Short Stories

What are short stories?

Short stories are narratives. Narratives have a plot, characters, setting, theme, and tone. Originally, short stories were passed on by word of mouth, as were narrative poems. These stories took the form of fables, myths, tales, and legends. Many of today’s fables, myths ,and legends were shared between cultures. Each group of people changes the stories to fit in their own culture.

The modem short story, longer than most myths, legends and fables, became more popular during the time North America was being settled by Europeans. The modem short story has a unified plot structure, limited character development, limited setting development, and unified narration. Most short stories are less than 15000 words in length.

Short stories may be fictional, or they may be based on fact and fiction. Ghost stories and science fiction are examples of short stories, which may have elements of fact and fiction. Ghost stories have existed much longer than science fiction. The developments in science and in technology have offered new settings and characters to present familiar conflicts and plots. The short story will continue to be a desirable form for writers because of its flexibility.