Compelling. A short story needs to be compelling to hold the reader's interest in a relatively short amount of reading time. It should have a strong hook at the beginning. 'Intriguing' is another suitable word. The plot or the characters in a short story should be mysterious or interesting enough to make the reader want to know more. And 'poignant'. Some short stories can touch the reader's heart deeply, like those that deal with themes of loss or love in a very concise and impactful way.
There were two friends, Lily and Lucy. They loved to go on adventures in the forest near their village. One time, while exploring, Lily accidentally sprained her ankle. Lucy didn't leave her side. She found some branches and made a makeshift crutch for Lily. Then, she helped Lily slowly walk back home. It was a long and difficult journey, but Lucy kept encouraging Lily. From that day on, they knew that their friendship could withstand any hardship.
The old house stands at the end of the overgrown lane. Its wooden walls are weather - beaten and grey. The roof sags in the middle, with a few missing shingles. The windows are small and dusty, some cracked, and the front door creaks ominously when opened. Inside, the floorboards groan underfoot, and the rooms are filled with a musty smell.
Cryptic. Since it's a mystery, there will be parts of the story that are cryptic, like a coded message or a strange behavior of a character that is not immediately explainable. 'Puzzling'. The reader is constantly faced with puzzles to solve within the story. It could be figuring out who the culprit is or what the real meaning behind an event is. 'Gripping'. A good mystery short story grips the reader and doesn't let go until the mystery is solved.
Engaging. A good short story grabs the reader's attention from the start and keeps them hooked throughout. Intriguing, as it makes the reader curious about what will happen next. Compelling, it has a certain force that drives the reader to keep turning the pages.
Well, you can start by looking at the main events and characters and think about what message or idea they convey. That could give you a clue about the theme.
Well, a short story's structure often has a clear introduction to hook the reader, a rising action that intensifies the plot, a climax where the main conflict reaches its peak, and a conclusion that ties up loose ends. It's all about being concise and impactful.
Words used to describe short stories were: short, concise, bright, concise, concise, compact, concise, clear, concise, straightforward, concise, quick, etc.
The key elements of a short story are characters, plot, setting, theme, and point of view. Characters are the people or animals in the story. The plot is what happens in the story, including the conflict and resolution. The setting is the time and place where the story takes place. The theme is the central idea or message of the story. And the point of view is the perspective from which the story is told.