Can anyone explain what is meant by style of communication, in the context of reading a story and being able to say what the style of it is. Also what are the key components of a short story? As I am not sure as to what I am supposed to be looking for when reading other peoples stories. Thank you in advance

"style of communication" is not a phrase I've come across before, so I had to google it and found this:

http://www.angelfire.com/az2/webenglish/commstyles.html

Is that any help? Are you using it in the context of giving feedback, or in actually writing the story?

As for the key components of the short story, others can answer it better than me, but I look for a proper beginning, middle and end - so, for example, an opening chapter from a novel is unlikely to work as a short story.
It helps to tie up most, if not all, of the plot threads by the end to give it a satisfactory denoument.
Stories can be open ended or come round in a circle. I prefer the latter, where the opening echos the ending.
As with novels, avoid unnecessary exposition, backstory and info dumps in the opening paragraphs. Avoid repetition of points and scenarios - trust the reader to remember everything, even when it's only mentioned the once. Likewise, try not to include facts &/or characters which you don't revisit later in the story, because the reader will assume they are important. ie, Make sure you've used all your plot devices (incl. characters) to their best effect - eg, try not to introduce new characters and new plot devices at the end when everything is supposed to be concluding. Or introduce them at the beginning and then forget about them - think of it like a game of chess, where you set up your pieces at the beginning and play them. Anything you still have unmoved, or moved the once, on the proverbial board by the end of the story, delete as unnecessary to the story.

I'll probably think of some more in the morning.

- NaomiM

<Added>

I see I've apparently contradicted myself with the 'avoid repetition', but 'try not to include facts &/or characters which you don't revisit later in the story'. Maybe reiteration is a better word than repetition, but you'll see the difference as you critique stories posted in the Short Story Group.

<Added>

...the latter moves the plot along; the former just repeats the same point over and over again.

<Added>

To give an example of repetition:
Story opens with wife being beaten by her drunken husband.
Husband goes down pub leaving her to clean herself up.
Stranger comes to door and sees the bruises and the empty bottles of booze by the sink.
The point is made in the last scene, so the opening - used purely to introduce the husband - can be deleted.

Thank you Naomi for your reply it has helped clarify the key components.
Yes I am using the style of communication in the context of feedback, I did find something about stories written in the style of Hemmingway etc, in a book I found in the library but I was unsure if this is what is meant by the above.

Is it just a fancier way of saying 'style'? Perhaps 'style as it comes across to the reader'?

If so, I'd say that it's a combination of what you say, and how you say it - but mostly the latter.

This might help you to think things out a bit, although, I warn you, it's partly about why I don't find the idea of 'style' in writing particularly helpful:

http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/2011/02/not-quite-your-style.html

Emma

Thank you Emma having read your blog the muddy water has become much clearer. I think I prefer the word voice as this to me does indeed make it much clearer, about what I am looking for in a peace of writing.

Also what are the key components of a short story?

A common model for short stories, particularly in genre fiction is:

CHARACTER in a
SETTING with a
PROBLEM who
TRIES/FAILS then after the
CLIMAX
SUCCEEDS or FAILS, followed by the
RESOLUTION

Or variations thereof. Ideally, the first three should be established in the first page or so.

Once a writer is confident with such templates, he or she can stretch one or more of the individual elements, e.g. write a story that's mostly about the setting; and if they're really good, they can leave out one or more of them altogether.

Terry

Thank you Terry for your help, I am finding it much easier now to read as writer rather than just read.

One of the best books I've read on writing is 'Creating Short Fiction' by Damon Knight.