How to Read (and Write) a Short Story

[sarahblack5]

I have been reading comments lately on why people are dissatisfied with short stories: they don’t feel like they know the characters, the endings are open, with too many loose ends, the conflict is never resolved properly, not enough setting, etc. I’ve been taking this issue seriously, because I love to read and write shorts, and I feel like many

Comments

[jl_merrow]

I'm a big fan of short stories. Sometimes I just haven't got the mental energy or the time to invest in a novel!

As a matter of fact, I read a very good short only today - Sucker Punch, by Sarah Black. ;)

[sarahblack5]

what a nice compliment! Thanks, hunny bunny. I liked that story.

[jgraeme2007]

Excellent post, Sarah. I love the analogy of an Indian Summer afternoon. There is a delicious pleasure in a tight, well-written short story. I love writing them and I love reading them. I agree that part of the problem for some readers might simply be a set of expectations no short can fulfill.

And not everyone is wired to like short stories. There's no getting around that one! ;-)

[sarahblack5]

very true- though I look forward to trying to lure people over to the short dark side!

[jgraeme2007]

We can always remind them that it's not a long term committment.

[elena_62]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

Your short stories are always top notch quality and this shows that, behind the theory, there is a solid craftmanship.

Ciao

Antonella

[sarahblack5]

thanks, my dear!

[sarahblack5]

thanks, Nathan-

[josephine_myles]

I adore short stories - both writing them and reading them. I find it such a shame some readers automatically dismiss them, or consistently rate them low on Goodreads simply because they're short.

Like you say, it's a very different kind of satisfaction to that found in a novel, but every bit as good.