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Although it has lost its appeal in the today’s age, short stories are resurgent, with authors like Ling Ma, Brian Clements, and Chelsea Bieker pushing the charge.

One of the oldest forms of writing, short stories have been part and parcel of the literary tradition, existing in the form of legends, myths, folk tales, fables, and anecdotes. The modern form having been developed in the early 1800s. Edgar Allan Poe, whose insights are the subject of this article, was one of the earliest contemporary writers of the short story. In fact, much of how a short story is regarded today was pioneered by him. So, be sure to remember him when you’re reading Brian Clements, Ken Liu, James VanderMeer, Margaret Atwood, and many others.

Poe wrote many essays about writing, and none have been as influential as his “Philosophy of Composition.” In this lengthy essay, Poe outlines a personal theory of his (which he named the “unity of effect”), remarking on what makes a good writer’s writing good, using his phenomenal poem, “The Raven,” as the object of his dissection. Although one may guess whether or not Poe himself followed the points he laid out in the essay, there can be no denying the wisdom and lessons that can be gleaned from it.

Writing Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe

Here are the main points that Edgar Allan Poe presented as essential to writing a good (if not memorable) narrative (whether it be in the form of a short story or poem).

1. Have an Idea of How the Story Will End. Writing a story is a lot like tracing the steps one takes toward a destination. Therefore, knowing where the direction of the story will take the reader is vital to plot out how the narrative ends there. Without an end in mind, the aspiring writer might write themselves into a dead-end. Having an end in mind guarantees, at least, that there are the bones of a structure to the plot.
2. Make Sure It Can Be Read Without Breaks. Of a narrative’s length, Poe says that “if any literary work is too long to be read in one sitting,” any attempt at simple story structure and holistic impressionability should be discarded. Now, if you wish to write a novel or some other, it is perfectly reasonable not to be too concerned about its length. For short stories and poems, however, it is important to be as concise and as succinct with your writing as possible. Any chance that a reader might put down the work to read it for later breaks the short story’s spell. It is imperative that a short story be read as a whole so as to impress its content upon the reader.
3. Deliver a Strong Impression on the Reader. An author should, before writing down their story, already have “the choice of impression.” The impression here means what the author wants the reader to take away from the piece, what they want them to feel after reading the narrative. Basically, it is how the author can create an outcome that causes the reader to feel specific emotions.
4. Create a Consistency in Tone and Theme. For longer literary forms, a change in tone and a blending of multiple themes are welcome, inevitable even. But in a short story or a poem, it is critical for the reader’s enjoyment that both stay as constant as possible. Wishing to cram as much emotion and ideas into one short narrative and having it stay consistently digestible is impossible. Therefore, a short narrative must only follow as few conventions as possible. Remember, if a novel should be a full meal, a short story is only a snack. A certain level of uniformity must be observed.
5. Know Who the Viewpoint Character Is. Similar to the previous guideline, novels, and other long-form content is exempt from this point. But in a short story or poem, it is important for the structure of the whole narrative to keep to one set of eyes. Having the plot jump from one character to another is confusing enough if found in a novel; placing it in a short story makes it near impossible to read with enjoyment. When writing a short story, the writer must always be consistent with how the narrative flows: one point cleanly diving into another. 

Of course, with everything, these are not meant to be hard rules but mere guidelines.