What are some characteristics of surprise endings in super short stories?

Use foreshadowing subtly. Drop small hints throughout the story that can be overlooked at first but make sense when the surprise ending is revealed. For example, if the ending is that a character is a time - traveler, you could have a few strange references to historical events in their speech earlier.

The types of surprise endings in short stories include the reversal ending. This is when the situation or the nature of a character is reversed. For example, a poor man who was always looked down upon suddenly becomes the most powerful person in the story. Another type is the dream - or - illusion ending. The whole story might seem real until the end when it is revealed that it was all a dream or an illusion. And the last type could be the false - hope ending. The story builds up hope for the characters or the situation, but at the end, it all crashes down, leaving the reader surprised.

"Five Extremes of the Origin","Our Love Is Hard to Turn White", and "A Collection of Strange Tales and Inferences in the City" all had unexpected endings. Among them, the former was a fantasy novel with a bizarre protagonist and a story full of surprises; the second was a short story with an unexpected and gentle ending; and the third was a mystery detective novel with an enjoyable ending. I hope you like this fairy's recommendation. Muah ~😗

One characteristic is the unexpected ending. It catches the reader off - guard, like in many Edgar Allan Poe short stories.

One characteristic is misdirection. The author often leads the reader to expect one thing throughout most of the story. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the reader is following the couple's attempts to get nice gifts for each other without realizing that their efforts will be ironically thwarted. Another characteristic is the sudden revelation. In 'The Necklace', the truth about the necklace being fake comes out of nowhere at the end, completely changing the reader's perception of the story. Also, these stories usually build up tension. In 'The Cask of Amontillado', as Fortunato is led deeper into the catacombs, the sense of unease and tension grows until the final, horrible ending.

Look for sudden changes in the plot. If the direction of the story takes an unexpected turn near the end, it could be a twist ending. Also, pay attention to the revelation of new information. If something crucial is disclosed at the end that alters the whole understanding of the story, it might be a revelation - type surprise ending.

In literature short stories, happy endings often bring a sense of closure and satisfaction. They usually resolve the main conflicts in a positive way. For example, in a love - themed short story, the two characters who were facing various obstacles finally get together. It gives the reader a warm and pleasant feeling, leaving them with a positive impression of the story.

They are concise. Usually, they can convey the humor in just a few sentences. For example, 'I'm reading a book about anti - gravity. It's impossible to put down.' This short story uses a play on words to create humor in a very brief way.

They often involve intense attraction between characters. For example, the characters might be drawn to each other physically and emotionally in a very quick and powerful way.

They are concise. For example, 'A child heard a strange giggle in the attic. When he looked up, two red eyes stared back. Just a few words but very chilling.