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I've just finished reading the short stories in this issue of Horrific Scribes, and I feel so inspired to write. Reading other people's excellent writing always makes me want to write and to write better than I have before.
This blog post was initially me speculating that short stories aren't as widely read as novels, but I had no empirical proof for that because reading statistics group novels and short stories together.
I conducted a flash poll among friends and family and found that while they may read more novels than stories, they do read both.
And some of the most beloved Western authors have been short story writers! Edgar Allan Poe, O. Henry, Shirley Jackson, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Brothers Grimm, to name a few classics.
There are plenty of short fiction writers on Substack, too. My favorite Substack, After Dinner Conversation, is all about stories that bring up interesting philosophical and ethical questions.
So, instead of writing about the state of the short story market, I'm going to share some benefits of reading short stories and link some of my favorites.
Why You Should Read Short Stories If You Aren't Already
The number one reason is that short stories are short. If you don't like one, you've only spent maybe fifteen minutes of your time reading it.
Short stories pack an emotional punch. Hugo-award winning author Mary Robinette Kowal, who gave a lecture on short stories that you should absolutely watch, summed up short stories vs. novels like this:
Short stories are about delivering a specific emotional punch. It's a specific experience. Novels are about immersion. ... So with a short story, it's that quick fix.
Reading short stories is a fantastic way to discover new authors you like. Often, short story writers will have also written a novel or novella.
If you find yourself reading a short story that you enjoy, Google the author and see what else they have out there!
Short stories can be a great palate cleanser between novels. For instance, if I'm reading a bunch of extreme horror novels, I might read a comedic short story in between to relax.
Reading short stories can help you build a daily reading habit. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment by finishing a story every day, too.
I hope that has helped convince you. If it has, I have a list of short stories I recommend.
10 Recommended Short Stories (In No Particular Order)
A haunting tale about a mother who has to let her son go.
A humorous spec-fic about a dead businessman reanimating.
Equal parts tense and surreal, this follows a group of men hunting a snowman.
A horror story that teaches you about horror stories.
Unsettling. The less you know about this going in, the better.
A beautiful, bittersweet story from the POV of a hair coiffing machine.
A twist on a familiar fairy tale.
A mother finds herself in a strange situation.
I mean, it's Agatha Christie. This story will keep you guessing.
A feminist tale, written in 1917, that follows a murder investigation from the perspective of a housewife.
Go forth and read!
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