the mercenary that threatened the success of their entire assignment."
• Resolution:
  • Tie up loose ends and provide closure.
  • Example: "Dawn washed over Will and Cassandra. The rising sun glinted off the mercenary's dented armour as he was carried off by two of the castle guards into the dark, damp depths of the dungeon."

---

Additional Tips:

• Authenticity: Make characters and settings believable and relatable.
• Varied Sentence Structure: Use a mix of short and long sentences to maintain interest.
• Precision and Clarity: Be clear and precise in descriptions to create vivid imagery.

---

How to Plan a Short Story Composition:

2024 Paper 1: "Write a short story set among strangers on an eventful train journey"

• Theme: Friendship → The strongest friendships are forged in the hardest of times.
• Characters: 2 characters at most to highlight a relationship forged with a generational gap and mutual experience. | Element | Description | |---|---| | Exposition | A character that finds themselves in a situation where they are lonely but are 'forced' to interact with a stranger | | Conflict | The characters experience personal differences | | Rising Action | Must illustrate the effects of this dynamic in harmony with the environmental conflict (e.g. train breaking down, taking a wrong turn) | | Climax | Must show the consequences of the character's actions when under internal and external pressure | | Falling Action and Resolution | Must provide a moral that answers your own interpretation of the theme. |

---