Alright, I haven't written any flash fiction or short stories in quite some time so I am a little rusty. However, I'm going to give my thoughts on what the five essential ingredients of a good short story are as I remember utilizing them. 1
1. One Main Character: A short story will always have one well rounded, distinguishable main character in the story. Since short stories are limited to a certain amount of words, there is only enough time to really introduce the reader to one main character. The short story is also told in only one P.O.V. and that is of the single main character. 2
2. One Major Conflict: There are two types of conflict; external and internal. The majority of short stories that I recall reading all contained internal conflict rather than external conflict. 3
3. Plot Line: A short story plot line must mainly consists of a exposition, complication, climax, and resolution. It is imperative that the plot line be well developed and appropriately timed. The plot line usually has an abrupt beginning so that the story begins in the middle of the action. 4
4. Setting: Like in short stories, novellas, and novels the setting is an essential piece of a story since it can enhance or worsen your story. However, short stories generally focus on one particular setting for the entirety of the story. 5
5. Resolution: The resolution is where the main character's conflict is resolved. In short stories, many if not all resolutions also include a moral of some sort. The resolution is what makes or breaks the short story in my opinion; since without a resolution you can't have a short story. 6
This is what I think five essential elements of a short story are..if I remember correctly. If I am wrong then please feel free to let me know.
Author notes
This is a contest entry. 
In a list
A contest entry
- And what do YOU think constitutes a good SHORT STORY? by Gary Alexander.
1000 points, ended October 21, 9 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Great job! Your explanations are really well-worded and to the point. I always have so much trouble writing short stories, because it's hard for me to introduce characters in such a small amount of space, and my readers usually nag me to write more or turn into a book!
It's also hard for me to have a steady plot. I really like how simple and informational this is. ^^
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Thank you for taking the time to read my contest entry! I'm glad you liked it. I was a little rusty but oh well. I have trouble writing short stories as well since I'm so used to writing longer stories. Also, having to describe the characters in a couple of sentences is very, very difficult to do, but practice makes perfect! lol Thanks again, and I'm glad you liked it.
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I'd say three out of five!
Well...you've got two of them! ONE MAJOR CHARACTER...and ONE MAJOR CONFLICT!
But...Forget about TIME. This has no bearing. The story can go on forever if that is what it takes for the ONE CHARACTER to resolve his ONE CONFLICT! Time and length play NO part!
It just so happens that it TAKES longer to deal with MORE than one MAJOR character and more than one MAJOR CONFLICT...so a novel IS LONGER! But, possibly it can be shorter...than a long Short Story! What MAKES a short story SHORT...is the one character and the one conflict. It is not the story's being short that only gives us one character and one conflict. And forget the internal, external stuff. All GOOD and RICH...that is INTERESTING and WORTHWHILE conflicts are INTERNAL! It is always the character fighting WITHIN himself that is interesting and worthwhile. And ALL struggles begin and end here! (Who gave you this "external" stuff?)
PLOT is the story...those events and circumstances through which the major character deals with and grapples, struggles with his or her conflict! But PLT is necessary for novels also...although more complicated, of course (because of the greater number of characters and conflicts! So plot...doesn't figure in here as an ingredient SPECIFIC to the Short Story!
Ditto for setting. Doesn't a novel have a setting? So...no good there either.
If by resolution you mean THEME...let's give that a yes. ONE MAJOR THEME is the writer's message...that bit of moral truth or axiom he or she wishes to convey by this story. It should be stated in one sentence.
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