Third person narration is the most commonly used narrative in short stories, featuring an omniscient, detached voice. A writer can use this perspective to reveal characters’ thoughts and motivations with more freedom than he has with a first person narration, giving the reader a comprehensive overview of all the events happening within the story. Limited third person narration focuses primarily on a single character’s experiences, though the writer does not speak with the voice of that character and retains the freedom to give the reader information that the character would not have. A writer using a limited third person narrative may also shift between characters over the course of the story, focusing on different characters in different times or geographic locations as the story progresses.

The four basic components to all narratives are plot, character, conflict, and theme. The use of sensory details is crucial to emotionally engaging the reader. A strong introduction is important to hook the reader. A strong conclusion should add resolution to the conflict and evoke the narrative’s theme.