Short fictions are great. They enable you to experiment with ideas and to challenge your mind. Are there any AW members who prefere to write short fiction rather than Novels, and why?
Short Fiction Preference
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I suspect there are loads. It's pretty much instant gratification. For people like me who just started out, it's good to have quickly have a finished product to show.
I found short fiction to be an excellent way to learn the craft. The mistakes I made were easily fixable throughout a short ms. The amount of plotting (my weakness) was manageable. The likelihood of successful completion was high. It was a win-win for me, and I'd still be doing it if there were a market for it.
Maryn, who saw her market dwindle to two magazines
Maryn, who saw her market dwindle to two magazines
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You're right, it's good to have a product to show quickly, but it also enables us to ask others questions on our writing - the type of story we work better at (horror, romance, comedy) Short fiction enables us to find which genre is most suited to our person.
Count me in that number! I like to see the story down on paper fast and I can usually think of a storyline easier for short fiction than for long. I am especially finding myself enjoying the grabble length works I've been doing.
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I prefer to write short fiction. I have a lot of ideas that I'd like to explore and writing short do that quicker than if I turned each one into a full novel. If there's a short that particularly works for me, I'll explore turning it into something longer. Otherwise I'm content where I'm at.
I enjoy writing both short stories and novels. I agree with what others have said. There is something very satisfying about being able to get out a complete first draft in a day or two. The problem I have is convincing myself that I've only written a first draft and there is a lot of work in front of me before I have a finished story. But I'm getting better at that.
One interesting thing. As I spent more time on my novel this year, I found my short fiction got even shorter. I'm now writing a lot of flash fiction in between revising my WIP.
Bunnie (and others), you should head over to the Suddenly Fiction forum and check out the March FAD threads if you're looking for more folks that focus on the short form. Soccer Mom's got us all trying to write a flash a day in March. It's not too late to join in the fun.
One interesting thing. As I spent more time on my novel this year, I found my short fiction got even shorter. I'm now writing a lot of flash fiction in between revising my WIP.
Bunnie (and others), you should head over to the Suddenly Fiction forum and check out the March FAD threads if you're looking for more folks that focus on the short form. Soccer Mom's got us all trying to write a flash a day in March. It's not too late to join in the fun.
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I'm not verbose enough or good enough at plots to write a novel.
No, really. I'm trying my hand at a novel right now. I have nearly a third of the story down, and I haven't even broken 10K. It's kind of sad, really. It might wind up being a novella if I'm not careful.
No, really. I'm trying my hand at a novel right now. I have nearly a third of the story down, and I haven't even broken 10K. It's kind of sad, really. It might wind up being a novella if I'm not careful.
For me writing shorts is a thoroughly entertaining way to breathe life into a zany 'what if?' idea while also honing the craft. Even better, tweaks and refinements are a smaller level of investment if you are fortunate enough to get feedback, including rewriting substantial chunks if necessary. I've also found that the economy of words you must maintain for shorts helps train your editing eye for longer works.
And echoing previous comments, writing a short can really give you a sense of whether an idea has enough legs and merit to, at some point, deserve the longer treatment. Sort of a couch potato approach.
And echoing previous comments, writing a short can really give you a sense of whether an idea has enough legs and merit to, at some point, deserve the longer treatment. Sort of a couch potato approach.
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I wrote a several novels before discovering that short stories were what I really wanted to write.
I prefer the self-imposed discipline of writing short, the opportunity to be succinct and the idea that every word must further the story.
In a novel you have the time and space in which to wander - in a short story you need to get where you're going. I have written stories from 54 words to 14,000 words. In each case, the central idea of the story kept me on track.
I am currently working on a novel-length story, but I keep wanting to end it way too soon. The constant practice of writing short - sometimes way short - has caused me to edit constantly and drastically, thereby making the actual progress of the novel slow and unsatisfying.
I still prefer the short form. I like the tightness, the challenge, the rush of every word being exactly the one necessary.
I prefer the self-imposed discipline of writing short, the opportunity to be succinct and the idea that every word must further the story.
In a novel you have the time and space in which to wander - in a short story you need to get where you're going. I have written stories from 54 words to 14,000 words. In each case, the central idea of the story kept me on track.
I am currently working on a novel-length story, but I keep wanting to end it way too soon. The constant practice of writing short - sometimes way short - has caused me to edit constantly and drastically, thereby making the actual progress of the novel slow and unsatisfying.
I still prefer the short form. I like the tightness, the challenge, the rush of every word being exactly the one necessary.
I'm pretty much just starting out, too, so short fiction gives me the chance to develop my skills without getting overwhelmed. I don't have to worry about plotting out this enormous storyline or developing characters upon characters. I can really focus on just the apex of the story and a few crucial characters.
Plus, I think there's more room to experiment in shorts. You can get a little crazy, you can play around, and it's generally more accepted than in novels.
And, yeah, short attention span (*is distracted by something shiny*).
Plus, I think there's more room to experiment in shorts. You can get a little crazy, you can play around, and it's generally more accepted than in novels.
And, yeah, short attention span (*is distracted by something shiny*).
I love both writing and reading bite-sized fiction. I gravitate more and more to the shortest of shorts. I still write novel length works, but short fiction lets me explore worlds outside the confines of my novel. See, I write novels mostly for children, but I enjoy playing with more adult themes in my short works. Flash is my Busman's Holiday.
Psst: and like Mike said, we're doing a Flash A Day (FAD) challenge right now. Click the March FADness in my siggy line if you want to read the daily prompts.
Psst: and like Mike said, we're doing a Flash A Day (FAD) challenge right now. Click the March FADness in my siggy line if you want to read the daily prompts.
I love both writing and reading bite-sized fiction. I gravitate more and more to the shortest of shorts. I still write novel length works, but short fiction lets me explore worlds outside the confines of my novel. See, I write novels mostly for children, but I enjoy playing with more adult themes in my short works. Flash is my Busman's Holiday.
Psst: and like Mike said, we're doing a Flash A Day (FAD) challenge right now. Click the March FADness in my siggy line if you want to read the daily prompts.
It's good to see short fiction is still popular - for so many different reasons too. I will check out the 'Flash A Day' thanks
I'm a fan of writing short fiction. It's a great way to experiment without sinking huge amounts of time into a single project. Yeah, I'm a commitment-phobe.
I also love reading short fiction because I tend to read entire novels in a single sitting. Short stories give me my reading fix without cutting into my sleep time.
I also love reading short fiction because I tend to read entire novels in a single sitting. Short stories give me my reading fix without cutting into my sleep time.
I'm a fan of writing short fiction. It's a great way to experiment without sinking huge amounts of time into a single project. Yeah, I'm a commitment-phobe.
I also love reading short fiction because I tend to read entire novels in a single sitting. Short stories give me my reading fix without cutting into my sleep time.
I know what you mean
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At this given time, I prefer short fiction. I say "at this given time" because it may change. I just don't think I'm up to novels at this stage in the game. I may never be. I'm not sure.
This is not to say I see short fiction as easier. It's just my ideas are smaller and with less complexity and detail than what would be needed for a novel. I feel a short punchy work fulfills my ideas much better.
This is not to say I see short fiction as easier. It's just my ideas are smaller and with less complexity and detail than what would be needed for a novel. I feel a short punchy work fulfills my ideas much better.
So what? They may be harder to sell, but at least you'd have the satisfaction of knowing you CAN write something longer and if you can't sell it, you can podcast or selfpublish to get it out.
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I doubt I'll ever write a novel. Maybe someday, but really, my love is short fiction.
There's no beating the beauty of a concise sentence, the emotional impact of a tight, powerful plot, and the speed in which everything will wrap up in the amount of time it takes me to eat lunch.
It's just.... sweet.
There's no beating the beauty of a concise sentence, the emotional impact of a tight, powerful plot, and the speed in which everything will wrap up in the amount of time it takes me to eat lunch.
It's just.... sweet.
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I came up with a story that wanted to be novel, once. I even managed to write it (40K when I was done).
Only, a lot of it was filler.
35K of it was filler.
...
Sad, but every time I manage to write a novel (a year and half's worth of work, usually), I find out one way or another that it should have been a short. It just makes me more leary of writing anything BUT shorts.
Which is funny, since I write short stories and I usually get at least one beta reader that asks "Do you want to make this a novel?"
Eesh.
I came up with a story that wanted to be novel, once. I even managed to write it (40K when I was done).
Only, a lot of it was filler.
35K of it was filler.
...
Sad, but every time I manage to write a novel (a year and half's worth of work, usually), I find out one way or another that it should have been a short. It just makes me more leary of writing anything BUT shorts.
Which is funny, since I write short stories and I usually get at least one beta reader that asks "Do you want to make this a novel?"
I know how you feel. Im still working on a piece I really love and don't want to give up on, but I am finding myself writing more and more short fiction.
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I've toyed with both, but find myself gravitating closer to short fiction. Honestly, novels and short fiction require very different skill sets. A novel is not a long short story, and a short story is not a tiny novel.
I guess it all comes down to personal preference - there are plenty of authors who can write both, but I believe it a mistake to approach short fiction merely as a "stepping stone" to writing novels. There are no absolutes in writing, but in short fiction one of your most valuable skills is economy of words - creating a complete story, the most interesting thing to ever happen to your characters - in as few words as possible. Elegance in short fiction is writing exactly what you have to, nothing more, and nothing less.
If you let short stories shape your voice then it may actually hamper you if you intend to move on to writing longer works. Imagine an artist who'd spent his formative years painting wonderful scenes on 6x8 index cards. Now give him a 16x22 canvas - he won't know what to do with all that space.
Writing is a similar thing. If you start with novels, you'll need to learn to tell as complete a story in a much smaller space. If you start with short fiction, you'll have to learn to fill a much larger space - to add more detail, more depth - from the planning stage on.
I guess it all comes down to personal preference - there are plenty of authors who can write both, but I believe it a mistake to approach short fiction merely as a "stepping stone" to writing novels. There are no absolutes in writing, but in short fiction one of your most valuable skills is economy of words - creating a complete story, the most interesting thing to ever happen to your characters - in as few words as possible. Elegance in short fiction is writing exactly what you have to, nothing more, and nothing less.
If you let short stories shape your voice then it may actually hamper you if you intend to move on to writing longer works. Imagine an artist who'd spent his formative years painting wonderful scenes on 6x8 index cards. Now give him a 16x22 canvas - he won't know what to do with all that space.
Writing is a similar thing. If you start with novels, you'll need to learn to tell as complete a story in a much smaller space. If you start with short fiction, you'll have to learn to fill a much larger space - to add more detail, more depth - from the planning stage on.
I guess what you say has some truth in it, but if you're enthusiastic enough - ideas will finally fill the space...nothing's impossilble right?
I have a novel Im working on, and like I said before - will never give up. As your talent grows, then so does your work.
I love the short fiction as they give me a break between the settings and characters - allow me to experiment with words and descriptions - what will work and what to avoid.
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Of course! You can write anything you want, and develop your ideas however you can.
My only point is that it's a different set of skills to write short fiction and novels. Beyond the basics of writing itself, writing a short story will not teach you to write a novel, and writing a novel will not teach you to write short fiction.
My only point is that it's a different set of skills to write short fiction and novels. Beyond the basics of writing itself, writing a short story will not teach you to write a novel, and writing a novel will not teach you to write short fiction.
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