Don't Forget the Short Story

by Liz Rogers

Edgar Allan Poe wrote in his essay “Philosophy of Composition” that a literary work should be short enough to be read in one sitting, “for, if two sittings be required, the affairs of the world interfere,” and the story’s effect is ruined. Poe mastered the short story, and his works are still famous for their intrigue and literary value.

While longer works of course hold a significant place in the canon of literature, you shouldn’t forget the short story. The advantages of the short story extend beyond just being able to read it in one sitting.

A lot of critics debate what length defines a short story. Estimates range from no less than one thousand to no more than twenty thousand words. Some still use Poe’s definition, saying if you can read it all at once, then it is short enough. A good general guideline would be seven thousand words or less.

Normally, a short story makes its point by focusing its topic on character, plot, or theme. A short story has only so much space. Typically this means you should use only a few characters, a short period of time and few locations, and only one major point. A plot-based story concentrates on a problem and uses its space to achieve the resolution, while character-centered stories follow a change in your protagonist. A theme-centered story drives toward one key message.

Rather than being a weakness, however, the limitations of the short story strengthen it. Here’s your opportunity to delve into a character’s personality and motivations, a time to focus on a specific theme that you are burdened to talk about. Having a limited amount of space to tell your story forces you to conserve your words.

Try reading some well-known short stories and looking for how they use the limitations to their advantage. And then, of course, try it yourself!

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