by Marilla Mulwane

Created on: November 16, 2009

It is certainly a lot faster to write a short story than it is to write a full-length novel. You do not have to do a lot of research. There is no need for multiple outlines and re-writes. A full-length novel not only needs those things, but it could take months or even years to complete a novel.

However, just because writing a short story is faster, does not make it easier.

-You have little time to introduce your characters-

In a short story you need to get the point quickly or risk writing a novella. You cannot spend chapters introducing your characters. Their personality is an important part of the story. It shows the reader why the characters act they way the do throughout the story, why they react the way they do during the crisis they face. Without that, your readers feel no connection to the characters and will not feel for them, or hate them if that is your goal.

Because a short story is so, well, short, you have very little space to make your readers love or hate your characters.

-You have little time to set the scene-

Similar to introducing characters, the scene of the story is incredibly important. Especially if it plays an integral part in the storyline itself. Your readers need to see it in their mind, and they need to connect to it like they connect to the characters. Not only that, but the scene of the story sets the mood. Is it a happy place? A frightening place? You need describe it in a very short space so that you can get right into the tale.

-The action is the entire story-

In a short story, there is little time for foreshadowing, for setting up the big crisis, the climax of the story. Because of that, almost the entire story is the heavy action, the climax. You have to write an interesting, thought provoking, or edge of your seat tale right from the beginning. And you have to do it without setting up your readers. Not every writer has the ability to just jump right into the action and keep their readers reading.

-The ending needs to be a punchline-

If you drag out the ending of a short story, tying up all the loose ends, the story will drag on too long. You, again, risk writing a novella. Short stories tend to end abruptly, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. At the same time, it still has to be an ending. You cannot create a cliffhanger and expect to have a satisfied reader. Although some questions will be left unanswered, the main part of the story needs to have a period.

Many writers have no trouble with short stories and can type them out within hours. They like that they do not need to thoroughly develop their characters, or even worry about all the details. They can simply write an intriguing story without all the fuss of a full-length novel. Although writing a short story might not be as easy as writing a full-length novel, it is certainly wonderful writing practice and takes a lot of talent and hard work.

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