The realism in Ring Lardner's best short stories stands out. He presents real - life situations and people without much embellishment. This makes his stories feel genuine and accessible.
His ability to tell a story within a relatively short space is another factor. He gets to the heart of the matter quickly, engaging the reader right from the start. In his stories, every word seems to count towards building the overall narrative.
Ring Lardner's best short stories are known for their vivid character portrayals. His writing often captures the essence of the American everyman. For example, in some of his stories, he delves into the lives of ordinary people, showing their hopes, dreams, and disappointments. The use of dialogue in his works is also quite remarkable, making the characters seem real and relatable.
His short stories frequently touch on themes related to class differences. He portrays how people from different social classes interact and the misunderstandings that can occur. There are also themes of love and loss, but not in a very sentimental way. Instead, it's more about how people cope with these emotions in a world that can be rather unforgiving. And he often shows how communication can break down between people, leading to all sorts of comical or tragic situations.
There are characters who are full of self - delusion. They think they are better or more important than they really are. And then there are the more sympathetic characters who are just trying to get by in a world that seems to be against them. There are also characters who are very talkative and through their dialogue, you can understand their personalities and motives better. For instance, a character might be a salesman who is always trying to sell his ideas as well as his products.
Ring Lardner wrote short stories with a focus on capturing real-life conversations and characters. He used simple and direct language to make the stories relatable.
Read a lot of Ring Lardner's works to understand his style. Then, focus on creating vivid characters and authentic dialogues.
Ring Lardner wrote a variety of short stories, including those with humorous and satirical elements that often focused on human foibles and social commentary.
The best LGBT short stories often stand out because they break down barriers. They give voice to experiences that were previously silenced. For example, they can show the unique challenges faced by LGBT individuals in a society that may not be fully accepting.
The best DFW short stories stand out because of his complex characters. They are often deeply flawed, multi - dimensional, and very relatable in their insecurities and struggles.
Emotional depth. The best student short stories often touch on deep emotions. Whether it's about friendship, family, or personal growth, if the story can make the reader feel something strongly, it has a better chance of being recognized as a great short story. It could be a story that makes you laugh, cry, or think deeply about a certain topic.
The ability to convey a complete and impactful story in a short span. They don't waste words but still manage to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Some of the best CXC short stories start with a hook that grabs the reader's attention immediately, then they build up the plot and end with a satisfying or thought - provoking conclusion. This efficient use of narrative structure is what makes them shine.