Well, 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut is a great 20 - minute short story. It depicts a future society where everyone is made equal by handicapping the more intelligent, strong or beautiful people. Harrison Bergeron, a young man who refuses to be handicapped, rebels against this system. Also, 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Guin is a thought - provoking story. It describes a seemingly perfect city called Omelas, but there is a dark secret at its core, and some people choose to walk away from this so - called utopia when they learn of it.
Good 5 minute short stories are often concise yet impactful. They usually have a clear and engaging plot. For example, they might introduce a conflict right away. Also, they have well - developed characters in a short amount of time. Like in 'The Gift of the Magi', the two main characters' love and sacrifice are clearly shown in just a few pages.
The following is a three-minute story:
In a small town, there was a young man named John. He loved adventures and often dreamed of exploring every corner of the world. One day, he decided to go on an adventure to find a mysterious treasure.
He embarked on a long journey through many steep mountains and dangerous swamps. However, he did not find the treasure and lost many precious things. He had lost his friendship, his family, and his faith.
In the end, he returned to the small town and started his life anew. But he would never forget that unforgettable journey. He understood that life was not just about finding treasures, but about exploring those truly meaningful things and pursuing his dreams and goals.
This story tells us that the most important things in life are not wealth and treasures, but our lives and beliefs. We should explore the truly meaningful things and pursue our dreams and goals.
Another one is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. It's about a woman who borrows a diamond necklace for a ball, loses it, and then spends years in poverty trying to replace it. The story has a great twist at the end which makes it really interesting and thought - provoking. It can be read in about 30 minutes.
You can find good 5 - minute short stories in several places. One option is in short story collections at your local library. They often have anthologies dedicated to short works. Another place is online platforms like Wattpad, where many writers share their short stories. Some literary magazines also publish short stories.
Love is a common theme. In many short 10 - minute stories like 'The Gift of the Magi', the selfless love between the couple is shown as they are willing to sacrifice for each other. Another theme is social criticism. For instance, in 'The Lottery', it criticizes blind following of traditions without thinking about their morality. Also, the theme of survival can be seen. In 'The Most Dangerous Game', the main character has to fight for his survival against a mad hunter.
They are concise. They usually have a single main plot or idea. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the whole story revolves around the couple's selfless love shown through their gift - giving. They also tend to have a quick setup and a fast - paced development. There's no time for a lot of sub - plots or long - winded descriptions.
They are concise. Usually, they have a simple plot that can be told quickly. For example, in a 2 - minute story, there's no time for complex sub - plots.
To write 4 minute short stories, first, come up with a simple yet interesting idea. It could be a unique situation, a character with a distinct trait. Then, create a basic plot with a beginning, middle and end. Keep the descriptions concise.
They are usually concise. They quickly get to the funny part without a lot of long - winded build - up. For example, a story might start right in the middle of a comical situation.