Did I mention I’m editing the next Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers anthology, to be published in 2020? You can find more info here—and, if you’re a member, submissions will open May 1st!
In preparation for this, I’ve been thinking a lot about short fiction. I started writing it a few years ago, when I was between drafts on a novel. My plan was to crank out a few stories, get a couple published so I had something to put on my writerly resume, then go back to novels—because I hated short stories. They’re so hard! They’re so…short!
But a few stories later, I was hooked. Here are five reasons I continue to write short fiction, and why you should try it you haven’t already.
- Instant gratification. Novels are great, but let’s face it: They take for-freaking-ever. It’s easy to lose hope when you’ve been slogging along on the same project for a year and a half and you still can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Short stories offer a nice break from that long-term work-in-progress. And because they’re so short, they take much less time to write, revise, and get published—providing a nice confidence boost when you finish one (or better yet, see it in print!)
- Build your resume. If you’re like me—meaning you don’t have a degree in creative writing or a writing-related job—you might be nervous about sending those first query letters. Will agents take you seriously if you don’t have these credentials? (The answer is yes, but these credentials can give you a boost out of the slush pile.) Short fiction publications show agents you know how to write well, work with editors, and meet deadlines. Bonus points if your publications are in the same genre or age category as the novel you’re querying.
- Hone your skills. Though only a fraction of the length, short stories require many of the same elements of writing craft as novels: conflict, tension, character development, emotional impact, knock-em-dead conclusion. Most short stories have the same external plot and character arc as a novel, just condensed into a few thousand words. Short fiction is a great way to practice these skills on a small scale, which will prepare you to tackle that novel.
- Generate ideas. One of the most overlooked skills in writing is the ability to generate and cultivate new ideas. Many authors struggle with this after finishing their first book—Where to go next? What to write about? Because short stories are so quick, you can go through dozens of ideas in quick succession. You’ll learn how to pan your creative juices for the gold-nugget ideas, and how to polish them until they shine.
- Try new techniques. Short fiction is a great arena to test out a new genre, point-of-view, or writing style. After years of writing exclusively in third person, I tried out first person in a couple short stories and never went back. Although I mostly write fantasy, short stories have allowed me to dabble in other genres like sci-fi, mystery, and fairy tales. It’s a low-pressure way to try something new. If you like it, great—you’ve found a new tool for your writer’s toolbox. If it’s not your cup of tea, you can abandon it without wasting months or years on a novel-length project.
So get to work on those short stories! I hope to see them in our submissions inbox come May 1st.