How to write a short story? Do you want to become a famous author just as Ray Bradbury? Follow these tips and your career will know no bounds!

Definition: A short story can be read in one sitting or in about two hours and enables you to concentrate on a certain topic (Length:  5-20 pages).

Five Elements of a Short Story:

1. Setting: time and location in which a story takes place.

> Where? , When? , What? , Who?

Also pay attention to: weather conditions, social conditions as well as mood or atmosphere!

2. Plot: the way the author arranges events to develop his basic ideas, meaning the sequence of events in a story or play.

> Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement.

3. Conflict: essential to the plot: Without a conflict there is no plot!

> Two types of conflict: External or Internal.

> Four kinds of conflict: Man vs. Man (physical), Man vs. Circumstances (classical), Man vs. Society (social), Man vs. Himself/ Herself (psychological).

4. Theme: controlling idea or central insight in a piece of fiction. Underlying meaning or main idea the author is trying to convey.

Hint: The title of the short story usually points to what the writer is saying! Take notice of stylistic devices carefully as well!

5. Character: People in a work of fiction: Antagonist and Protagonist.

Note: Short stories use few characters. One character is central to the story with all mayor events having some importance to this character - he/she is the PROTAGONIST. The opposite of the main character is called the ANTAGONIST.

> The Characteristics of a Person: To make a story seem real its characters must seem real! Characterisation is the information the author gives about the characters themselves: what he says/ thinks/ does/ what is said about him by other characters and the narrator/ an author’s direct statement.

Characters are Individual (round), Developing (dynamic) or Static (stereotype).

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