One of the best very short stories is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells the story of a young couple who are very poor but deeply in love. The wife cuts off her long hair to buy a chain for her husband's watch, while the husband sells his watch to buy combs for his wife's hair. It shows the selfless love and sacrifice in a relationship.
Another great one is 'A Clean, Well - Lighted Place' by Hemingway. It's set in a cafe at night and delves into themes of loneliness, old age, and the meaning of life. The two waiters discuss an old man who comes to the cafe regularly. One waiter is impatient, while the other has more empathy, and through their dialogue, Hemingway explores deeper human emotions.
The best markets for very very short stories include ezines such as 'Daily Science Fiction'. They are always on the lookout for short and engaging stories. Social media platforms can also be considered. For example, Twitter has a growing community of 'Twitterature' where people write and share very short stories. You can also look into self - publishing on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. You have full control over your very short story's publication and can potentially reach a global audience.
Often, they play with the reader's perception. The authors use misdirection to make the reader think one thing while the truth is something else entirely. This keeps the reader guessing until the very end, which is what makes these short mystery stories so engaging.
Very short short stories are often concise. They usually focus on one main idea or event. For example, they might tell a brief encounter between two people that reveals something about human nature in just a few sentences.
A cat went to the vet. The vet asked, 'Is this cat male or female?' The owner said, 'Well, I think it's male because he's lifting up his leg when he pees.' The vet said, 'Well, that's not necessarily true. My cat is female and she lifts her leg when she pees.' The owner replied, 'Oh. Well, why does your cat do that?' The vet said, 'She likes to show off she's been to the vet.' This is a light - hearted and funny story for kids with a bit of silly animal - related humor.
Sure. Here's one: A little boy was trying to move a big stone in his yard. His father asked him to use all his strength. The boy tried hard but couldn't. His father then said, 'You didn't use all your strength because you didn't ask me for help.' Moral: Sometimes we need to ask for help to achieve our goals.
One of the great short stories could be 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' which is often considered a classic in Tor short stories. It presents a thought - provoking scenario about a utopian society with a dark secret.
Well, some might include stories that deal with complex human emotions. For example, there could be stories about love and loss. But without actually reading through the collection in detail, it's hard to name specific ones.
One of the well - known ones is 'The Call of Cthulhu'. It's a classic that introduces the terrifying Cthulhu entity and its cult. The story builds a sense of dread through its descriptions of strange happenings and the discovery of ancient, otherworldly knowledge.
Well, 'The Lottery' could be one. It's a really thought - provoking short story that shows how blindly following traditions can lead to horror. Another might be 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' which is full of complex characters and moral ambiguity. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also great as it delves into the mental state of a woman in a very interesting and disturbing way.
Their brevity. Since they are short, they can be read quickly and are perfect for those with little time. For example, during a short commute or a break.