What are the characteristics of best surprise ending short stories?

Another one is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. A woman borrows a diamond necklace from a friend to attend a ball. She loses it and spends years in poverty trying to pay off the debt she incurs replacing it. In the end, she discovers that the original necklace was actually a fake. It's a shocking ending that makes you re - evaluate the whole story.

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

They often make you think deeper. In a surprise ending story, like 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, where the lottery turns out to be a brutal stoning event, it forces you to consider the hidden meanings and the darkness that can lurk beneath seemingly normal situations. It's not just about the shock, but also about the new perspectives it offers.

One characteristic is that they are concise yet impactful. Since super short stories have limited space, the surprise ending has to be delivered quickly. It might involve a sudden revelation of a character's true identity or a completely unexpected turn of events like in a story where a character is preparing for a normal day at work but ends up saving the world instead. It leaves the reader with a strong impression.

There is also 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. A Confederate sympathizer is about to be hanged at Owl Creek Bridge. As he is falling, he imagines escaping and making his way back home. But then, suddenly, we find out that his entire escape was just a brief hallucination in the moment before his death, which is a very surprising and somewhat cruel ending.

Well, they usually have strong character development. For example, in 'The Unplanned Family', the characters grow from being shocked about the pregnancy to fully embracing their new roles. Another characteristic is the emotional rollercoaster. These novels take you through all the feelings - from fear and uncertainty to love and excitement. Take 'Surprise Love, New Beginnings' for instance. The characters experience a wide range of emotions which makes the story very engaging.

In a small town, a detective named Sarah was looking into the disappearance of a young girl. All the evidence pointed to a local loner who lived on the outskirts of town. Sarah went to his house to question him. There were strange noises coming from the basement. When she opened the basement door, she expected to find the girl. Instead, she found a group of puppies that the loner had been hiding from an animal control officer who wanted to euthanize them. The real kidnapper was the girl's stepmother who wanted to get rid of her for the inheritance.

Start by laying the groundwork of a seemingly normal story. Build up characters and a plot that leads readers in one direction. Then, in the final moments, introduce an unexpected twist or reveal something that completely changes the perspective.

The best short short stories usually have a tight plot. Take 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' for instance. The events are carefully crafted to build suspense and surprise. They also tend to have well - drawn characters despite their brevity. In 'Hills Like White Elephants', the two main characters' personalities and relationship are subtly revealed through their dialogue. Moreover, they can often make a big impact with just a few words, like 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' which leaves you pondering long after reading.

They probably have engaging plots. Since they are short stories, they need to grab the reader's attention quickly. So, there could be unexpected twists and turns, like in a mystery - themed story where the solution is not what you initially expect. In addition, the use of vivid language is common. With limited space, the authors need to create a vivid world. They might use unique descriptions of settings and characters to make them come alive in the reader's mind. This helps to make the short story memorable despite its brevity.