What are the characteristics of very short fantasy stories?

One characteristic is their quick pacing. Since they are short, there's no time for long - winded build - ups. They get right to the action or the strange, fantastical element. They also tend to leave a lot to the reader's imagination. For instance, a story might end on a cliffhanger, and the reader has to imagine what happens next. They can also play with different fantasy tropes in a very condensed way, like a twist on the hero's journey in just a couple of paragraphs.

They leave a lot to the imagination. Consider 'The empty swing moved by itself.' It doesn't explain why, and that's what makes it so terrifying. Your mind fills in the blanks with all kinds of horrible possibilities, and that's the power of very very short horror stories.

They are concise. For example, they can quickly set a simple scene like 'A fish in a pond wanted to see the ocean.' without much detail.

One characteristic is their brevity. They convey a complete idea or story in just a few pages or even paragraphs. For example, they often have a single, focused theme, like love in 'The Gift of the Magi'.

Very short scary stories often rely on common fears such as the dark, the unknown, and being alone. They use vivid but minimal descriptions to create a sense of unease. For instance, a story could say 'He walked into the empty house. The creaking floorboards were the only sound. Then he saw a shadow move.' This builds tension without a lot of extra words. Also, they can play on superstitions like ghosts or curses to make the reader feel scared.

Very short short stories are often concise. They usually focus on one main idea or event. For example, they might tell a brief encounter between two people that reveals something about human nature in just a few sentences.

One characteristic is their ability to convey a big idea quickly. For example, they might introduce a unique concept like a new form of time travel or an alien society in just a few paragraphs. Another is their often - intense focus. Since they're short, they usually center around one main idea or event, like a single encounter with an alien in a very short story.

They often have a strong central theme. For example, many deal with human nature, like kindness or greed. The short length forces the authors to focus on the key elements of the story and make every word count. Also, they are diverse in terms of genre, ranging from love stories to horror stories.

They are likely to be concise. With very little space, they have to convey a clear message or tell a complete story arc quickly. For example, they might focus on one key event or emotion.

They often have a quick - paced plot. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's descent into madness and the events leading to the confession happen rapidly. Another characteristic is a strong sense of mystery. In 'The Landlady', from the moment the young man enters the boarding house, there are mysteries about the landlady and the other guests. They also tend to have a single, powerful climax. Like in 'Lamb to the Slaughter', when the woman serves the leg of lamb to the police, it's a very tense moment.