Short Story tips = Short Film scripts?

Short stories are a unique form of storytelling that can capture a reader's attention in a matter of minutes. Let’s explore what makes a good short story, according to the wisdom of some of the greatest writers of all time. Maybe some of their choices are worth using for short-form cinematic storytelling.

Kurt Vonnegut famously said, "Start as close to the end as possible." This means that you should avoid unnecessary exposition and get right to the heart of the story. This can create a sense of urgency and momentum that will keep the audience engaged from the very beginning.

Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants," begins with a couple discussing a difficult decision. The reader is immediately drawn into the story and curious about what will happen next.

Raymond Carver's "Cathedral," begins with the narrator's wife inviting an old friend to visit. The reader immediately senses tension between the characters and is drawn into the story.

James Joyce's "Araby," begins with the narrator's description of his mundane life. The reader is immediately intrigued by the sense of longing and desire that permeates the story.

In a short story, you don't have much space to develop multiple characters. Instead, focus on creating a well-developed main character who the reader can relate to and empathize with. The character should be relatable and have a clear motivation that drives their actions.

In Jhumpa Lahiri's short story "Interpreter of Maladies," the main character is a young interpreter who is struggling with her own identity. The reader can relate to her struggles and understand her motivations.

In James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues," the main character is a jazz musician struggling with addiction. The reader can empathize with his struggle and understand his desire to escape through music.

In Alice Munro's "Runaway," a young woman is trying to escape her mundane life. The reader can relate to her desire for adventure and her struggles with relationships.

Telling the story through first-person narration can be a powerful way to create an intimate connection between the reader and the main character. It allows the reader to experience the story through the character's eyes and understand their thoughts and emotions.

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," the story is told through the eyes of a woman who is struggling with postpartum depression. The reader can empathize with her struggles and understand her descent into madness.

Junot Diaz's "Fiesta, 1980," is told through the eyes of a young boy struggling with his parent's dysfunctional relationship. The reader can understand his confusion and frustration as he tries to make sense of his family's problems.

Tobias Wolff's "Bullet in the Brain," is told through the eyes of a man who is shot in the head. The reader can experience his memories and emotions as he faces death.

In a short story, every sentence must do one of two things: reveal more about the character or advance the action. Use dialogue, description, and action to reveal the character's thoughts, emotions, and motivations. At the same time, the story must forward, with each action leading to the next.

In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," the actions of the characters reveal their true nature and motivations. The reader can understand the characters' desires and beliefs through their actions and reactions.

In Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find," the dialogue and actions of the characters reveal their true nature and motivations. The reader can understand the characters' beliefs and values through their interactions with each other.

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," the actions of the main character reveal his descent into madness. The reader can understand his motivations and emotions through his actions and thoughts.

A good short story should have a single mood that permeates every aspect of the story. This should be established early on and build throughout the story, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," the mood is anticipation and excitement. The reader can feel the main character's liberation and joy as she realizes she is free from her oppressive marriage.

In William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," the mood is one of sadness and despair. The reader can feel the main character's isolation and loneliness as she struggles to cope with the changes in her life.

In Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings," the mood is wonder and curiosity. The reader can feel the characters' amazement and fascination as they encounter the mysterious old man.

A good short story should have a satisfying ending that either reveals a twist or changes the reader's understanding of the story and the main character's motivations.

Roald Dahl's "Lamb to the Slaughter," ends with a twist that completely changes the reader's understanding of the story and the main character's motivations.

Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace," ends with a twist that reveals the true nature of the main character and the consequences of her actions.

Anton Chekhov's "The Lady with the Dog," ends with a conversation between the main characters that reveals their feelings and motivations, leaving the reader with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, "Find the key emotion; this may be all you need." In a short story, it's important to identify the primary emotion that drives the character and the story. This emotion should be present in every aspect, from the setting to the dialogue to the actions of the characters.

In James Joyce's "The Dead," the key emotion is nostalgia. The reader can feel the main character's longing for the past and his sense of loss as he realizes that he can never recapture what he has lost.

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," the key emotion is fear. The reader can feel the main character's terror and uncertainty as he confronts the dark side of humanity.

In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the key emotion is revenge. The reader can feel the main character's desire for vengeance and the satisfaction he feels as he carries out his plan.

Beyond the value of experiencing great storytelling, scribblers should consider reading short stories to analyze the techniques used by successful prose writers.