How to Write a Summary for 'Shorts'

Sum it up

Along with your story, voters will be shown a short summary explaining the work and/or putting it in context. The summary should be one or two sentences long, and tell readers just enough about your work to let them know what it’s about and make them want to see more.

What makes a good summary?

A good summary will be brief, clear, and informative. It must be under 300 characters, or about 50 words. It might include a brief plot summary, and an introduction to major characters, themes, or conflicts. Check out a few hypothetical examples of great summaries for famous short stories.

Story	Summary
”Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka	Gregor Samsa is an ordinary man—until he is transformed into a giant insect. Will his life ever be the same?
”The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe	Enter a world of horror, where a man can’t escape his evil deeds.
”A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J.D. Salinger	Tension roils under the surface of a seemingly ordinary day, culminating in a dramatic ending you’ll never see coming.
”A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor	The family road trip takes on a whole new meaning with this comically macabre tale set in the American south.