Lakey, the first story I posted on this year was in third, but I thought should have been in first. I'm not schooled enough in craft to pinpoint why, but it really strikes me when it's off like that.
Lakey, the first story I posted on this year was in third, but I thought should have been in first. I'm not schooled enough in craft to pinpoint why, but it really strikes me when it's off like that.
I've never been one to read short stories, but after having written a buttload of shortish essays for my memoir blog, I've decided to try my hand at writing short stories. The best way to learn is reading them, of course. I'm going to read at least one per week and that may pick up.
ETA - Edgar Allan Poe collection it is.
Cindy, I wanted to mention -- I read an Edgar Allan Poe collection early last year and wrote about the stories in last year's thread. If you're not a short-story reader, you should be warned: Poe is credited with innovations like the modern detective story and the unreliable narrator, and while he may be deserving of that credit, I (and I am not alone in this) find his storycraft a little bit lacking. Some of his stories are technical disasters -- paced all wrong, told in the wrong POV, constructed in a way that saps tension and conflict. His ideas are amazing but his execution isn't always at the same level. So if you find his stories not all that great, don't let it put you off learning more about short stories!
I've read 2 from the best american short stories, 2014, and really enjoyed the first, a McSweeney's story: Charity. Lovely. Filling. Arc-y.
Sort of enjoyed another, from Subtropics: After the Flood, but only after skimming to the end which was so unexpected I had to go back and find the story in the story.
Just popping in to say wow, I thought I'd take a quick peek at 'It Looks Like This' and it swallowed me up. So glad I noticed you guys talking about it. Reckon it will stick with me for a while, too.
I've been thinking of joining this challege. Seems now is as good a time as any.
Thank you.Welcome! I'm glad to have you here.
I don't know whether it will make much difference in participation, my gut says not really. But I personally quite like the challenge aspect to push me a little out of my comfort zone.I've been thinking about tweaking the title of this thread to make it less about a "challenge" and more about "let's read and talk about short stories." Do you think that would make a difference in participation? Maybe not.