One of the last college classes I took was an elective on British literature. And one of the focal points of the class was the analysis of short stories. Some authors we studied were James Joyce, Jorge Luis Borges, and Haruki Murakami. And prior to that I’d had no experience with short stories. I can’t remember ever studying them in high school and I definitely hadn’t ever purchased a collection on my own.
In the couple of years since graduation I’ve had no more exposure to short stories but for the few I’ve read here on WordPress. But maybe it’s just me. Maybe there are still writers out there who release short story collections and have large followings. I just have no idea who they are if they do in fact exist. Is this the norm or am I detached from the rest of you?
And I’m not talking about those writers who write dozens of 30 page short stories and just put them on Amazon every other week. Anyone can do that and receive little to no recognition for doing so because the quality just isn’t there.
Do you write short stories? Do you happen to read them?
Johnny Reads 
Thuglit is a monthly collection of short story crime fiction. Most of the stories are really great. I am a regular reader. I read short stories all the time. The last book of short stories I read was 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill which was amazing.
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I think I’ve heard of Thuglit. I think. Do you prefer them over novels?
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No. I do not. The quality is good for the most part but not quite the same as an established competent crime novelist.
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Hm. Any big time writers involved with it? Like on ocassion?
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I don’t believe so. It is primarily a format for writers up and coming or looking to establish their name. But, it is possible a well known writer has a story in an issue and I did not recognize the name.
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Hm. I only asked cause I know guys like Lee Child and Michael Connelly sometimes write short stories around their characters. Thought maybe they’d contribute to something like that every once in awhile.
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Yes, I’ve seen some of the Jack Reacher short stories on Audible but haven’t got around to them yet. Quite a few series books will have short stories about the main characters but I would imagine the bigger authors have exclusivity deals with their publishers.
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I’ve usually seen them right in the middle of series books and for cheap, like $1.99.
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Sometimes they are free.
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When you buy another book, right? I think
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Mmmmm. Sometimes, but not always. Audible is pretty good to have discounts, sales, and even free stuff once in a while.
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Of course. Cause I’ve never used it.
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Never? Or are you being sarcastic?
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Nope. Haven’t listened to an audiobook since elementary school.
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Oh. I love them. Podcasts, and audio books. But they can get expensive (audio books that is). I have a subscription which helps. I love listening when I’m running, biking, doing laundry, or something along those lines. I’ll tear through four or five a month. I love the Jack Reached books on Audible.
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How can you concentrate on the books? I used to listen in art class. I think it would depend on who’s doing the reading for me.
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I don’t find concentrating difficult. I mean I wouldn’t want to be performing brain surgery while listening but when I’m doing something as menial as folding towels, running on a treadmill, or walking to the grocery store, listening is no problem and quite enjoyable.
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True. I couldn’t even listen to music while running. I don’t hear the songs. Lil
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And a lot of the narrators are really good and can enhance the enjoyment of the book.
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Maybe I should do that free trial thing and see what I think.
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You might like it.
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You’re right. But then I’d want a book for my shelf and then I have no money.
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A good short story is a fine way to take a break, a lovely intermission, a spring fling. A good thing to have on your eReader at all times, to pass the time in line or to enjoy on a quiet park bench.
Writing short stories is a great way to switch gears. I use them to stretch my muscles and try new things I may not otherwise attempt. How few words can I tell something and keep it meaningful? It’s a great challenge.
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I’d rather read news articles if I’m reading with only a short period of time available.
I’ve never tried my hand at a short story. I’d probably be terrible at writing them.
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Midnight Breakfast is a monthly collection of short stories on a variety of subjects. I write short stories, too.
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Never heard of it.
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Love short stories. In this busy life they should play a bigger part.
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Would you rather read a short story collection over a novel?
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At times yes! (Gasp)
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Once upon a time there were these things called “magazines”. They were a paper product and so there was no need of computer, tablet or smart phones to use them. Most of these “magazines”, no matter the theme, be they about farming, guns, life in the city or hats, had at least one short story included every publishing cycle. Ah, the golden days of the short story.
Actually, I post a new short story here every week. Since I post them I also read them – I hate being a hypocrite. I’ve read a lot of fiction put out by fellow bloggers that I’ve liked.
Short story collections have never done well financially unless the author had a huge following. In the last year I’ve read three short story collections from fellow bloggers.
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Are you talking lit magazines or what? Cause there are plenty of magazines I can’t imagine releasing short stories.
I tend to stay away from stories on blogs. Way too many other posts to get to. Unless it’s Megan Hodson’s 100 word stories. Then yes.
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30 or 40 years ago just about every magazine had short stories. Now very few of them do. The world has changed and nobody wants to read short stories so they don’t carry them any more.
With blogs I guess it’s where you set your priorities. I want to read fiction so I do. To me reading good fiction is so much better than reading a person write about fiction – that’s dull and I have better things to do.
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Oh. I wouldn’t know anything about way back then.
You’re right. I’d prefer my fiction from my bookshelf. And if I come across a blogger I might want to read, then I’ll snag their book.
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I interpreted your post in part as asking why it seemed in the past most authors wrote a lot of short stories while today they don’t seem to write as many.
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I think they’re making a comeback. There are tons of anthologies out there now. Many authors are also putting out books of short stories these days. I loved one I read recently called The Power of Six, by Nicholas Rossi. Publishers shied away from them, but Amazon gave them new life. I’ve decided to create one myself.
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I follow his blog but rarely read his posts. I think I read something about that a long time ago. Hm. Amazon lets anyone do anything.
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Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ is a delicious short story collection, her first and won the Pullitzer. There are great short story collections and I enjoy them.
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Delicious? Can I eat it?
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Yummy with a side of Tandoori chicken 🙂
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I don’t know what that is. 😳
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Do you have a neighborhood Indian restaurant?
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Maybe. I’ve never had Indian food. Likely never will.
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Bummer. I was going to invite you over 🙂
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Too bad. I’m picky.
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I get collections of short stories from the library quite often. Neil Gaiman’s are good, as are Stephen King’s. I write my own from time to time, and have published several collections too. You can tell how well they’re selling from the fact that I am typing this on the bridge of my personal dirigible, crossing the Atlantic from my North American Home to one of my European houses….
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I can’t think of the last short story I read. I have a hard time with short stories, no matter how well written. I prefer long stories over short, so I feel like short stories just leave me with more questions than answers. And I’d rather have a little more. I do give people who write short stories a lot of credit, though. It’s much easier to be wordy, I think. So, brava!, to them!
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Me neither. I want more out of the story than just a few thousand words. And me too. Even though I don’t think I’m particularly great at novels, I think I’d be a lot worse at short stories.
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I think you’re a great writer, Wordsmith.
And I know I’d stink at short stories. I tried writing a few a while back and they really stunk. Blech. I guess we all have our strengths.
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Thank you.
Why were you writing them? And not working on one of your 32 different WIPs.
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Hahahaha!!! This was back in college, I think. When I took a creative writing class. My professor’s specialty was creative non-fiction and short stories, so she made us do them.
And at that time, I only had about 4 or 5 WIPs. 🙂
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Ohhh. I was thinking like now. ONLY 4 or 5? Right. Cause I believe that.
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In my opinion, one of the best short story writers in modern times is Christopher Conlon. He writes novels and books of short stories. Sorry. I start gushing when I talk about his writing. Although some of his works are too graphic for my taste, he does write literature. If you look him up on Amazon and read samples of his work, you’ll see what I mean. He also has a blog, but I don’t think it’s with WordPress..
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Hm. I’m obviously not familiar with him or his work. I’ll have to look him up.
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One of his books–a collection of short stories–is called “Thundershowers at Dusk.” Christopher Colon is one of those dark brooding Byronic types. but when he writes he can write from the perspective of a child, a woman, even an infant. He’s amazing. Lives and teaches near Washington, DC. Obviously, I’m one of his biggest fans.
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One of his books–a collection of short stories–is called “Thundershowers at Dusk.” Christopher Colon is one of those dark brooding Byronic types. but when he writes he can write from the perspective of a child, a woman, even an infant. He’s amazing. Lives and teaches near Washington, DC. Obviously, I’m one of his biggest fans. It’s difficult to say if his stories are plot driven or character driven. They are an even blend of both.
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