S: Short Stories. I love reading and writing long fiction pieces. Though fantasy is my first love for reading and writing, I also read lots of other fiction including some long historical fiction. But over and over again, I hear and read the advice that writing short stories and posting them to places like Goodreads, is a good way to draw in new readers and get my name out there. I have one short story up on Goodreads and another started, but I'm not enthusiastic about writing them so it's going slow.
But I'm going to do more. Writing short stories can be good practice for me and if they're interesting enough to draw in readers, then I haven't wasted my time. But I'm worried I can't write short, arresting fiction. But I'm going to try?
Do you think writing short stories is helpful to novelists? Do you write short stories? Do you like reading short stories or novels?
21 comments:
I'm not a big fan of reading short stories. They end too quickly. But I've heard time and time again that the best way to be a successful writer is to start on the short stories.
I like a good short story, but I've always found them hard to write. It takes real skill to be able to develop the characters enough for the reader to identify with in such a short period.
I've never been a big fan of short stories until recently. I've even started writing my own and found it to be really good practice, even if I'll never publish them.
I like to read and write short stories and think they're great writing exercises, as well.
I enjoy writing short stories, mostly flash fiction. I enjoy the challenge of compressing the story down in order to find its essence, and I find it helps in my novel writing in terms of finding the true point of the story and using the strongest words. The flip side is that my novel drafts tend to be very short. :)
I've only written a few short stories. My best friend Alex is quite talented with them. He actually just self published a set of them on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/What-hodgepodge-Collection-Seven-Stories/dp/1484033388/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366633931&sr=1-11&keywords=hodgepodge)
But yes, I do enjoy them!
Until this challenge, I've only written one short story. It was one of those that felt like it had to be written.
I'll read short stories, but I can't write them. I've tried, but they always seem to turn into novels.
i do like short stories and even better i like short chapters in novels
I'm working on a short story series that I hope to get published later this year. As for reading, I like reading short stories. My habit is to read a book in one setting so novels tend to take up my whole day. Short stories only take a few hours so I don't feel as bad reading them.
Speaking for short stories, I need to start writing them again. I have to turn one in for an anthology before the end of the month, too. Uh oh. Better get busy! :)
I wrote a few WAY back when, but none in recent years.
I used to write short stories but don't anymore. I'd like to however just for the exercise, maybe even publish a book of them. But I no longer read them and I basically write whatever I'm reading. Like when my kids were young I read a lot of MG books, so I was also writing MG stuff and submitting the stories to magazines. Now that they're older and so am I, I don't have the interest.
I haven't been a writer of short stories. However, I can see that it would be a good writing exercise. Definitely something to think about doing.
Short stories make sense to me, people are so busy, maybe they have time for a short read, but not a longer one. But, I love history so would be inclined to read history then a short fantasy.
A-Z
My preference is also for novel length writing.
But I do think writing short stories enhances the skills in longer works.
I wrote so many short stories when I was young and I have a novel in mind that will feature four novelette length stories.
I am so new at writing I didn't even know about posting to Goodreads. Thanks.
Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
Visiting from AtoZ #41
I'm in the same boat. I've heard that they are useful, and I can see why, but I just can't seem to do it!
I have had some success in writing shorter stories that are connected to my novels, just short action pieces that are background for my characters. But even then, the one I wrote ended up at about 10,000 words. Not sure that even counts as short. And not sure that it fits the format for a short story either!
Rinelle Grey
I've not read any short stories in a long time; ironically because I don't have time due to reading longer novels! I'd like to read some short fantasy or steampunk fiction though; I'll take a look at what's out there :)
Jamie @ Mithril Wisdom
I actually prefer writing short stories. I tend to get bored with things very fast, so sometimes even a novel idea will just turn into a short story as I tire of writing it.
#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
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