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One Paragraph Short Story: Mastering the Art of Concise Storytelling
Introduction:
Ever felt the pull of a captivating narrative, but lacked the time or space for a sprawling epic? The "one paragraph short story" is a potent form, a microcosm of storytelling that challenges you to distill emotion, conflict, and resolution into a single, tightly-woven sentence structure. This post will explore the art of crafting compelling one-paragraph short stories, offering practical tips, examples, and inspiration to ignite your creativity and unlock the power of brevity. We'll delve into essential elements, different approaches, and how to effectively use this unique format to captivate readers. Prepare to transform your writing skills and unleash the storyteller within!
H2: The Anatomy of a Powerful One-Paragraph Short Story
The beauty of a one-paragraph short story lies in its economy. Every word must count. To achieve impact, consider these key components:
H3: Establishing a Clear Setting and Character
Even in a single paragraph, your reader needs to grasp the who and where. Avoid lengthy descriptions; instead, use evocative language to instantly paint a picture. For example, instead of "The old woman lived in a small, dilapidated house," try "Dust motes danced in the afternoon sunbeams slanting through the cracked windowpanes of her ramshackle cottage." This instantly conveys age, poverty, and a sense of timelessness.
H3: Creating Compelling Conflict
Conflict is the engine of narrative. Even in a brief story, there needs to be some form of tension or obstacle. This could be an internal struggle, an external challenge, or a simple decision with significant consequences. A simple yet effective conflict might be the struggle between hope and despair, or a surprising twist of fate.
H3: Building to a Climax and Resolution
The climax is the peak of your story's tension. It's the moment of truth, the turning point. The resolution, however brief, needs to provide a sense of closure, even if it's ambiguous or leaves the reader pondering. The entire paragraph should build towards this climax and then swiftly resolve (or at least hint at a resolution) within the confines of that single paragraph.
H2: Different Approaches to the One-Paragraph Short Story
The beauty of this form is its flexibility. Experiment with different narrative styles:
H3: Focusing on a Single, Powerful Image
A single, vivid image can convey a complete narrative. Think of a photograph capturing a poignant moment; your story should strive for a similar impact. Consider using strong verbs and sensory details to maximize the impact of your chosen image.
H3: Employing a Twist Ending
Surprise your reader! A clever twist can elevate a simple premise into something unforgettable. The unexpected turn should be logically consistent with the preceding events, even if it’s subtly foreshadowed.
H3: Using Dialogue to Drive the Narrative
Dialogue can be a surprisingly effective tool, even within the constraints of a single paragraph. Focus on concise, impactful phrases that reveal character and advance the plot. Use dialogue sparingly to maintain the pacing and avoid overwhelming the reader.
H2: Examples of Effective One-Paragraph Short Stories
Let's analyze some examples:
Example 1 (Focus on Image): The lone lighthouse keeper, silhouetted against a raging tempest, watched the waves crash against the rocks, each thunderous roar a testament to the relentless power of nature, a power that dwarfed his own insignificant existence but also gave it stark, grim purpose.
Example 2 (Twist Ending): He opened the ancient chest, expecting gold and jewels, but instead found a single, tarnished mirror reflecting not his own face, but that of a stranger, a doppelganger whose eyes held a chilling familiarity that sent a shiver down his spine, confirming a horrifying truth he'd long suspected.
Example 3 (Dialogue-Driven): "It's the only way," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the wind. He hesitated, his hand trembling as he reached for the knife. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice cracking. She nodded, her eyes unwavering, sealing their fate.
Conclusion:
Mastering the art of the one-paragraph short story is about honing your craft, learning to choose your words with precision and intention. It's a valuable exercise in creative constraint, forcing you to prioritize and refine your storytelling abilities. By focusing on strong imagery, compelling conflict, and a satisfying resolution, you can craft micro-narratives that are as impactful as longer works. Practice regularly and you'll surprise yourself with the depth and power you can achieve within a single, perfectly crafted paragraph.
FAQs:
1. Can I use more than one sentence in a one-paragraph short story? Absolutely! While the term "paragraph" implies a single sentence is possible, multiple sentences are common practice and often necessary to build a cohesive narrative. The key is to keep it concise and tightly focused.
2. What kind of topics are best suited for one-paragraph short stories? Any topic that lends itself to a concise narrative works well. Think of powerful moments, pivotal decisions, or evocative scenes. Mystery, suspense, and character-driven narratives are particularly well-suited to this format.
3. How do I know if my one-paragraph story is effective? Test it on a reader. Does it evoke emotion? Does it leave a lasting impression? Does it feel complete and satisfying, despite its brevity? If the answer to all these is yes, then you've likely crafted a successful one-paragraph short story.
4. Are there any length guidelines for a one-paragraph short story? There aren't strict rules, but aim for brevity. The focus is on impact, not word count. A well-crafted one-paragraph short story could be as short as a single, perfectly-chosen sentence, or slightly longer, depending on the complexity of the narrative. Aim for clarity and impact above all else.
5. Where can I share my one-paragraph short stories? Many online platforms welcome short fiction, including writing communities, forums, and social media groups dedicated to creative writing. Consider submitting to literary magazines that accept flash fiction or micro-fiction, a form that aligns well with the one-paragraph story.
| one paragraph short story: How to Write a Short Story N A Turner, 2019-07-28 You always wanted to write short stories but you have no idea where to begin.Do you want to become better at writing fiction?Perhaps you find it hard to come up with ideas for a story or to devise a plot. Maybe you have difficulty developing your own style or is your dialogue rusty.N.A. Turner is here to help you navigate the land of short story writing from outlining your story to attracting readers. Every aspiring writer dreams of people reading his or her work. Short story writing is a way of both developing your writing style and to introduce your talent to potential readers. At the start of their career, the likes of Stephen King and Charles Bukowski made a name for themselves by writing and publishing short stories.Learn more about N.A. Turner's writing tips based on his experience and research.This guide teaches you: - How to write well-structured short stories- How to determine your theme- How to plot your story- How to create engaging, interesting characters- How to build a fictional world- How to write scenes and clear dialogue- How to get to that first draft and edit your story- How to publish your short stories in the current market- And much moreThis guidebook will show you a step-by-step process to successfully write and publish short stories. From developing an idea to attracting readers online. This comprehensive, step-by-step guide is all you need to get started. |
| one paragraph short story: The Story Of An Hour Kate Chopin, 2014-04-22 Mrs. Louise Mallard, afflicted with a heart condition, reflects on the death of her husband from the safety of her locked room. Originally published in Vogue magazine, “The Story of an Hour” was retitled as “The Dream of an Hour,” when it was published amid much controversy under its new title a year later in St. Louis Life. “The Story of an Hour” was adapted to film in The Joy That Kills by director Tina Rathbone, which was part of a PBS anthology called American Playhouse. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library. |
| one paragraph short story: 100 Days of Sunlight Abbie Emmons, 2019-08-07 When 16-year-old poetry blogger Tessa Dickinson is involved in a car accident and loses her eyesight for 100 days, she feels like her whole world has been turned upside-down. Terrified that her vision might never return, Tessa feels like she has nothing left to be happy about. But when her grandparents place an ad in the local newspaper looking for a typist to help Tessa continue writing and blogging, an unlikely answer knocks at their door: Weston Ludovico, a boy her age with bright eyes, an optimistic smile...and no legs. Knowing how angry and afraid Tessa is feeling, Weston thinks he can help her. But he has one condition -- no one can tell Tessa about his disability. And because she can't see him, she treats him with contempt: screaming at him to get out of her house and never come back. But for Weston, it's the most amazing feeling: to be treated like a normal person, not just a sob story. So he comes back. Again and again and again. Tessa spurns Weston's obnoxious optimism, convinced that he has no idea what she's going through. But Weston knows exactly how she feels and reaches into her darkness to show her that there is more than one way to experience the world. As Tessa grows closer to Weston, she finds it harder and harder to imagine life without him -- and Weston can't imagine life without her. But he still hasn't told her the truth, and when Tessa's sight returns he'll have to make the hardest decision of his life: vanish from Tessa's world...or overcome his fear of being seen. 100 Days of Sunlight is a poignant and heartfelt novel by author Abbie Emmons. If you like sweet contemporary romance and strong family themes then you'll love this touching story of hope, healing, and getting back up when life knocks you down. |
| one paragraph short story: One Hundred Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses Lucy Corin, 2016-08-09 Lucy Corin's eye popping, enlightening read (Publishers Weekly), now in paperback. At the heart of Lucy Corin’s dazzling collection are one hundred apocalypses: visions of loss and destruction, vexation and crisis, revelation and revolution, sometimes only a few lines long. In these haunting and wickedly funny stories, an apocalypse might come in the form of the end of a relationship or the end of the world, but they all expose the tricky landscape of our longing for a clean slate. In three longer stories, contemporary American life is playfully, if disturbingly, distorted: the rite of passage for adolescent girls involves choosing the madman who will accompany them into adulthood; California burns to the ground while, on the east coast, life carries on; and a soldier returns home broke from war to encounter a witch who extends a dangerous offer. At once mournful and explosively energetic, One Hundred Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses is deeply rooted in the politics and upheaval of our times (Lambda Literary). |
| one paragraph short story: A Treasure of Short Stories for English Language Learners Suhair Eyad Jamal Al-Alami, 2020-09-30 This book includes thirteen short stories, chosen to illustrate various modes of narration and to provoke reflection on a range of issues. The texts illustrate how great writers can, with their insight and gift for words, help us to see the world in which we live in new probing and exciting ways. Upon the completion of this book, learners will be able to read to find and handle information for a range of purposes, as well as read to enjoy and respond to a variety of texts. The book will also equip the reader to write for a range of purposes, conveying meaning in language appropriate to purpose and audience, and communicate effectively with native and non-native speakers of English, manipulating language as appropriate. What characterises this book is its integration of literary competence, communicative competence, and critical thinking skills. This combined input incorporates the receptive skills of listening and reading, and the productive skills of speaking and writing. |
| one paragraph short story: The Gift of the Magi O. Henry, 2021-12-22 The Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time. |
| one paragraph short story: In Our Time Ernest Hemingway, 2022-01-25 In Our Time is the title of Ernest Hemingway's first collection of short stories, published in 1925 by Boni & Liveright, New York, and of a collection of vignettes published in 1924 in France titled in our time. Its title is derived from the English Book of Common Prayer, Give peace in our time, O Lord. The stories's themes – of alienation, loss, grief, separation – continue the work Hemingway began with the vignettes, which include descriptions of acts of war, bullfighting and current events. The collection is known for its spare language and oblique depiction of emotion, through a style known as Hemingway's theory of omission (iceberg theory). According to his biographer Michael Reynolds, among Hemingway's canon, none is more confusing ... for its several parts – biographical, literary, editorial, and bibliographical – contain so many contradictions that any analysis will be flawed. |
| one paragraph short story: Bird by Bird Anne Lamott, 2007-12-18 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An essential volume for generations of writers young and old. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this modern classic will continue to spark creative minds for years to come. Anne Lamott is a warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writer’s world and its treacherous swamps (Los Angeles Times). “Superb writing advice…. Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.” —The New York Times Book Review For a quarter century, more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title: “Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’” |
| one paragraph short story: Later the Same Day Grace Paley, 2014-10-07 Grace Paley's stature among writers of short fiction was established by her first collection, The Little Disturbances of Man (1959), and reconfirmed with the publication of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute in 1974. This new book, a selection from her work over the past ten years, is appropriately titled Later the Same Day: Paley's concerns, or themes, have changed only as much as life's constants change with the passage of time. Those characters familiar to readers of her previous volumes have grown older but are still deeply involved with their parents, their lovers and friends, and their children--the past, present, and future--and the welfare of the wider community. We meet the neighborhood druggist with his tale of familiar heartbreak and small-time bigotry (Zagrowsky Tells); a willful father in Puerto Rico who cannot accept the obvious loss of his child by kidnapping (In the Garden); a black woman who mourns the fact that her daughter, born in good cheer, has become only busy and broad (Lavinia: An Old Story)' a visitor from China whose concern is about the children, how to raise them (The Expensive Moment:); a craftsman whose beautiful creation is stillborn (This is a Story about My Friend George, the Toy Inventor). The seenteen stories in Later the Same Day are marked by Paley's low-keyed humor, her rich but economical use of language, and her seemingly endless capacity for empathy. Their substance--the persistence of human and political concerns, despite practical pressures--subtly overwhelms less important matters. |
| one paragraph short story: Flowers In The Attic V.C. Andrews, 2011-02-08 Celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the enduring gothic masterpiece Flowers in the Attic—the unforgettable forbidden love story that earned V.C. Andrews a fiercely devoted fan base and became an international cult classic. At the top of the stairs there are four secrets hidden—blond, innocent, and fighting for their lives… They were a perfect and beautiful family—until a heartbreaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. They are kept in the attic of their grandmother’s labyrinthine mansion, isolated and alone. As the visits from their seemingly unconcerned mother slowly dwindle, the four children grow ever closer and depend upon one another to survive both this cramped world and their cruel grandmother. A suspenseful and thrilling tale of family, greed, murder, and forbidden love, Flowers in the Attic is the unputdownable first novel of the epic Dollanganger family saga. The Dollanganger series includes: Flowers in the Attic, Petals in the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, Garden of Shadows, Beneath the Attic, and Out of the Attic. |
| one paragraph short story: Anatomy of a Premise Line Jeff Lyons, 2015-06-05 If a story is going to fail, it will do so first at the premise level. Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Master Premise and Story Development for Writing Success is the only book of its kind to identify a seven-step development process that can be repeated and applied to any story idea. This process will save you time, money, and potentially months of wasted writing. So whether you are trying to write a feature screenplay, develop a television pilot, or just trying to figure out your next story move as a writer, this book gives you the tools you need to know which ideas are worth pursuing. In addition to the 7-step premise development tool, Anatomy of a Premise Line also presents a premise and idea testing methodology that can be used to test any developed premise line. Customized exercises and worksheets are included to facilitate knowledge transfer, so that by the end of the book, you will have a fully developed premise line, log line, tagline, and a completed premise-testing checklist. Here is some of what you will learn inside: Ways to determine whether or not your story is a good fit for print or screen Case studies and hands-on worksheets to help you learn by participating in the process Tips on how to effectively work through writer’s block A companion website (www.routledge.com/cw/lyons) with additional worksheets, videos, and interactive tools to help you learn the basics of perfecting a killer premise line |
| one paragraph short story: Geek Love Katherine Dunn, 2011-05-25 National Book Award Finalist • Here is the unforgettable story of the Binewskis, a circus-geek family whose matriarch and patriarch have bred their own exhibit of human oddities—with the help of amphetamines, arsenic, and radioisotopes. One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years Their offspring include Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious—and dangerous—asset. As the Binewskis take their act across the backwaters of the U.S., inspiring fanatical devotion and murderous revulsion; as its members conduct their own Machiavellian version of sibling rivalry, Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same. |
| one paragraph short story: The Visiting Privilege Joy Williams, 2015-09-08 The definitive story collection “by one of the most celebrated American short-story writers…. Powerful, important, compassionate, and full of dark humor. This is a book that will be reread with admiration and love many times over” (Vanity Fair). Joy Williams has been celebrated as a master of the short story for four decades, her renown passing as a given from one generation to the next even in the shifting landscape of contemporary writing. At long last the incredible scope of her singular achievement is put on display: thirty-three stories drawn from three much-lauded collections, and another thirteen appearing here for the first time in book form. Forty-six stories in all, far and away the most comprehensive volume in her long career, showcasing her crisp, elegant prose, her dark wit, and her uncanny ability to illuminate our world through characters and situations that feel at once peculiar and foreign and disturbingly familiar. Virtually all American writers have their favorite Joy Williams stories, as do many readers of all ages, and each one of them is available here. |
| one paragraph short story: The Lottery Shirley Jackson, 2008 A seemingly ordinary village participates in a yearly lottery to determine a sacrificial victim. |
| one paragraph short story: The Tell-Tale Heart Edgar Allan Poe, 2024-01-29 In Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, the narrator tries to prove his sanity after murdering an elderly man because of his vulture eye. His growing guilt leads him to hear the old man's heart beating under the floorboards, which drives him to confess the crime to the police. |
| one paragraph short story: Stories of Your Life and Others Ted Chiang, 2010-10-26 From the author of Exhalation, an award-winning short story collection that blends absorbing storytelling with meditations on the universe, being, time and space ... raises questions about the nature of reality and what it is to be human (The New York Times). Stories of Your Life and Others delivers dual delights of the very, very strange and the heartbreakingly familiar, often presenting characters who must confront sudden change—the inevitable rise of automatons or the appearance of aliens—with some sense of normalcy. With sharp intelligence and humor, Chiang examines what it means to be alive in a world marked by uncertainty, but also by beauty and wonder. An award-winning collection from one of today's most lauded writers, Stories of Your Life and Others is a contemporary classic. Includes “Story of Your Life”—the basis for the major motion picture Arrival |
| one paragraph short story: American Short Story since 1950 Kasia Boddy, 2010-08-31 This book focuses specifically on short fiction written since 1950, a particularly rich and diverse period in the history of the form. A selective approach has been taken, focusing on the best and most representative work. |
| one paragraph short story: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson, 2024-05-30 The lawyer Mr Utterson is deeply disturbed by Dr Jekyll's new friend, Mr Hyde, to whom Dr Jekyll has bequeathed everything he owns. Rumour has it that Mr Hyde trampled a child in the street. Mr Utterson begins to have nightmares about this unusually ugly and unsympathetic man. Meanwhile, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde seem inseparable. Robert Louis Stevenson's novella »Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde« is unique among classics, with a title that has become a fixed expression in many languages. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON [1850–1894] was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. He is among the 30 most translated authors of all time and has been praised by Marcel Proust, Jorge Luis Borges, Vladimir Nabokov, Ernest Hemingway, and Bertolt Brecht. Treasure Island is his most famous work, along with the gothic sci-fi novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. |
| one paragraph short story: Complete Stories Clarice Lispector, 2018-06-26 One of the most phenomenally acclaimed and successful books of recent years is now available as a paperback—with three just-discovered stories Here, gathered in one volume, are the stories that made Clarice a Brazilian legend. Originally a cloth edition of eighty-six stories, now we have eighty- nine in all, covering her whole amazing career, from her teenage years to her deathbed. In these pages, we meet teenagers becoming aware of their sexual and artistic powers, humdrum housewives whose lives are shattered by unexpected epiphanies, old people who don’t know what to do with themselves— and in their stories, Clarice takes us through their lives—and hers—and ours. |
| one paragraph short story: The Sphinx Without a Secret Oscar Wilde, 2024-05-30 »The Sphinx Without a Secret« is a short story by Oscar Wilde, originally published in 1891. OSCAR WILDE, born in 1854 in Dublin, died in 1900 in Paris, was an Irish prose writer, playwright, essayist, and poet. Wilde's significance as a symbol for persecuted homosexuals around the world is immeasurable. Wilde himself was sentenced to prison and hard labour, his works were boycotted, theatrical productions were shut down, and he was publicly vilified. The Picture of Dorian Gray [1890] is his most famous work. |
| one paragraph short story: The Alchemist Paulo Coelho, 2015-02-24 A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho. Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations. Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams. |
| one paragraph short story: Little Red Riding Hood Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, 2025-01-23 Build confidence and engagement with this Rebus favourite fairy tale; through seeing and saying the picture words, children develop essential early pre-reading skills, and begin to understand and enjoy the reading process. |
| one paragraph short story: The Lightness Emily Temple, 2020-06-11 ‘A psychologically smart debut that swathes teen desire and friendship in mystery and mirth’ Observer ‘Like a twisted Malory Towers or maybe a cosmic version of ‘Heathers’’ Daily Mail ‘Funny, whip-smart and transcendently wise’ Jenny Offill ‘The love child of Donna Tartt and Tana French’ Chloe Benjamin |
| one paragraph short story: Aesop's Fables Aesop, 1994 A collection of animal fables told by the Greek slave Aesop. |
| one paragraph short story: The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood, 2021-09-14 The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation! As seen on THE VIEW! A BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021 When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos. As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope. |
| one paragraph short story: The Shell Collector Anthony Doerr, 2011-01-04 In this astonishingly assured, exquisitely crafted debut collection, Anthony Doerr takes readers from the African coast to the suburbs of Ohio, from sideshow pageantry to harsh wilderness survival, charting a vast and varied emotional landscape. Like the best storytellers, Doerr explores the human condition in all its manifestations: metamorphosis, grief, fractured relationships, and slowly mending hearts. Most dazzling is Doerr's gift for conjuring nature in both its beautiful abundance and crushing power. Some of his characters contend with tremendous hardship; some discover unique gifts; all are united by their ultimate deference to the mysteries of their respective landscapes. |
| one paragraph short story: Shit Cassandra Saw Gwen E. Kirby, 2022-01-11 “Kirby has mastered the art of short fiction…A stunning collection from a writer whose talent and creativity seem boundless.” —NPR “Kirby takes joy in subverting the reader’s expectations at every turn. Her characters might be naïve, even reckless, but they aren’t about to be victims: They’re strong, and brave, and nearly always capable of rescuing themselves.” —New York Times Book Review Margaret Atwood meets Buffy in these funny, warm, and furious stories of women at their breaking points, from Hellenic times to today. Cassandra may have seen the future, but it doesn't mean she's resigned to telling the Trojans everything she knows. In this ebullient collection, virgins escape from being sacrificed, witches refuse to be burned, whores aren't ashamed, and every woman gets a chance to be a radioactive cockroach warrior who snaps back at catcallers. Gwen E. Kirby experiments with found structures--a Yelp review, a WikiHow article--which her fierce, irreverent narrators push against, showing how creativity within an enclosed space undermines and deconstructs the constraints themselves. When these women tell the stories of their triumphs as well as their pain, they emerge as funny, angry, loud, horny, lonely, strong protagonists who refuse to be secondary characters a moment longer. From The Best and Only Whore of Cym Hyfryd, 1886 to the Midwestern Girl Is Tired of Appearing in Your Short Stories, Kirby is playing and laughing with the women who have come before her and they are telling her, we have always been this way. You just had to know where to look. |
| one paragraph short story: New Sudden Fiction Robert Shapard, James Thomas, 2007 SHAPARD/NEW SUDDEN FICTION |
| one paragraph short story: Writing a Killer Thriller Jodie Renner, 2014-09 ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR SUPERCHARGING YOUR STORIES! Respected editor Jodie Renner offers indispensable advice for creating fast-paced, compelling fiction. Whether you're planning your first novel or revising your fourth, you'll discover lots of concrete ideas here for taking your fiction up a level or two, entertaining your readers, gaining fans, and creating buzz. Both published and aspiring authors of suspense-thrillers and other fast-paced, popular fiction will find these tips indispensable for plotting your story, creating compelling characters, writing a gripping opening, designing suspenseful scenes, picking up the pace, ramping up the tension and intrigue, revising for power, and creating a page-turner that sells. PRAISE FOR WRITING A KILLER THRILLER Finally, someone who understands the thriller! More than ever, an author must also be his own best editor, and Jodie Renner is there to help. Writing a Killer Thriller should be on every thriller writer's desk. It breaks down the thriller into its must-have component parts to write a scintillating, edge-of-the-seat novel that will get readers buzzing and sales flowing. ROBERT DUGONI, New York Times bestselling author of The Jury Master and Murder One Writing is hard, editing harder, and self-editing almost impossible. Writing a Killer Thriller demystifies each of these steps on the road to a published manuscript. Read this book. It will help you now and for many years to come. DP LYLE, award-winning author of many nonfiction and fiction books Writing a Killer Thriller by Jodie Renner is an in-depth journey through each component of the thriller. Renner breaks down the process into key elements, each essential to keeping the reader turning those pages. From character development to building suspense, Writing a Killer Thriller should be on the desk of every thriller author out there. A staple for the beginner, a refresher for the pro. JOE MOORE, #1 Amazon and international bestselling co-author of The Blade, The Shield, and The Phoenix Apostles A companion guide to this one, Jodie's FIRE UP YOUR FICTION - An Editor's Guide to Writing Compelling Stories, is available in both e-book and trade paperback. |
| one paragraph short story: Through The Tunnel Doris Lessing, 2013-03-28 From the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Doris Lessing, a short story about a young boy’s coming of age. |
| one paragraph short story: On Writing Short Stories Tom Bailey, 2010-07-01 On Writing Short Stories, Second Edition, explores the art and craft of writing short fiction by bringing together nine original essays by professional writers and thirty-three examples of short fiction. The first section features original essays by well-known authors--including Francine Prose, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andre Dubus--that guide students through the process of writing. Focusing on the characteristics and craft of the short story and its writer, these essays take students from the workshopping process all the way through to the experience of working with agents and publishers. The second part of the text is an anthology of stories--many referred to in the essays--that give students dynamic examples of technique brought to life. |
| one paragraph short story: Best Microfiction 2021 Meg Pokrass, Gary Fincke, Amber Sparks, 2021-07-10 Fiction. Short Stories. Edited by Meg Pokrass and Gary Fincke with guest editor Amber Sparks. THE BEST MICROFICTION anthology series provides recognition for outstanding literary stories of 400 words or fewer. Co-edited by award-winning microfiction writer/editor Meg Pokrass; and Flannery O'Connor Prize-winning author Gary Fincke; the anthology features Amber Sparks serving as final judge; and one hundred and five of the world's best very short short stories. |
| one paragraph short story: Thank You, M'am Langston Hughes, 2014-08 When a young boy named Roger tries to steal the purse of a woman named Luella, he is just looking for money to buy stylish new shoes. After she grabs him by the collar and drags him back to her home, he's sure that he is in deep trouble. Instead, Roger is soon left speechless by her kindness and generosity. |
| one paragraph short story: How to Write A Short Story (And Think About It) Robert Graham, 2017-09-16 Short story publishing is flourishing in the 21st century and is no longer seen as a poor relation of the novel. But what is a short story? And how do you write one? Robert Graham takes you through everything you need to know, from how a writer works to crafting and editing your own fiction. This heavily revised edition features new chapters by contemporary fiction writers. Stressing the importance of reading broadly and deeply, the book includes a wide range of prompts and writing exercises. It teaches you how to read as a writer and write like somebody who has read. You will learn the elements of craft you need to produce short stories, and one of the key writer's disciplines: reflecting on your own work. Whether you are a student or an experienced author, this book will teach you how to write short stories – and reflect on the creative processes involved. The book features chapters from writer-teachers James Friel, Rodge Glass, Ursula Hurley, Heather Leach, Helen Newall, Jenny Newman, James Rice and Tom Vowler. |
| one paragraph short story: Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury, 1968 A fireman in charge of burning books meets a revolutionary school teacher who dares to read. Depicts a future world in which all printed reading material is burned. |
| one paragraph short story: A New Windmill Book of Very Short Stories Mike Royston, 2002 These stories are written to help students focus on the use of language and structure where key aspects such as mood, characterization and setting are evoked in a short space of time. There are activities for exploring the stories at word, sentence and text level, with speaking and listening tasks. |
| one paragraph short story: Story Trumps Structure Steven James, 2014-05-27 Don't limit your fiction - LIBERATE IT All too often, following the rules of writing can constrict rather than inspire you. With Story Trumps Structure, you can shed those rules - about three-act structure, rising action, outlining, and more - to craft your most powerful, emotional, and gripping stories. Award-winning novelist Steven James explains how to trust the narrative process to make your story believable, compelling, and engaging, and debunks the common myths that hold writers back from creating their best work. • Ditch your outline and learn to write organically. • Set up promises for readers - and deliver on them. • Discover how to craft a satisfying climax. • Master the subtleties of characterization. • Add mind-blowing twists to your fiction. When you focus on what lies at the heart of story - tension, desire, crisis, escalation, struggle, discovery - rather than plot templates and formulas, you'll begin to break out of the box and write fiction that resonates with your readers. Story Trumps Structure will transform the way you think about stories and the way you write them, forever. |
| one paragraph short story: The Outsiders S. E Hinton, 1967 |
| one paragraph short story: The Short Story Valerie Shaw, 2014-07-21 Throughout this text, Valerie Shaw addresses two key questions: 'What are the special satisfactions afforded by reading short stories?' and 'How are these satisfactions derived from each story's literary techniques and narrative strategies?'. She then attempts to answer these questions by drawing on stories from different periods and countries - by authors who were also great novelists, like Henry James, Flaubert, Kafka and D.H. Lawrence; by authors who specifically dedicated themselves to the art of the short story, like Kipling, Chekhov and Katherine Mansfield; by contemporary practitioners like Angela Carter and Jorge Luis Borges; and by unfairly neglected writers like Sarah Orne Jewett and Joel Chandler Harris. |
| one paragraph short story: Zen in the Art of Writing Ray Bradbury, 1992 Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump! Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft-everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style-as well as the inside story of Bradbury's own remarkable career as a prolific author of novels, stories, poems, films, and plays.Zen In The Art Of Writingis more than just a how-to manual for the would-be writer: it is a celebration of the act of writing itself that will delight, impassion, and inspire the writer in you. In it, Bradbury encourages us to follow the unique path of our instincts and enthusiasms to the place where our inner genius dwells, and he shows that success as a writer depends on how well you know one subject: your own life. |
Short Stories for Children for Spoken English Program
Spoken English: Short Stories 7 BIRBAL THE WISE One day, a rich merchant came to irbal. He said to irbal, I have seven servants in my house. One of them has stolen my bag of precious …
One Paragraph Short Story (Download Only) - netsec.csuci.edu
The "one paragraph short story" is a potent form, a microcosm of storytelling that challenges you to distill emotion, conflict, and resolution into a single, tightly-woven sentence structure.
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander delivers a story in-verse about a boy who just might have magical powers; National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson spins a tale of friendship against all odds; and Meg Medina uses wet paint to color in one girl’s world with a short story that inspired her Newbery award-winner Merci Suárez Changes Gear.
Goldilocks and the three bears Short story - LearnEnglish Kids
Goldilocks and the three bears Short story Once upon a time there was a little girl. Her name was Goldilocks. She had golden hair. One day Goldilocks was walking in the forest. She saw a …
THE BANANA TREE - Orlando Science
Short Story. SETTING A PURPOSE As you read, pay attention to the clues that help you understand the relationship between the boy and his father. Write down any questions you have while reading. In the hours the hurricane stayed, its presence made everybody older.
“Ruthless” (William de Mille) - Niagara Falls City School District
“Ruthless” (William de Mille) Outside, the woods lay in clear October sunlight: the autumn air was full of the sharp, exciting smell of moist, leaf-covered earth. Inside, a man smiled grimly as he …
Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed
BACKGROUND. The astronomer Carl Sagan once wrote, “Mars has become a kind of mythic arena onto which we have projected our earthly hopes and fears.” People have always been …
“Seventh Grade” Gary Soto - Hanson Library
Jun 7, 2018 · “How come you’re making a face?” asked Victor. “I ain’t making a face, ese. This is my face.” Michael said his face had changed during the summer. He had read a GQ magazine …
My Favorite Chaperone - Leon County Schools
Short Story by Jean Davies Okimoto. SETTING A PURPOSE As you read, pay attention to Maya’s interactions with her family and her friends. How do these interactions help you to …
Marigolds By Eugenia W. Collier - cdn.ymaws.com
ed and fell into a fitful doze.When I awoke, somewhere in the middle of the night, my mother had returned, and I vaguely listened to the conversation that was audible through the thin. walls …
Beginning Short Stories – “My Family” - EnglishForEveryone.org
Beginning Short Stories – “My Family”. Directions: First read the basic version of the story below. Next, read the advanced version of the same story. Then, try to answer the questions about …
Jack and the beanstalk Short story - LearnEnglish Kids
Jack and the beanstalk Short story Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. All they had was a cow. One morning, Jack’s mother told …
The New Bicycle - K5 Learning
Read the short story. Then answer each question. The New Bicycle. Emma has a new bicycle. It is bright pink and shiny. It was a gift from her uncle. He hid it behind a bush to surprise her. When Emma looked behind the bush and saw the bicycle, she jumped for joy. It was just what she wanted. She gave her uncle a big hug.
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
The following short stories have been specifically chosen for Middle School students. These entertaining and engaging selections introduce students to the wonderful variety of the
A Sound of Thunder - Stony Brook University
A Sound of ThunderA. er Ray Bradbury The sign on the wall seemed to quaver under a film of sl. ing warm water. Eckels felt his eyelids blink over his stare, and the sign burned in this mo. …
One Of These Days - Flash Fiction Online
This story was published as Classic Flash #7 on Flash Fiction Online (flashfictiononline.com). “Send the bill,” he said. “To you or the town?” The Mayor didn’t look at him. He closed the door …
The lion and the mouse Story Time - LearnEnglish Kids
The lion and the mouse Story Time A lion was asleep in the sun one day. A little mouse came out to play. The little mouse ran up the lion’s neck and slid down his back. The lion caught him …
Creative Writing: Short Stories - San José State University
Creative Writing: Short Stories. This handout will help you understand and analyze the formal craft elements used by writers in the creation of short stories so that you can effectively employ …
Read the short story “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros
ELEVEN. by Sandra Cisneros. What they don’t understand about birthdays and what they never tell you is that when you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one.
English Y10 Bk2 REPRINT - Ministry of Education, Sports…
Write down all the things that tell you this is a Sämoan story, apart from the reference in line 2. The Structure Of A Short Story Copy and complete each of the statements below. The first one has been done for …
Figurative Language Stories - Speechy Musings
-Read one paragraph ... short stories! It is spring time! Yesterday, it was raining ... Name one detail from the story. Retell the story in your own words! Name as many details as you can remember! Thank you …
Advanced Short Stories – “A Birthday Surprise”
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word. 1. What does “constantly ” mean? (paragraph 1, …
Pre-AP English 1 Planning Guide: Using SpringBoard - C…
analysis paragraph • revise a paragraph by adding direct quotes and smooth transitions Lessons 1.9 Writing a Literary Analysis Paragraph “Lamb to the Slaughter” Activity 1.10 Writing a …
Handout-Writing a Summary - North Park University
Sentence One: Introduce the author’s name, the title of their work, and their topic. Sentence Two: Introduce the author’s thesis or main idea. Sentence Three: Explain one of the author’s examples or …
Title: Descriptive Writing Sensory Details (part one)
Minimum length = one paragraph. Step 4 Once drafts of the description are completed, students will ask a classmate or a teacher to read their draft and complete the feedback form, identifying …
Short Story Unit Test - Mr. Bockholt
Short Story Unit Test A. Matching: Match each statement in the left column to the proper term in the right column. (20pts) ... For each question, your response should be at least one full paragraph (5-7 …
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE SHORT STORY
the modern short story are to be found in America. One might posit the publication of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Twice-Told Talesin 1837 as a starting point. When Edgar Allan Poe read Hawthorne, he made the first …
Short Stories for Children for Spoken English Program - W…
Spoken English: Short Stories 7 BIRBAL THE WISE One day, a rich merchant came to irbal. He said to irbal, I have seven servants in my house. One of them has stolen my bag of precious pearls. Please …
1) Introduction/Claim (One paragraph) Start with a hook …
1) Introduction/Claim (One paragraph) • Start with a hook or attention getting sentence. • Briefly summarize the texts • State your claim. Make sure you are restating the prompt. 2) Body Paragraph: …
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School (PDF)
Mar 8, 2024 · One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School (PDF) M. M. Kaye The Master Collection Mario Alves,Guy Guy De Maupassant,Ambrose Bierce.2015-07-24 The Master Collection contains 10 …
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School - mail.nor…
The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) Roald Dahl.2012-09-13 The Landlady is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail. In The Landlady, Roald Dahl, one of the …
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
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Materials and Lessons for Teaching Close Reading of Th…
In this short story, Guy De Maupassant uses his protagonist to develop his theme. Closely read the two excerpts below and compare how Madame Loisel is portrayed in the beginning and at the end of the …
Free One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
Apr 17, 2024 · The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) Roald Dahl.2012-09-13 The Landlady is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail. In The Landlady, Roald Dahl, one …
Descriptive Paragraph Short Story - wellsite-automation.c…
Descriptive Paragraph Short Story The Anatomy of Story John Truby,2008-10-14 John Truby is one of the most respected and sought after story consultants in the film industry and his students have gone …
Descriptive Paragraph Short Story (2024) - atl.e4ward.com
Descriptive Paragraph Short Story The Anatomy of Story John Truby,2008-10-14 John Truby is one of the most respected and sought after story consultants in the film industry and his students have gone …
A Sound of Thunder - Stony Brook University
longest. Very few. How many times they mate. Not often. Life's short, When I find one that's going to die when a tree falls on him, or one that drowns in a tar pit, I note the exact hour, minute, and second. I …
Phonics Connected Text Passages – CVC words
For example one story uses the word “pad” for home, and another story uses the word “hob” which is “a flat metal shelf at the side or back of a fireplace.” The use of rare words like these was strategic; students …
might Terms to Know - Brigham Young University
sentences of different paragraphs, and skim through the opening paragraph; this will give you a sense of where the story is set, how difficult the language is, and how long you should need to read the story. …
Pronouns: Cohesion within Paragraphs - San José State …
Pronouns, words that rename nouns and noun phrases, can connect one sentence to the next to guide the reader through a paragraph. Pronouns are useful in several ways, but writers must ... Poe‘s short …
My Favorite Chaperone - Leon County Schools
Short Story by Jean Davies Okimoto As you read, mark up the text. Save your work to myNotebook. t Highlight details t Add notes and ... sent the photo to one of these magazines, and in a very short time a …
What IS a SYNOPSIS? aN OUtLINE? a tREatMENt? - Scre…
Within the space of two to four sentences, the one paragraph synopsis should set out whose story it is (the protagonist), what his or her problem is, what they do about it and the outcome. For example, here is a one …
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School Jason Reynolds ... Ellen Oh,2018-08-14 Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold short story …
Beginning Short Stories – “My Family” - EnglishForEveryone…
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word. 1. What does “beautiful ” mean? (paragraph 3, …
Advanced Short Stories – “The Dinner Party” - EnglishForEve…
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word. 1. What does “pretentious ” mean? (paragraph 1, …
Long Vowels - St. Daigh's National School
story. For e.g in the first story ‘The Maze’ highlight the words, Wade, race, maze, gate, fate, cake, trade. • Read the words at the top of each story. • Find these words in the story. • Colour in a happy face every …
English 9 SHORT STORY ELEMENTS 1. SETTING 2. PLO…
having a beginning, middle, and end. The short story usually has one plot so it can be read in one sitting. There are five essential parts of plot: a) Introduction - The beginning of the story where the …
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School Full PDF
Apr 15, 2024 · One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School Full PDF ... upgrade, and masquerade. Ranging from true short story length through novelette and originally published in science fiction magazines …
Steps to Writing a Fictional Narrative (Short Story)
Steps to Writing a Fictional Narrative (Short Story) 1. Read and understand the prompt or writing directions. What kind of story are you being asked to write? Example: Fictional Narrative Writing Task In this …
One Paragraph Short Story - goramblers.org
One Paragraph Short Story: In today digital age, eBooks have become a staple for both leisure and learning. The convenience of accessing One Paragraph Short Story and various genres has transformed the way …
Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed
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20. The Necklace By Guy de Maupassant. Matthews, Bran…
Matthews, Brander. 1907. The Short-Story Brander Matthews > The Short-Story > XX. The Necklace PREVIOUS NEXT CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD · STORY NOTES Brander Matthews (1852–1929). The …
Free One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
Apr 14, 2024 · Free One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School Peter Guthrie,Mary Paige The Gift of the Magi O. Henry.2021-12-22 The Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry first published in …
Read Skillfully The Lost Dog - DePaul University
Includes questions you can ask about any story. One particularly cold Saturday in January, I was supposed to take our dog out for a walk, but it was so cold that I didn’t want to go outside. Instead, I just …
{EBOOK} One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
Apr 21, 2024 · Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander delivers a story in-verse about a boy who just might have magical powers; National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson spins a tale of friendship …
Reflection Activity & Assessment of Summer Read…
Summer 2019 Short Story Project Reflection Paragraph & Short Story Creative Writing Project This is a two-part reading reflection experience. A reflection paragraph about the reading experience …
Descriptive Paragraph Short Story Full PDF
Descriptive Paragraph Short Story The Anatomy of Story John Truby,2008-10-14 John Truby is one of the most respected and sought after story consultants in the film industry and his students have gone …
The Wounded Wolf TAKE NOTES Jean Craighead Georg…
Short Story The setting of a story is the time and place in which the action happens. Circle the words in the fi rst paragraph that give details about the setting. Short Story An external confl ict …
Pre-AP English 1 Planning Guide: Using SpringBoard - C…
analysis paragraph • revise a paragraph by adding direct quotes and smooth transitions Lessons 1.9 Writing a Literary Analysis Paragraph “Lamb to the Slaughter” Activity 1.10 Writing a …
The snowman Short story - LearnEnglish Kids
The snowman Short story It was nearly Christmas. Katie woke up and found that the world was white and magical. ‘Snow!’ she shouted. ‘Snow for Christmas!’ She ran outside and danced in the snow. Her …
UNIT 1 Paragraph to Short Essay - eaw.ouponlinepractic…
Paragraph to Short Essay Part 1: The Paragraph Exercise 2 (p. 3) A. 1. c 2. b 3. a B. 1. Whenever I remember my experience in flight school, I think of my instructor because he taught me how to fly a jet. …
Intermediate Short Stories – “Driving Directions”
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then, compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic version of the story. This will give you a …
Grammar Stories Passive Voice - WordPress.com
2. Using the passive voice, write a short paragraph about the person or people in the box. 3. Write at least 5 questions about your paragraph. 4. Give your paper to a classmate to read your story and …
Louise Erdrich, “The Leap” - Frontier Central School District
as one long breathless article put it, the wind rose, miles off, wrapped itself into a cone, and howled. There came a rumble of electrical energy, drowned out by the sudden roll of drums. One detail not …
A Ship in a Storm - K5 Learning
Read the short story. Then answer each question. A Ship in a Storm Did you ever go far out into the great ocean? How beautiful it is to be out at sea when the sea is smooth and still! When a storm …
The Story of My Life - Mahatma Gandhi
one after another was nothing to her. Living on one meal a day dur-ing Chaturmas was a habit with her. Not content with that she fasted every other day during one Chaturmas. During another Chaturmas …
One Paragraph Short Stories For Middle School
School One Page 2 Paragraph Short Stories for Kids''Lesson Plans Write a Short Story in One Class Middle May 2nd, 2018 - Middle School High School Write a Short Story in One Class Many students are …
The Anatomy of a Body Paragraph - Harvard College …
paragraph on one main point—and begin a new paragraph when you are moving to a new point or example. A strong paragraph in an academic essay will usually include these three elements: • A topic …
