Alliteration describes the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables. This type of figurative language can be found in a great number of short stories. It is an example of figurative language that has a profound influence on the pace and flow of a sentence. For example, if the witch whistled wickedly, alliteration has successfully given the sentence a particular sound, pace and flow that’s engaging.
In lieu of several pages explaining every detail of a particular character, a short story writer must capture the essence of a character in a few sentences. The writer may use a metaphor to do so. A metaphor compares two unlike things. If the main character is compared to a snake, the reader will have a developed understanding of the character -- that she is perhaps conniving and secretive -- in only a short sentence.
Personification is a widely used example of figurative language, and it's in effect when something that isn’t human, a chair or an animal, is given human characteristics and qualities. This allows the reader to relate to the text in an intimate way, and the device is used in short stories to establish a personal connection with the reader quickly. If the house is sad about the small girl leaving, it is clear the kind of relationship the girl has with the house.
A short story writer will use an onomatopoeia because of the amount of information it is able to communicate in such a short time. An onomatopoeia is created when a word actually sounds like the action it is describing. When the rain drizzles on the lawn, you are able to hear the water hitting the lawn with great clarity because of the word “drizzle” and the sound created when you say it.