The first question many students may ask when setting out to write a short story is how long is a short story supposed to be? Short stories have a fairly broad range of lengths, between 1,000 and 7,500 words.

　　在准备一个短篇故事的时候，许多学生问的第一个问题是：“短篇故事篇幅有多长?”短篇故事的篇幅范围比较广泛，字数在1000到7500字之间。

　　If you are writing for a class or publication, your teacher or editor may give you specific page requirements. If you double space, 1000 words in 12-point font covers between three and four pages.

　　如果你是为教学或出版社写文章，你的老师或编辑会告诉你具体的页数要求。如果你使用的是两倍行距，12号字，就要写三到四页，大概1000字左右。

　　However, it is important not to limit yourself to any page limits or goals in the initial drafts. You should write until you get the basic outline of your story intact and then you can always go back and adjust the story to fit any set length requirements you have.

　　但是，在准备初稿的时候，有一点很重要，就是不要让自己局限于篇幅限制或要求。你应该先完成完整的故事基本大纲，然后再将故事按照篇幅要求进行调整。

　　The toughest part of writing short fiction is condensing all the same elements necessary for a full length novel into a smaller space. You still need to define plot, character development, tension, climax and the falling action.

　　创作短篇小说最困难的就是为了缩短篇幅，将所有相同的要素放在一起进行考虑。你仍然需要对故事情节、角色进展、冲突、高潮和低潮。

　　Short Story Point of View

　　短篇故事的立场

　　One of the first things you want to think about is what point of view would work best for your story. If your story centers on one character's personal journey, first person will allow you to show the main character's thoughts and feelings without having to spend too much time demonstrating them through action.

　　你要思考的第一件事就是什么样的立场最适合来讲述你的故事。如果你的故事主要讲述的是一个人物的个人经历，你可以使用第一人称来表现主要人物的内心想法和感情，也就不需要在动作表现上花费太多时间。

　　Third person, the most common, can allow you to tell the story as an outsider. A third person omniscient point of view gives the writer access to the knowledge of all the characters' thoughts and motives, time, events, and experiences.

　　第三人称的使用是最普遍的，它可以使你从一个旁观者的角度来讲述故事。第三人称具有全知视角，能够帮助作者表现所有人物的想法、动机、时间、事件和经历。

　　Third person limited has full knowledge of only one character and any events tied to him.

　　第三人称的局限是只能对一个人物及其相关事件进行全面阐述。

　　Short Story Setting

　　短篇故事设定

　　The opening paragraphs of a short story should quickly depict the setting of the story. The reader should know when and where the story is taking place. Is it present day? The future? What time of year is it?

　　短篇故事一开篇就应该迅速描述出故事的设定。读者应该知道故事发生的时间和地点。是发生在现在、还是未来?时间是哪一年?

　　The social setting is also important to determine. Are the characters all wealthy? Are they all women?

　　社会环境的选取也十分重要。所有的人物都是富人吗?都是女子吗?

　　When describing the setting, think of the opening of a movie. The opening scenes often span across a city or countryside then focus in on a point involving the first scenes of action.

　　在描述你的设定时，想象电影的开始场景。电影的开场一般都是设定在一个城市或乡村，然后集中在第一幕的场景。

　　You could also this same descriptive tactic. For example, if your story begins with a person standing in a large crowd, describe the area, then the crowd, maybe the weather, the atmosphere (excited, scary, tense) and then bring the focus into the individual.

　　你也可以使用相同的策略。例如，如果你的故事开篇就是描写一个人站在人群中，你可以先描述场景，然后是人群，或者天气、气氛(热烈、恐怖、紧张)，接着将视觉集中在个人身上。

　　Short Story Conflict

　　短篇故事中的冲突

　　Once you develop the setting you must introduce the conflict or the rising action. The conflict is the problem or challenge that the main character faces. The issue itself is important, but the tension created is what creates reader involvement.

　　一旦你展开设定，就必须介绍冲突或上升的情节。冲突就是主要人物面对的问题或挑战。问题本身是重要的，但是营造出的紧张气氛却能够使读者身临其境。

　　The tension in a story is one of the most important aspects; it's what keeps the reader interested and wanting to know what will happen next.

　　故事中的紧张气氛是最重要的方面之一;它使得读者产生兴趣，并想知道接下来会发生什么。

　　To simply write, "Joe had to decide whether to go on his business trip or stay home for his wife's birthday," lets the reader know there is a choice with consequences but does not elicit much reader reaction.

　　如果只是写：“乔不得不决定是去出差还是留在家里给妻子过生日”，这只是让读者知道有两种选择，却无法引起读者的共鸣。

　　To create tension you could describe the internal struggle Joe is having, maybe he'll lose his job if he doesn't go, but his wife is really looking forward to spending time with him on this particular birthday. Write the tension that Joe is experiencing in his head.

　　为了营造紧张气氛，你可以描绘乔内心的挣扎，比如如果他不去出差就可能丢掉饭碗，但他的妻子却是非常盼望能与他共度这个特别的日子。你可以将乔脑中的紧张情绪描写出来。

　　Short Story Climax

　　短篇故事的高潮

　　Next should come the climax of the story. This will be the turning point where a decision is made or change occurs. The reader should know the outcome of the conflict and understand all the events leading up to the climax.

　　接下来的就是故事的高潮。它就是做出决定或发生转变的转折点。读者应该知道冲突的结果，并理解把情节推向高潮的事件。

　　Be sure to time your climax so that it doesn't happen too late or too soon. If done too soon, the reader will either not recognize it as the climax or expect another twist. If done too late the reader might get bored before it happens.

　　你要确定好高潮发生的时间，使得其不会太迟或太快。如果完成得太快，读者会意识不到这是高潮，或者开始期待另一个转折。如果太晚出现，读者在之前就会感到厌倦。

　　The last part of your story should resolve any questions left after the climactic events take place. This could be an opportunity to see where the characters end up sometime after the turning point or how they deal with the changes that have occurred in and/or around themselves.

　　你的故事的最后一部分应该解决高潮事件之后的所有问题。这是一个观察角色在转折之后怎样收尾的机会，或者怎样解决自己身上或周围发生的变化。

　　Once you get your story drafted into a semi-final form, try letting a peer read it and give you some feedback. You will most likely find that you became so involved in your story that you omitted some details.

　　一旦你的故事变成了半成品，可以让同龄人读读看，给你一些反馈。你很可能会发现自己因为受到故事限制而忽略了一些细节。

　　Don't be afraid to take a little creative criticism. It will only make your work stronger.

　　不要害怕一些创造性的批评，它只会让你的作品更加完善。

（编辑：何莹莹）