The best anonymous short stories usually have vivid characters. Even without a named author, the characters are well - developed and feel real. They can be ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Mystery is also a common feature. Take the story where a person finds a hidden passage in their old house. It keeps the reader guessing. Moreover, these stories are often concise. They can convey a powerful message in just a few pages, not wasting words on unnecessary details.
One characteristic is simplicity. They often have a straightforward plot that can be easily understood. For example, many anonymous short stories focus on a single event or a short period in a character's life. Another characteristic is universality. They deal with emotions and situations that most people can relate to, like love, loss, or friendship. For instance, in the story 'The Gift of the Magi', the love between the couple is a universal feeling. Also, they tend to have a strong moral or lesson at the end, which makes the reader reflect on their own life.
One characteristic is the sense of mystery. Since the author is anonymous, it adds an air of intrigue. The stories can often be more experimental as the author might be less worried about reputation.
One great anonymous short story is 'The Gift of the Magi'. It's a beautiful story about a young couple who are very poor but deeply in love. Each sacrifices their most precious possession to buy a gift for the other, only to find out that their sacrifices have made their gifts seemingly useless yet full of love. Another could be 'The Necklace'. It tells the tale of a woman who borrows a necklace to appear wealthy at a party, loses it, and spends years in poverty trying to replace it, only to discover in the end that the original necklace was fake.
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.
The short stories in 'best 2019 short stories' may also be known for their ability to evoke strong emotions in a limited number of words. They can make you feel joy, sadness, or surprise in just a few pages. Take a story about a child's first encounter with loss. It can be so poignant that it stays with you long after you've finished reading, even though it's a short piece.
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.
Snapchat is a good platform. It has features where users can post stories with different privacy settings, and some of these can be considered anonymous in a sense. Instagram also offers opportunities to view stories that may have limited visibility or anonymous - like features. Another platform could be Reddit. There are various subreddits where users can anonymously share their experiences in a story - like format, and others can view and engage with them.
There are several apps that are good for watching anonymous stories. Yik Yak is one of them. It allows users to post and view anonymous content within a local community. However, it's important to note that the content can be a mixed bag, so you need to be discerning. Then there's Sarahah, which was popular for a while for receiving and viewing anonymous messages and stories. But like any platform, it has its own set of pros and cons. Overall, it's a matter of finding the app that suits your interests and also adheres to ethical and safety standards.
There could be an anonymous short story where a lonely artist finds a magical paintbrush in an old attic. With this paintbrush, every stroke creates a living scene. He uses it to bring beauty to the drab city around him, but also has to face the envy of other artists who try to steal the paintbrush.
The 10 best short stories often have a unique narrative voice. In 'Hills Like White Elephants', Hemingway's sparse style gives the story a certain tension. They also tend to be very focused. 'The Necklace' focuses on the consequences of one woman's pride and it doesn't deviate from that central idea. Moreover, they can create a strong emotional impact in a short amount of time. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' manages to evoke feelings of claustrophobia and madness in a relatively brief story.
The 5 best short stories often have strong characters. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the couple's selfless love makes them memorable. They also usually have a clear theme. In 'The Lottery', the theme of blind tradition is very prominent. And most of them have a unique plot structure, like 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' which has a twist at the end.