In the short story there is no room for overcrowding with too many characters slabs of lengthy narrative prolonged reminiscence or retrospection Flashbacks must be fleeting and only used if there is no other way to throw light on an issue One effective way to do this is through a flash of memory in the leading characters mind the recollection or reminder of an incident or scene which stirred the current conflict Such a recollection can get the story on its way or take it a big step forward at a crucial moment but never at any time must it be allowed to put a brake on the action In this respect dialogue is more useful than many aspiring authors realise Two voices in discussion can reveal two sides of a question in far less time than it takes to explain it from only one persons viewpoint It also avoids unnecessary wordage and holds or increases a readers interest Overwriting can kill a short story from the start but this doesnt mean that brevity must reduce it to the level of a synopsis Conflict and action must be as well sustained in a short story as in a novel but in the short story the art lies in making every word count in a compact space