3.1–Introduction

The modern short story form is a fairly recent invention, only dating back to the late eighteenth century. The development of the short story coincided with the rise of the prose novel as the dominant form in the literary market and the rise of the magazine, in which stories were often published. Like the novel, the short story uses prose writing to relate a series of events. However, unlike the novel, the short story works within a confined space, usually not exceeding thirty pages and often using fewer. Although this may seem like an arbitrary difference, the space constraint defines the form and explains what makes a short story great. Without hundreds of pages to unwind the plot of the story, develop characters, and thread in themes, the short story must hold all these elements in balance in a confined space. Truly excellent short-story writers–such as Edgar Allan Poe, Katherine Mansfield, or Sarah Orne Jewett–will arrange those elements well, emphasizing the most important parts of the particular story (and these can vary from story to story) and arranging the other elements artfully around them, striking a perfect balance and delivering a meaningful and impactful story ripe for interpretation.