Anatomy of the Short Story

In this episode we examine the key elements that make up a great short story, and we share a collection of classic tales to illustrate the power of the format.

Episode Highlights:

01:30 What a short story does best

03:27 Character is King: Short Story Edition

10:08 Six key literary elements of the short story

17:44 A training ground for the writer’s “long game”

22:10 Story Example 1: A Good Man is Hard to Find

26:45 Story Example 2: Trace

30:07 Story Example 3: The Telltale Heart

33:10 Story Example 4: The Star

35:40 Story Example 5: A Rose for Emily

40:20 Story Example 6: The Open Window