I don't knock novels. My favorite novel is John Fowles' "The Collector." Amazing book that draws you into a creepy story of obsession. While I enjoy a good novel that tells a story that unfolds over a series of chapters, I fell in love with short stories in high school. I took a short story class and we read things like Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", and Thomas Wolfe's "The Child by Tiger." It showed me that complex stories with deep themes didn't have to be novel-length.
And to be honest, I've never written a novel. I've written novellas. But I like the idea of short stories because of their length. If they're done well, they can leave the reader wishing it were longer. I like the idea of a story that can be read on a train ride, right before you sleep or in the bathroom. Just a quick read that gives you a satisfying payoff.
That's what I hope to do with the short tales that I create.
No comments:
Post a Comment