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Printed from https://shop.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: NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon
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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 NaNoNette Author Icon, and I will be your guest editor for this newsletter.


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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 Open in new Window. (18+)
Is it the beginning of the end?
#1986252 by Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1986228 by Not Available.

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

 With This Ring Open in new Window. (18+)
Cramp prompt: an off-the-wall object changes bad luck to good.
#1986062 by Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon

 
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The Flying Funk Open in new Window. (13+)
Toss it for good luck.
#1986055 by Jatog the Green Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1958864 by Not Available.

The Death of Ti-Jack Fontenot Open in new Window. (13+)
The eccentric last wishes of a simple man.
#1982551 by R.B. Cole Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1984448 by Not Available.

Charley's Story Open in new Window. (E)
This is a story about the people we would rather not see.
#1277087 by tYpO/T.Boilerman Author IconMail Icon

 
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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 Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1873271 by Not Available.

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The Humorous Short Story Contest Open in new Window. (18+)
Fiction, non-fiction, old, or new entries ~ Next Round TBA ~
#1983164 by Lornda Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1817635 by Not Available.

Sensual Fantasy Open in new Window. (18+)
Fantasy/Erotica Short Story Contest for those who love to love mystical creatures.
#1511345 by Christine Author IconMail Icon

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The Pressure Valve - closed for now. Open in new Window. (13+)
The SteamPunk Authors Guild's short story contest.
#1778153 by CeruleanSon Author IconMail Icon



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