Well, one characteristic is a tight narrative structure. There's no room for rambling in a 1000 - word short story. Take 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe. It has a simple yet effective structure of leading the victim into the catacombs for revenge. Another aspect is vivid description within a limited word count. In 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner, Faulkner manages to paint a picture of the reclusive Emily and her strange life with just enough detail. Also, it often contains a universal truth or emotion. 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London shows the power of nature and man's struggle against it, which is a relatable concept.
They are concise. Just six words can convey a whole story, like 'Goodbye, cruel world. Hello, abyss.' which gives a sense of despair in a very short form.
In a 45510 - word short story, there could be multiple sub - plots. It's not just a simple, straightforward narrative. The story might weave different plotlines together, creating a more intricate and engaging story. For example, it could have a main plot about a character's journey, and then sub - plots about their family relationships and their dreams.
A good 1000 word short story should have a clear plot. It doesn't have much space to waste, so it needs to get to the point quickly. For example, in 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, the plot of a woman borrowing a necklace and then losing it is straightforward.
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.
There's no one - size - fits - all answer. However, generally, a short story can range from about 1,500 to 30,000 words. For very short ones, like flash fiction, it could be as few as 500 words. If you're aiming for a traditional short story for a literary magazine, around 3,000 - 5,000 words is often a good target. It gives you enough space to develop characters, plot, and theme without getting too long - winded.
The best 5 - word stories are powerful in their simplicity. They can tell a complete story arc like 'Book. Read. Loved. Lost. Remember.' It has a beginning (picking up a book to read), a middle (loving the book), an end (losing the book) and a lingering sentiment (remembering it). They are like little snapshots of life, or a distilled essence of a larger narrative.
The best short story usually has well - developed characters. Even in a short space, the characters seem real and relatable. In 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor, the complex characters add depth to the story.
A best and short story often has a deep theme. It can make the reader think about important aspects of life. 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Guin is a short story that makes readers reflect on the concept of happiness and the price a society might pay for it. It uses a simple yet powerful narrative to explore this complex theme.