Loved this piece, Brian. You are again a voice for reason in the fiction corner of this platform. Amidst heated debate about the book industry, publishing and generally making it as a writer, you remind us of a simple but powerful thing: let’s enjoy the act of crafting a story.
You also have a point with short stories being a wonderful medium for writing online to an audience with a dwindling attention. We could pick our phone and scroll for 2 hours or pick our phone and read a story for 10-15 minutes. The level of satisfaction will be wildly different.
Thank you, Claudia! It was the perfect opportunity to use the whole discussion for highlighting short stories. We spend so much time talking about publication that we often forget we need to write.
Thank you for your contributions to the world of short stories. It's doing a great service to readers everywhere.
I love short stories. I love novels too. A good short story is a jewel that's been cut, polished and beautifully set so you can see it sparkle; a novel is a seam of sapphires leading you deep into the mine. A short story is a single exquisite flower; a novel is a whole tree. [Add your own corny metaphor here!]
I think I first became captivated by the power of short stories when I was growing up and reading Ray Bradbury, or one of the many collections of modern Scottish short stories on my parents' bookshelves. I'd argue that in some ways they're harder to master than novels, because there's no space for verbosity and padding. No room to hide. In my own writing I find myself drawn more to longer forms often because I don't know how to stop, so trying to write short stories is a useful discipline, and something I'm trying to get better at.
You're not alone in your approach to novels, and I love your corny metaphors. 😁
The difficulty with writing short stories is something that I want to investigate and may even create an intensive workshop here on the Lunar Awards. It sounds like there would be quite a bit of interest. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I have always thought that a story should decide its own length. I have frequently written 50-word stories for publications that prefer that. They are a good challenge, and I enjoy being part of that community. But honestly, some of my 50-word stories would’ve been far better with 54 or 64 words.
I have written a 14,000-word story and a 52,000-word story because the story needed that length. But I primarily write under 1500 words. That comes naturally to me. If a story needs to be 50,000 words, make it 50,000 words. It only needs 500 words, make it 500 words. Or even 50.
Hey Mark, thanks for your comment! In general, you're right when it comes to crafting a story that has no intended home, it will find its right length. But many of us do write for submission or in mediums that require limits. In a strange way those limits can be simultaneously freeing and demanding. It forces us to understand the essence of the story we're telling and can direct us to better focus on what's important. No matter the length, you're right in that it's about telling good stories.
Thank you for this, Brian! I absolutely love short stories, and I think that making a regular practice of writing short stories has had a bigger impact on my writing skill set than anything else. Especially in the midst of cynicism and disillusionment about the publishing industry, it’s so refreshing to read a reminder to focus on telling stories as powerful the ones that formed us.
So well said, Bridget! You'll always find a good dose of positivity here and from me in general, because I really do want the authors here to succeed in their endeavors... especially with the short story. 😁
Long live the short story! Novels are great, but stories (from short shorts to novellas) tend to stay with me longer. And while I’ve always wanted to write a novel, I keep returning to the land of the short story. I love the form and the clarifying lens it forces one to use, I love the hairpin twists that make a reader cry out in shock or delight, I love the deliciously curated words, each weighed and vetted for meaning and cadence. Magical!
I have always been attracted to short stories, both as a reader and a writer from an early age. What is the Collected Works Sherlock Holmes after all but primarily short stories? I eagerly awaited The Best Short Stories of Whatever Year when they came out, and I would read Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock magazines. I subscribed to the New Yorker mostly for the short stories. I see a collection of short stories as a box of chocolates, each bonbon complete in itself, but just as hard to consume in moderation. I also am a big fan of the concept of related short stories around a location or a central character that veers off to examine the supporting players or an incident just briefly referred to in another story. Yes, I aspire to writing a novel but I really love writing short stories more.
It's wonderful to discover other writers who find short stories so satisfying and endearing. I've not gotten as much into mysteries as I would like, but I have read some of Alfred Hitchcock magazine. I even submitted a piece once to Ellery Queen back when I was trying to figure out what I really wanted to write. Thanks for reading and commenting, and I wish you the best in crafting all of your short stories!
I love short stories and I hope they never die. It's arguably harder to write a really good short story than a novel, as you have to provide a decent sense of character and worldbuilding within a much tighter piece of writing. Every time I see it done well, I want to applaud.
I have had a lot of writers who have written more than one novel tell me that going in the other direction is difficult. Once wired for long fiction, it's hard to retrain our brains. I suspect that's why for established novelists, many of their short stories hover around 40 pages.
I'm rooting for short stories to stay strong and conquer!
Couldn’t agree more. After working on a novel for years, I’ve turned to short stories. I love being able to hold the entire thing in my hands and work through a draft in a few sittings. It’s a perfect medium for testing and working out wild ideas. I’m working on a linked story collection and beginning to post them on my Substack.
That's excellent, Julie! I'm happy to hear you're wading back into those short story waters. The relieving sense of completion is something I enjoy as well, which could be why I haven't been as drawn into the novel. Someone once told me to look at each chapter as a short story in order to help replicate the feeling, but it just doesn't feel the same. Thanks for reading and commenting!
My struggle is keeping it short. I see everything in such detail that I want to convey that clarity to the page. Hence, my "short" stories are 50,000 words.
It's a sentiment that I hear expressed quite a bit, so you're not alone! If anything, forcing yourself to contain a story to 2500 words is a good writing exercise.
Really enjoyed this article, Brian. I started writing short stories with more commitment over the last year because I wanted to hone my writing skills. So then I started reading more short stories as a way to improve my writing of them. I have been astonished by how much is there, how much has been there all along, while I've spent years reading almost exclusively novels.
There is absolute mastery of craft in a good short story. The way a writer's technical skills must be so precise and finely tuned, while getting to some deeply undeniable truth, some breathtakingly honest glimpse of what it means to be human.
"...some breathtakingly honest glimpse of what it means to be human." You're speaking my language, Stephanie! This is exactly how I prefer to approach short stories. For some reason, that human connection comes through more clearly (to me) in a short story as opposed to a novel, but it's certainly possible I'm reading the wrong novels. 🤣
I like writing and reading short stories, but I find I stall out when reading a book of short stories--it breaks up my reading momentum, I guess. I hadn't really thought about it before, but you're right that short stories are presented as a stepping stone to longer fiction, and I agree that that is unfortunate. I'm planning to serialize my novel, and in some ways, I think it will read more like a series of related short stories. I think I'm ok with that!
It's definitely a different vibe. When I'm reading through a collection, what I try to do is setup time to just sit and enjoy one full short story, and then days or a week later I'll come back for another. It's only if I'm engrossed in a novel, do I ever put down the collection for a longer period of time. Once I have it, I usually want to read through it all before moving into something else. Regarding your serial, it sounds like you've got a good plan that isn't much different than other authors that are serializing here, which is a great path forward.
Let’s make short stories great again!
Loved this piece, Brian. You are again a voice for reason in the fiction corner of this platform. Amidst heated debate about the book industry, publishing and generally making it as a writer, you remind us of a simple but powerful thing: let’s enjoy the act of crafting a story.
You also have a point with short stories being a wonderful medium for writing online to an audience with a dwindling attention. We could pick our phone and scroll for 2 hours or pick our phone and read a story for 10-15 minutes. The level of satisfaction will be wildly different.
A good short story is a service to society.
Thank you, Claudia! It was the perfect opportunity to use the whole discussion for highlighting short stories. We spend so much time talking about publication that we often forget we need to write.
Thank you for your contributions to the world of short stories. It's doing a great service to readers everywhere.
This was a good and constructive reminder, Brian. Very needed.
I love short stories. I love novels too. A good short story is a jewel that's been cut, polished and beautifully set so you can see it sparkle; a novel is a seam of sapphires leading you deep into the mine. A short story is a single exquisite flower; a novel is a whole tree. [Add your own corny metaphor here!]
I think I first became captivated by the power of short stories when I was growing up and reading Ray Bradbury, or one of the many collections of modern Scottish short stories on my parents' bookshelves. I'd argue that in some ways they're harder to master than novels, because there's no space for verbosity and padding. No room to hide. In my own writing I find myself drawn more to longer forms often because I don't know how to stop, so trying to write short stories is a useful discipline, and something I'm trying to get better at.
You're not alone in your approach to novels, and I love your corny metaphors. 😁
The difficulty with writing short stories is something that I want to investigate and may even create an intensive workshop here on the Lunar Awards. It sounds like there would be quite a bit of interest. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I have always thought that a story should decide its own length. I have frequently written 50-word stories for publications that prefer that. They are a good challenge, and I enjoy being part of that community. But honestly, some of my 50-word stories would’ve been far better with 54 or 64 words.
I have written a 14,000-word story and a 52,000-word story because the story needed that length. But I primarily write under 1500 words. That comes naturally to me. If a story needs to be 50,000 words, make it 50,000 words. It only needs 500 words, make it 500 words. Or even 50.
The main thing is, is it a good story?
Hey Mark, thanks for your comment! In general, you're right when it comes to crafting a story that has no intended home, it will find its right length. But many of us do write for submission or in mediums that require limits. In a strange way those limits can be simultaneously freeing and demanding. It forces us to understand the essence of the story we're telling and can direct us to better focus on what's important. No matter the length, you're right in that it's about telling good stories.
Limitations can definitely be helpful. As long as they don't limit your creativity.
I agree that novels get most of the glory in fiction, which is a shame. Shorter stories can also be great.
Thank you for this, Brian! I absolutely love short stories, and I think that making a regular practice of writing short stories has had a bigger impact on my writing skill set than anything else. Especially in the midst of cynicism and disillusionment about the publishing industry, it’s so refreshing to read a reminder to focus on telling stories as powerful the ones that formed us.
So well said, Bridget! You'll always find a good dose of positivity here and from me in general, because I really do want the authors here to succeed in their endeavors... especially with the short story. 😁
Long live the short story! Novels are great, but stories (from short shorts to novellas) tend to stay with me longer. And while I’ve always wanted to write a novel, I keep returning to the land of the short story. I love the form and the clarifying lens it forces one to use, I love the hairpin twists that make a reader cry out in shock or delight, I love the deliciously curated words, each weighed and vetted for meaning and cadence. Magical!
So eloquently put, Liz! It's awesome knowing we have so many short story lovers in our midst. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I have always been attracted to short stories, both as a reader and a writer from an early age. What is the Collected Works Sherlock Holmes after all but primarily short stories? I eagerly awaited The Best Short Stories of Whatever Year when they came out, and I would read Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock magazines. I subscribed to the New Yorker mostly for the short stories. I see a collection of short stories as a box of chocolates, each bonbon complete in itself, but just as hard to consume in moderation. I also am a big fan of the concept of related short stories around a location or a central character that veers off to examine the supporting players or an incident just briefly referred to in another story. Yes, I aspire to writing a novel but I really love writing short stories more.
It's wonderful to discover other writers who find short stories so satisfying and endearing. I've not gotten as much into mysteries as I would like, but I have read some of Alfred Hitchcock magazine. I even submitted a piece once to Ellery Queen back when I was trying to figure out what I really wanted to write. Thanks for reading and commenting, and I wish you the best in crafting all of your short stories!
I love short stories and I hope they never die. It's arguably harder to write a really good short story than a novel, as you have to provide a decent sense of character and worldbuilding within a much tighter piece of writing. Every time I see it done well, I want to applaud.
Definitely applaud! Even if nobody hears. 😁
I have had a lot of writers who have written more than one novel tell me that going in the other direction is difficult. Once wired for long fiction, it's hard to retrain our brains. I suspect that's why for established novelists, many of their short stories hover around 40 pages.
I'm rooting for short stories to stay strong and conquer!
Me too!
Couldn’t agree more. After working on a novel for years, I’ve turned to short stories. I love being able to hold the entire thing in my hands and work through a draft in a few sittings. It’s a perfect medium for testing and working out wild ideas. I’m working on a linked story collection and beginning to post them on my Substack.
That's excellent, Julie! I'm happy to hear you're wading back into those short story waters. The relieving sense of completion is something I enjoy as well, which could be why I haven't been as drawn into the novel. Someone once told me to look at each chapter as a short story in order to help replicate the feeling, but it just doesn't feel the same. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Well said. I was surprised by all the noise on this. Short stories are a unique art form and deserve a comeback.
Thank you!
Great article, thanks.
Thank you, Colin!
My struggle is keeping it short. I see everything in such detail that I want to convey that clarity to the page. Hence, my "short" stories are 50,000 words.
It's a sentiment that I hear expressed quite a bit, so you're not alone! If anything, forcing yourself to contain a story to 2500 words is a good writing exercise.
Really enjoyed this article, Brian. I started writing short stories with more commitment over the last year because I wanted to hone my writing skills. So then I started reading more short stories as a way to improve my writing of them. I have been astonished by how much is there, how much has been there all along, while I've spent years reading almost exclusively novels.
There is absolute mastery of craft in a good short story. The way a writer's technical skills must be so precise and finely tuned, while getting to some deeply undeniable truth, some breathtakingly honest glimpse of what it means to be human.
"...some breathtakingly honest glimpse of what it means to be human." You're speaking my language, Stephanie! This is exactly how I prefer to approach short stories. For some reason, that human connection comes through more clearly (to me) in a short story as opposed to a novel, but it's certainly possible I'm reading the wrong novels. 🤣
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I like writing and reading short stories, but I find I stall out when reading a book of short stories--it breaks up my reading momentum, I guess. I hadn't really thought about it before, but you're right that short stories are presented as a stepping stone to longer fiction, and I agree that that is unfortunate. I'm planning to serialize my novel, and in some ways, I think it will read more like a series of related short stories. I think I'm ok with that!
It's definitely a different vibe. When I'm reading through a collection, what I try to do is setup time to just sit and enjoy one full short story, and then days or a week later I'll come back for another. It's only if I'm engrossed in a novel, do I ever put down the collection for a longer period of time. Once I have it, I usually want to read through it all before moving into something else. Regarding your serial, it sounds like you've got a good plan that isn't much different than other authors that are serializing here, which is a great path forward.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I am 100% in your camp about short stories.
Happy to have another short story lover on board!
I LOVE short stories.
I believe I agree with every word of this...
I believe you do, too. 😉