Often, writers make the mistake of introducing completely new ideas in the conclusion. The conclusion should be about wrapping up what has already been presented in the story, not starting something new. Additionally, if the conclusion is too predictable, it can be a turn - off for readers. There should be some element of surprise or a new perspective on what has already occurred in the story to keep it interesting.
One common mistake is leaving the story unresolved. Readers don't like to be left hanging, wondering what happened to the characters or the situation. Another is having a conclusion that is too abrupt, like just stopping the story without any proper wrapping up.
One common mistake is a rushed ending. When the writer suddenly wraps up the story without properly developing the conclusion. For example, in a story about a long - journey adventure, if it just ends with 'And then they got home and the end', it feels too abrupt. There should be more reflection on the journey or how the characters have changed.
One common mistake is having too many characters. It can make the story confusing. Another is a weak plot. If there's no clear conflict or resolution, the story won't be engaging. Also, over - explaining can be a problem. Let the reader figure some things out on their own.
One common mistake is ending too abruptly without resolving the main conflict. It leaves the reader feeling unsatisfied, as if they've been cut off in the middle of something important.
One common mistake is making it too long. A short story in a cover letter should be, well, short. If it goes on for pages, it loses its impact. Another mistake is being off - topic. The story has to be related to the job. For example, if it's for a teaching job, don't tell a story about your adventures in mountain climbing unless you can somehow relate it to teaching skills. Also, being too vague in the story. You need to be specific about the actions you took and the results you achieved.
One common mistake is forgetting to include the author's name correctly. Another is getting the title formatting wrong, like using the wrong type of punctuation or capitalization. Also, not including the full publication details such as the publisher and year is a big error. Sometimes people might also forget to mention if the short story is part of a collection.
A frequent error in MLA citing of a short story is messing up the order of elements. For instance, starting with the title instead of the author's name. Omitting the publisher or the publication year is also quite common. And when it comes to short stories in collections, some people don't clearly distinguish between the short story title and the collection title. They might not italicize the collection title or put the wrong title in italics. Also, inaccurate page numbering can cause problems for those trying to locate the specific short story within a larger work.
One big no-no is having a confusing plot. Make sure your story flows logically and readers can follow easily.
Another frequent issue is using wrong words or misspellings. This can make the story confusing for readers. Also, poor punctuation can affect the meaning and flow of the text.
One common mistake is forgetting to include the author's name. It's essential as it gives credit to the creator of the short story. Another error is getting the title wrong or not putting it in the correct format, like not using quotation marks for the title. Also, some people might not mention the source accurately, for example, leaving out the publisher's name when citing from a book collection.
One common mistake is including too much detail. Remember, it's a summary, not a retelling. Another is failing to identify the main theme or message. For example, if the short story is about friendship but the summary doesn't mention how the characters' friendship developed or what it means, that's a problem.