There's no one - size - fits - all answer. However, generally, a short story can range from about 1,500 to 30,000 words. For very short ones, like flash fiction, it could be as few as 500 words. If you're aiming for a traditional short story for a literary magazine, around 3,000 - 5,000 words is often a good target. It gives you enough space to develop characters, plot, and theme without getting too long - winded.
Well, one characteristic is a tight narrative structure. There's no room for rambling in a 1000 - word short story. Take 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe. It has a simple yet effective structure of leading the victim into the catacombs for revenge. Another aspect is vivid description within a limited word count. In 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner, Faulkner manages to paint a picture of the reclusive Emily and her strange life with just enough detail. Also, it often contains a universal truth or emotion. 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London shows the power of nature and man's struggle against it, which is a relatable concept.
If you want to submit to a short story website, you should first determine the website you want to submit to, then search the website's submission guide to understand the submission process and requirements. Different websites may have different requirements for word count and subject matter, so you need to read the website's submission guide carefully to ensure that your submission meets the requirements.
You can also try to follow the relevant novel submission community on social media to understand the experiences and suggestions of other authors. Before submitting, you must carefully check your work to ensure that there are no grammar, spellings, or format errors and that it meets the website's submission requirements.
No matter which website or method you choose, you must be patient and confident in preparing your work. You must also pay attention to the website's submission guide and social media updates.
The name of the story was " Rebirth in the Other World."
The protagonist was an ordinary university student named Li Hua. In an accident, Li Hua transmigrated to an unfamiliar world. This world had technology and culture similar to Earth.
In this world, Li Hua discovered that he had extraordinary abilities. He could manipulate objects with his thoughts and even create his own items.
However, this world was not peaceful. It was filled with war and violence. Li Hua soon discovered that the people in this world had the same ability as him, but they often fought with each other for resources and power.
Li Hua decided to use his ability to help those oppressed people build a peaceful and harmonious world. He set up an organization and led a group of like-minded people to start a difficult struggle.
After a long struggle, Li Hua and his team finally won. They successfully established a peaceful and harmonious society, and everyone lived a happy and healthy life.
Li Hua returned to Earth, but his heart was filled with nostalgia for the other world. He knew that although the struggle was difficult, through everyone's hard work, a better world was finally born.
They are concise. Just six words can convey a whole story, like 'Goodbye, cruel world. Hello, abyss.' which gives a sense of despair in a very short form.
A 20,000 - word short story needs a well - thought - out structure. You could divide it into several parts. For example, in the first part, introduce the setting and the main characters. Let's say it's a story set in a post - apocalyptic world. The main character is a young survivor trying to find a rumored safe haven. In the middle part, have them face various obstacles like dangerous gangs and harsh environments. The final part can be about their discovery of the safe haven, but with a twist that makes the reader think about the real meaning of'safe'.
Another word might be 'tale'. While it can refer to various types of stories, it can be used for a relatively long short story. Tales often have a certain charm and can be quite detailed, encompassing elements like characters, settings, and a plot, all within a shorter length compared to a full - length novel.
One word for a short story could be 'narrative'. A narrative is a story or an account of events, which can be in the form of a short story. It implies a sequence of events being told.