Understanding Narrative Structure: Short Stories

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Questions to Answer before you begin to structure your story:

1. What is the overall theme or message?(purpose)
2. What is the tone and genre you want to portray?
3. How will your main character illustrate this point?

This is the structure that most authors use to plan their fiction books, however, it is modified for short-form fiction.

Introduction

Inciting Incident

• Remember that in a short story, the first scene must introduce the protagonist and exposite the premise of the story.
• Immediately answer the question of why we are following this protagonist and why it matters
• Demonstrate the internal conflict and make sure it is connected to the theme and message of the narrative.

Thesis/ concept statement

• In no longer than a paragraph, make sure to establish the premise of your story through setting and context. This is the setup for the upcoming conflict in the narrative.

Ex: In the short story “ All Summer in a Day”, by Ray Bradbury, the phrase “it had been raining for seven years” immediately establishes the concept that serves as the driving force of conflict. And makes the ending all the more tragic when the protagonist never gets to see the sun come out on the one day every seven years when it stops raining.

Plot Development

Revelation

• The last bit of rising action before the climax. This is the aha moment in your story where the characters confront their internal conflict.
• Remember internal conflict ties in with the theme of the narrative where the characters finally realize their flawed beliefs and can tackle the climax.

Climax

• This is when everything comes to a head and all the build-up begins to have a payoff.

Ex: In the case of “All Summer in a Day” the climax is when the sun finally comes out and all the kids go out to play.

Conclusion

Resolution

• The audience experiences the natural consequences of the climax as the characters do as most plot points conclude.
• Tone is also important as this is the last thing your readers will remember so keeping in mind the feeling you want to leave off with is important to having an impact. Be strategic with the message you want to showcase in the conclusion.

Ex: “All Summer Day ‘’ ends somberly as the children recognize that Margot was left behind and we see them guilt stricken as they understood their mistake because that missed time was something that could be given back.