[header] How to write a mystery short story [title] Know the scope of your story. [step] A short story is usually between 5 , 000 and 10 , 000 words, but may be as long as 20 , 000 words (80 pages, double-spaced). The author h.g wells said that it's a short story if you can read it in half an hour. 
To write a mystery within this limited space means that you'll have to make every word count. Furthermore, you'll have to make sure your mystery short story includes these elements : [substeps] A crime of some sort, usually a murder.