Funny six - word short stories are usually relatable too. Consider 'Tried yoga. Fell on cat.' Many people can relate to trying a new activity and having something go wrong in a comical way. The image of falling on a cat during yoga is both unexpected and something that could easily happen in a household with a cat, which makes it humorous.
They are concise. For example, 'Bought dress. It had pockets.' Just six words but it's funny because having pockets in a dress is a small but delightful surprise.
Phone rang. It was a wrong number. This is a simple but relatable six - word story. We've all experienced getting calls from the wrong numbers, and it can be quite annoying or even a bit comical depending on how you look at it.
Sure. 'Dog ate homework. Teacher smiled.'
Here are a few. 'Lost keys. New start found.' This story implies that losing keys led to a new opportunity or a new chapter in someone's life. Another could be 'Met her. Heart still flutters.' which simply shows that meeting a particular person had a lasting impact on the narrator's emotions.
Keep it simple. Focus on one key moment or emotion. For example, 'Love lost. World turned gray.' Just capture that essence.
Character development can be quite rapid yet effective in these short stories. The writer has to show the essence of a character in just a few paragraphs. Take 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' for example. The way the villagers' characters are revealed through their actions towards the old man is very efficient. And the endings are often quite punchy, leaving the reader with something to think about long after reading.
One characteristic is that they can be quite focused. For example, they often have a single main plot or theme. They don't have the luxury of meandering like a long novel.
3000 - word short stories often have a well - defined structure. There's an introduction that sets the scene and introduces the characters. Then a middle part where the conflict builds and develops. And finally a conclusion that resolves the story in some way. They also tend to use more detailed descriptions. Since there's more space, the author can paint a vivid picture of the setting, like describing an old, spooky mansion in great detail.