How to make a short story

How to make a short story

Believe it or not, micro-stories, because they are so short, they are quite difficult to write. Condensing the idea in a few sentences, even in one, is not easy at all. But always some tricks that can come in handy. Do you want to know how to make a short story?

If you have seen a short story contest or would like to get started in this type of literary genre, then we are going to tell you everything you need to know about them.

What is a short story

What is a short story

Let's start with the first. And that is to define what is meant as a short story. According to the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) It's a "very short story". A somewhat longer explanation is that of Vall, who says as follows:

«The short story is not a prose poem, nor a fable nor a story, although it shares some characteristics with this type of text, but a very short narrative text that tells a story, in which conciseness, suggestion and extreme precision of language must prevail, often at the service of a paradoxical and surprising plot».

In other words, we are talking about a very short narrative in which a story or story is framed in a very condensed way.

Characteristics of the short stories

Characteristics of the short stories

From the above, we can draw several characteristics that we should take into account. These are:

  • Brevity. In the sense that a short story is so short that it is usually between five and two hundred words. No more.
  • It is not a narrative genre. In fact, he has a little bit of several. On the one hand, poetry, on the other, other literary genres. And it is that it is "free" to be classified in only one, since you can find micro-stories of many types.
  • condense the story. Do you remember that a story must have a beginning, middle and end? Well, that is what we find in a short story. Although we are talking about texts that can contain just five words, the complete story will be in all of them. That is why it is so difficult to do.
  • Count the essentials. That is to say, that it does not go around the bush but goes as precisely as possible to narrate the most important thing so that words are not wasted along the way.
  • use ellipses. In the sense that, when they are too young, they cannot tell a story with a fixed structure, but they usually go to the climax or the outcome of that knot that took place before being narrated but to which they are referred.

Tips on how to write a short story

Tips on how to write a short story

Now yes, we are going to dedicate the rest of the article to help you make a micro-story "as it really has to be". Of course, since it is such a condensed text and must express everything in a few words, it is not easy to achieve, and our greatest recommendation is that you practice it a lot until you get that the texts that come out are good. And just practice? No, you should also read other short stories to see how other writers do it (and improve their technique).

Having said that, shall we tell you how to make a short story?

Tricks to make a short story

Now that you know what a micro-story is and what you have to focus on, it's time to give you some tricks to make a micro-story. Of course, keep in mind that the first ones that come out are not going to be very good, but with practice you will improve and, who knows, maybe they will start to notice you.

First of all, brevity

As we have told you before, a short story does not have a specific length of words, but it is said that, if it exceeds 200, it is no longer considered as such. Therefore, it is important that you be as brief as possible to tell that story.

Look for the genres in which you feel most comfortable

Actually, you could even use several at once. Being a "different" literature, that allows you do not pigeonhole yourself into a narrative genre, but to be free to try what you feel best about.

For example, a horror story that ends with a lot of laughter. Or one of laughter that ends in drama.

Summarize, summarize and summarize

A trick that many writers do, especially at the beginning, is to unleash their creativity and write unlimited pages or words. And then when you do it again, summarize that story.

In other words, they have told the story as they wanted. But then what they do is make a summary of that original story. If it is too long, it is summarized again until we only have that "tip of the iceberg" that would be the micro-story.

Ellipse

Ellipses are one of the most used resources because allow you to skip the structure of a beginning, middle and end going only to what matters, which can be the action (knot) or even the outcome.

Use the twists

The best short stories you can read are full of twist endings that make all of the above make sense and, at the same time, that you do not expect it.

If you achieve that, you will be able to captivate the reader, especially those who "drink books", that is, those who read a lot. Because that way you will get more impact.

Use data that is already known

It's a little trick that many use and do so as not to have to write anything other than what interests them. As the readers, when referring to the case, will know what the author is referring to, he will not have to explain but go to what his story would be.

Of course, it is not convenient to spend too much because it can give an image of little creativity if you do not handle it well.

limit your creativity

Be careful, we are not saying that you focus on just the words you have to have. But rather in the resources that you are going to use. Specifically:

  • Characters: use only one, two. Never use more than three because you will not be able to apply it with ease.
  • Places: one. Two at the most. In the extension of the short stories there is no room for much more.
  • Time: this does have to be very short, be it a day, a few hours, minutes or even seconds.

In addition to all those tricks that we have given you, there is one that you should always keep in mind: Practice. Only in this way will you be able to be a master of micro-stories and each time you will jump steps until you are one of the best in making micro-stories. Are you excited about it?


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