I love writing short stories as much as the next guy. I've published twenty of these myself over the last four years. They're gratifying. They're a reasonable commitment, they help you figure out your writing voice and, technically, they make you a writer. I understand why editors love them, too. Some of the magazines and anthologies out there help shape great new voice, sometimes even generational talent. I've always told people that editing a short story mag is a Sisyphean task, but I'm sure it has its deeply satisfying moments.
Only problem is that nobody buys short stories anymore. Editors do. Sometimes publishing companies even. But outside the author's friends and a close group of enlightened hardcore readers, nobody does.
I don't care if your collection or anthology has sold 829 copies. Good for you, but it's not 8,290 or 82,900 like best selling novels are. Now, I can think of several reasons why someone walking into a book store with 40 bucks to spend would buy two novels rather than short story collections: they offer a better perceived value (longer, more detailed stories), they're sticking with one narrative instead of constantly resetting, they are generally perceived as the purest form of fiction, etc.
Now, I realized over the last two years or so that despite the fact that I love short stories, I read very little of them on my own volition. If it hasn't been written by a close friend of mine or if it hasn't been sent to me for review (and I've been sent glorious collections for review in 2015), I'm simply not going to read it. What I'm trying to say here is that I have basically forsaken the short story market since I have bought Thuglit #10 sometime in 2014. Of course, I feel guilty for not supporting new, emerging voice, but shouldn't I want to read short stories because I'm enjoying it first and foremost?
That begs the question: are short stories an inferior form of literature or are we just thinking about them the wrong way?
I think everyone is a little guilty of making short stories a second class form of literature because everyone is using it as such. In order to make short stories sexy again, we have to answer this very important question: what do short stories offer that novels can't? Here are my ideas, but I would love to hear yours in the comment section:
I don't care if your collection or anthology has sold 829 copies. Good for you, but it's not 8,290 or 82,900 like best selling novels are. Now, I can think of several reasons why someone walking into a book store with 40 bucks to spend would buy two novels rather than short story collections: they offer a better perceived value (longer, more detailed stories), they're sticking with one narrative instead of constantly resetting, they are generally perceived as the purest form of fiction, etc.
Now, I realized over the last two years or so that despite the fact that I love short stories, I read very little of them on my own volition. If it hasn't been written by a close friend of mine or if it hasn't been sent to me for review (and I've been sent glorious collections for review in 2015), I'm simply not going to read it. What I'm trying to say here is that I have basically forsaken the short story market since I have bought Thuglit #10 sometime in 2014. Of course, I feel guilty for not supporting new, emerging voice, but shouldn't I want to read short stories because I'm enjoying it first and foremost?
That begs the question: are short stories an inferior form of literature or are we just thinking about them the wrong way?
I think everyone is a little guilty of making short stories a second class form of literature because everyone is using it as such. In order to make short stories sexy again, we have to answer this very important question: what do short stories offer that novels can't? Here are my ideas, but I would love to hear yours in the comment section:
- Theme. One thing short story collections do right is prioritizing theme over plot and characters. Short stories will never be able to rival with novels on classic narrative elements, but I don't think it's their purpose to. Sometimes you might not want to read someone, but something in particular. Whether you're looking for heist stories, fishing stories, backwood crime stories, steamy romances, isn't it better to experience the entire scope of what's available within that theme first?
- Repetition. The relationship between a writer and his audience is all about managing, fulfilling or transcending expectations. Once you've settled on a theme, let's say vengeance, isn't it better to have your expectations fulfilled and transcended over and over again, rather than building towards an eventual payoff? A strong short story collection/anthology will multiply the amount of satisfying moments for the audience that a novel would offer.
- Commitment. Reading a short story is much less of a commitment than reading a novel and you don't need to read every single one of them in a collection/anthology. In a sense, they are much better adapted to the reality of the overworked 21st century professional who doesn't have time to set aside for a book. Don't feel bad because you don't have time to read War and Peace, pick up Thuglit, read the stories with funny titles and enjoy yourself, for God's sake.
- Scouting. Casual readers might roll their eyes at this, but short story magazines and anthologies are a great scouting tool for further reading. They don't have to be an end in themselves, they are a tool to get to know new writers. Given that the more underground zines and anthologies often are giving a voice to unpublished talents, publications like Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Magazine will give you a line on established authors that might not have been on your radar and will lead you to read more novel, which is what every reader ultimately wants, right? Stop thinking about magazines and anthologies as an end in themselves. Read them with the purpose of finding ulterior reading in mind.
I wanted to write this piece because I've repeatedly came across MAG-NI-FI-CIENT short story writing through review requests this year. Tiffany Scandal (novel-in-stories), Jordan Harper, Cameron Pierce and T.E Grau all dropped me on my ass this year with their killer short story collections and lead me to think there might be a bright future for the form in itself. We just, as readers, editors, publishers and audience, have to give them a place of their own. Short stories are not just a breeding ground for new voices, they are an enjoyable narrative form in themselves and we need to treat it as such if we want it to have better value.