Like the basics of a house, all short stories have a basic blueprint.   This blueprint begins with four basic story elements:


Your setting is the time and place of your story.  It can be really fun to place your story in an unusual place, but sometimes placing an unusual story in a familiar place can provide a unique effect.  

Mood is the general feeling of a piece.  It might be a humorous (funny) mood; it might be scary; it might be romantic.  You have all kinds of choices.  Just remember, the setting details should help to create this mood.  





Characters are the people, animals or objects who "come alive" in your story.  Characters are created by telling us:

Physical Appearance-what your character looks like

Speech and Actions-what your character says and does AND how she/he says and does these things

Thoughts and Feelings

Interaction-How your character interacts with others AND how others interact with your character

©2001Jeanne Carley/The Ferret Company
Used with permission.

                                                                                                                       ©2001Jeanne Carley/The Ferret Company

PvP-Person vs. Person (character vs. character)-two or more characters have a problem with each other

PvS-Person vs. Self (character vs. self)-a character is having an internal struggle dealing with some sort of personal problem he/she has to resolve

PvN-Person vs. Nature (character vs. nature)-a character or characters are struggling with a natural force--weather, animals, etc.

So there you have it, the four basic parts of a short story.  The biggest thing is to remember that the story has to build.  This is where the plot line become so important.




A plot line provides us with that basic blueprint.  Using a plot line to begin can be very helpful.  



                                                                                       CLIMAX

                                                                                 n                          F
                                                                              o                         A   a
                                                                           i                               c   l
                                                                        t                                    t    l
                                                                    c                                         i      i
                                                                A                                             o      n
                                                            g                                                    n      g  
                                                        n
                                                    i                                                                    Resolution
                                                s
                                           i
                                      R                                                                                                    Denouement
                          Conflict
               Characters
        Mood
Setting

Make the action "rise" by adding suspense and excitement.  Do this to a point called the CLIMAX.  This is when the story is most exciting and your readers are desperate to know what happens.  After that, you can end with the falling action.  During that part, the conflict comes to an end (resolution) and if you want, you can tie up the loose ends (denouement).