When writers think of fiction they often focus on the novel. But short stories can play an essential role.
The popularity of short fiction has waxed and waned throughout history. They began as myths, legends, fables and early entertainment, with the modern short story rising in parallel with the modern concept of the novel in the 19th century. Recent advances in technology have caused an explosion in the form and it is something new and established writers have been embracing. Even if you are a writer dreaming of publishing a book or an already established author, there are numerous reasons why you should be writing short fiction.
It is great practice
Writing is a skill that needs constant practice. I thinking writing regularly, ideally daily, is crucial. This can be a diary entry, an article on Medium, or a thousand words of your magnum opus. All practice helps but if you are starting out in fiction, then obviously writing fiction is the best training you can do. When writing a novel you have other peripheral issues to keep in mind — character sheets, notes on settings, multiple story arcs, sub-plots, the general plot and overall timeline and other issues. Where you stand on the ‘plotting versus pantsing’ debate might affect this but these considerations are not much of an issue when it comes to writing a story. So you can have an idea, write it and practice dialogue, characterization, experiment with style and at the end, you have a finished tale. Which brings me on to my next point.
You are much more likely to finish a short story and get that rush of satisfaction
Writing a book is ridiculously daunting. Even the most prolific writers are looking at a sizeable chunk of time and if you have a job as well, it can take years. Completing a work of fiction, from introducing a character and a setting, to tying it all up in a satisfying conclusion, is immensely satisfying. Writing a full book can be a slog and there are a lot of would-be novelists who give up during the process. I know I have. With a short story, you can have an idea and a couple of characters and finish it in a day or two. If you are just starting out, it can give you a nice lift to help you continue with other projects.
You can make money
This is always a nice perk, right? The market for short stories has varied over the decades depending on the publishing model at the time. Some authors — Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe, P.G. Wodehouse, Ted Chiang — achieved their fame through short stories and novellas. There was a fall in short fiction publication from the seventies to the early 2000s as most publishers preferred the novel or at least a sizeable collection of short tales, usually from established writers. But thanks to eBooks, digital publishing and people being able to read on their phone, the market is exploding once more. Sales of the form are rising, which means you too can get paid. There are websites that help find magazines and anthologies where you can publish your work, I use Duotrope, or you can publish them on Amazon, either individually, in a collection or both.
Marketing yourself, your writing, and gaining credibility
When you are starting out, no one will know who you are. Even if your novel or novels are the greatest things ever scribed, it can be hard to persuade someone to read your work. Getting the first reviews can be painful and slow. If your short stories are in magazines or you have self-published, they can show off your dazzling talents and that will lead to more sales of your books. You also increase your writing credibility if you are published and mentioning that in your blurb or on your writer website can drive further interest. A short story can essentially act as a marketing sample and get your name and work out there for all to see and read.
Famous writers agree
I have already mentioned some well-known writers whose careers consist of at least a large chunk of short stories. But others began their careers with them and they continued to write short fiction throughout their career. Charles Dickens started with short stories and his novels afterwards were often serialized. Ernest Hemingway started out with a series of stories and he won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature with the novella The Old Man and the Sea that clocked in at only 21,460 superbly written words. Famous short story writers have been the source of hundreds of films with writers such as Philip K. Dick and Stephen King alone having dozens of films based on their stories and novellas.
Finally, writing a short story is a lot of fun with none of the pressure
This should be reason enough and is, I suspect why hugely successful writers like the aforementioned Stephen King, along with others such as Neil Gaiman Haruki Murakami, Ian McEwan, and lots more, keep writing them. Longer work can be a struggle and something shorter can be a fun diversion. If the story doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter, you were trying something out. If your short tale is rejected by numerous publishers, the disappointment can be something you have learned and you can adjust accordingly (or not). It’s a bit of experience. On the other hand, if your novel is rejected by all, it can be a much more devastating blow that may dent your confidence. It is the turning down of a huge investment of time effort that may take a while to get over — or ideally, rewrite.
Ultimately you may feel that short stories are a waste of time or a distraction from your magnum opus. But with so little to lose and with the points above in mind, I hope you at least consider it, they can be very rewarding. If you write a lot of short stories, please feel free to leave a comment, it will be interesting to hear your take on the experience.
Note – this was previously published on Medium – you can see it here.
If you suddenly have a weird craving for some short stories have a look at this page. Or check this out
