I think there are some short stories that everyone tries to write at some point. For example, who hasn't written a story about a writer ... bank robbery ... war ... takes place in a bar ... a breakup.
No to: war, writer, bank robbery. Yes to: break-up (sort of) and in a bar (mostly). Man, I don't know how I never thought to write about a bank robbery. I guess I thought it would take too much research to not write it like a total amateur. You know, Write What You Know, from the Canon of Directives.
do you try and stay away from these because you know editors have read a hundred bank robbery stories?
That line so thrills me. It flashes me back to Barton Fink, and Hollywood only wanting wrestling movies. Gosh, that was great, as is this. But I can't believe it's true, can I? Are there bank robbers out there trying to break into the literary world? Wouldn't that be swell? It makes me want to sit down and write one now. Hell, I might even "case" my local branch next time.
Also, what sort of stories do you think are typical for writers to try writing? Should we try and stay away from them or not?[
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Man, that's a difficult question that probably only a panel of magazine editors could answer. I suppose any story, well writ, will catch their attention, no matter what it's about. I mean a literary story is never about what it's about anyway, is it? Maybe write what you feel compelled to write about?