Short Story Structure

The biggest mistake that newbie writers make when telling their short story is trying to invent their own structure. Short stories have been around ever since man has had the ability to form a coherent thought and short story structure has remained the same. New writers might think they have the gumption to reinvent the short story but the truth is that you will probably not be happy with the result.

Every short story must have a theme. Themes are the silent motor driving the entire show. For an example of a theme consider Moby Dick. This wonderful work of fiction is not about hunting whales, although that is where most of the book takes place. Moby dick is about mans lust for revenge. Revenge is the theme of that story.

Once you have established a theme it is time to try to make some conflict. A story without conflict is not a story at all, more of a bizarre exercise for the writers' consciousness then anything else. Conflict consists of a problem that the hero needs to solve. The story is based around how the hero tries to solve the problem. Whether or not the hero succeeds or fails , and what implications that has for your universe is all up to you.

There are many different types of conflict available for you to explore.

Man vs. Man- Conflict between different people. It can be between man and a man or a child or any type of person.

Man vs. Nature- People facing extreme odds against the natural environment. Mountain climbers facing a storm are an example.

Man vs. Self- This is a very attractive option for most people because everyone has struggled with there self at some time. However it takes a real talent to make these stories's work so my recommendation is for new writers to stay away from this type of story.

Man vs. Society- A person facing tremendous pressure and consequences from a larger group of people.

Man Vs. Machine- Mostly taking place in sci fi type movies, these stories pits a person against a heartless machine.

Pick your conflict, it might be a combination of the two but you have to have some conflict in your story. So many new writers will write stories that don't have any conflict what so ever.

When you begin writing your story, don't be afraid to throw out the beginning. Kurt Vonnegut said to throw away the first three chapters of a book. The first three chapters are for you not for the reader. Applied to a short story, you might need some writing time to be adjusted your characters without necessarily including it in the story

Writing a short story can be extremely fun and rewarding but you have to make sure that you don't fall into any newbie clichés.

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