Writing your first novel is hard to do, for two reasons - pressure and lack of experience. It can feel like your entire writing career will be based off of your first (often very clumsy) attempt at writing a book. And in many ways... that's stupid. Failure is a part of any learning process. Every single person who succeeds, fails at something first. Your first work is just that - your first work (and the majority of people get better with practice).
One of my favorite writers, Ray Bradbury, offered this advice to new writers in a video I watched (I'll paraphrase his advice): Learn your craft with short stories. If you spend an entire year writing and learning your craft on your first book, there is a chance you'll write a decent book, and an even better one that you'll write a real bomb (with nothing to show, but the experience you learned). If you write one short story a week for a year, you'll not only end up with experience, but 52 short stories (some of which will be bad, and some of which will be decent, and hopefully a few gems).
I'm starting to think this is good advice. Here are some points to consider:
1. Writing a short story and writing a novel are two entirely different things. This is true. But that doesn't mean you can't learn a lot about the craft from writing short stories - and (in my opinion) more quickly than taking a year to write your first novel (and many writers take longer than a year). A short story takes a week or two to write.
2. I believe that the novella (and maybe even the short story) is the future of the novel. An increasing percentage of readers don't want to read an 800 page book. They average reader wants something under 300 pages. More importantly, I believe that reading anything on an electronic device reduces your attention span. If you ever get the chance to sit next to someone on a bus who is reading the news on their phone or iPad, just watch how long they spend on each article (seconds).
3. If (as many of you believe) Self Publishing is here to stay, it's going to require that writers write faster and shorter books. If I'm going to sell my book for 99 cents or 2.99 than I'd much rather write something that is 50,000 words than 250,000. Especially since (as the SP success stories point out) you will need to write several novels (or novellas) a year to make decent money. Experience writing short stories could be helpful.
4. Short Stories give you the chance to build readership. I'm networking with writers (and plan to keep doing that). But what's missing from my platform is readers who are not writers. And the ONLY way to get readers is to release a book (or short piece of work). Wouldn't it make sense to release several short stories first, before you release your first book? I can write forever about writing, but all of that tells people NOTHING about my writing. It really doesn't. I believe that finished (well edited) short stories (that are properly marketed) are a great way to build readership. Of course, how to release such work is an entirely different story (that I'm less sure about).
5. Short Stories can be turned into larger pieces of work. Stephen King turned his 9 page short story, Night Surf, into his 1,141 page epic, The Stand. I think most new writers would be shocked at how many famous novels were first written as short stories.
6. Short Stories can win you awards. This can translate into name recognition.
What do you think about short stories? Have you written any? Is it part of your marketing strategy? Do you think new writers are better off learning the craft by writing short stories or by writing a novel? - Let me know.
- Austin James
Some interesting points. I write both, alternating to give myself a break. I really identify with #5 because every time I write a short, whoever reads it tells me to expand it into a novel!
ReplyDeleteI started with short stories. They're easier to sell than novels, they take less time and commitment, and they helped me get a job with a magazine who liked my work. Now I'm working more on novels than short stories, and while the novel helped score me a wonderful agent, I miss the instant gratification that short stories (and their acceptances!)bring. A short story is done in a week or a month. A novel takes a year. They're both fantastic forms, but are different beasts.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, if someone is trying to make gains as an author, they should stick to novels unless they have a true passion for writing shorts. The average reader has no clue what is going on in the short story world (and this probably goes for any writer who isn't glued to the genre). The novella may gain a lot of traction with the e-book evolution, but short stories won't likely make a comeback from their golden age (long gone are the days of Playboy paying two grand for a story). Shorter works lack many, many of the things novels, and to a lesser extent novellas, have to offer.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I don't think there is a better tool to learn the craft than short stories. And yet that knowledge doesn't carry over to novels as well as one would imagine.
I started with long stories and right now I'm working on four short stories. The first one I wrote in two days. I was amazed. Now it's sitting as i work on the second short. Once all four are done I'll go back to start rewrites. I'm not 100% sure I'll do something with them but if I need them, they are here.
ReplyDeleteI know writers who started out writing novels, switched to short stories for many of the reasons you listed, and then either a) couldn't write short stories and just got more and more frustrated until they fled back to novels where they were comfortable, or b) had a hard time getting back into novel writing after writing short stories for several years, because, as you say, they are two completely different forms. Honestly, I think you should write whatever you want to write. It's true that short stories are almost always much less work than novels, but if you're a novelist at heart, writing short stories can just derail you. If you want to write short fiction, by all means do so, but don't do it because you think you need to do it before you can write and/or sell a novel.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think the thing about short fiction building readership is bogus. As Justin said, the average reader hardly even knows that there is such a thing as short fiction markets. If anything, I would expect publishing a novel to have a positive effect on my short story readership, but as for the other way around, well, most of my readership as a short story author is other writers. Good for networking and in-field name recognition, but less useful for building an actual reader base.
I absolutely agree. I began by writing short stories and articles. Getting those published gave me confidence. They also helped me learn the process. My first novel was a learning experience...definitely not wasted time.
ReplyDeleteI love it. Writing flash fiction or short stories is like a crash course in novel writing. I've written several and sometimes return to earlier stories then rework them into something much better. It's made my novel writing much sharper as you learn to be ruthless with words, and look hard for that perfect word/simile/metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently posting about a great short story competition. Check it out.
Denise<3
I think authors are not really incentivized to write short stories any more. In my parents day you could support yourself through the myriad of magazines which bought stories. Obviously those markets are gone or much more limited.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless I see them as an art-form in and of themselves.
I enjoy writing short stories, and all attempts at novel-writing have been dismal so far. So yeah, I'm all for learning it with the short story first.
ReplyDeleteI got a stylish blogger award and have to nominate my favorite blogs. You're one of them. If you'd like to play along come over to my site and read the instructions.
ReplyDeleteI tend to write short blog comments... does that count?
ReplyDeleteThere's actually a blog built around Bradbury's story-a-week idea here: http://write1sub1.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletewhere people support each other in writing either weekly or monthly stories and submitting them to various online zines. They include flash and twitter fiction so not quite as full-on as the Bradbury model.
Nice thoughts, mate.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to branch out, to hop between styles and even genres, to develop to our fullest capacity. Poetry, novels, short stories, even screenplays and articles (blogging), whatever we can and have the time for. My problem is I don't necessarily have the time, and I hope to rectify this in the future.
It's interesting you look at both the benefits to your personal writing and also the business of writing; sometimes I let the business of writing and publishing slide, but it's a part of the world I am trying to navigate. Very through again, thanks buddy!
I think of short stories as a way to experiment with craft. There's far less commitment, and it's easier to get feedback. I do sometimes enjoy writing them, and they do help, but I find the skills don't overlap as much as I'd liked/hoped. Not every writer is good at both.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange: Writing short stories has never really been something that appealed to me. So far, my ideas have felt too large to squeeze into a shorter format.
ReplyDeleteEven if I wanted to write short stories, though, I wouldn't base that decision off any of the advantages listed in this article. If my stuff sells and gets popular, then it sells and gets popular. If not, then that's okay, too. Honestly, I'm more concerned about being true to myself as a writer and developing where I fit in most naturally--which, presently, is in the novel department.
Hi Austin,
ReplyDeleteI'm a believer in short stories at any point in a writers career. Early on for writers I also feel they are a mini version of the process for writing a novel and good exercises, plus they give folks a look at an author prior to their lengthy novel efforts and writing habits good and bad can be fine tuned. I am working on 2 myself currently for a lot of reasons. Good blog post! See you all on Twitter.
Hi Austin. I love short stories--both reading and writing them. When I hear short, I think of Poe's definition of a story that can be read in one sitting--so for me that's something under 25K words or so maybe even less. (In the romance world, a story approaching 50K could easily turn into a full-length book at 65K. Personally, I feel only a few genres...like sci-fi and fantasy have the depth required to hit the 800 page mark.)
ReplyDeleteI have four short stories published. Originally, I published them with the intent of building up credentials. However, along the way, I've found I enjoy writing them. My full-length books languish unfinished--though I have hopes of rectifying that situation in the near future; after I finish the shorts I'm editing.
A writer can definitely learn craft by writing shorts, but it's crucial to focus on one or two elements at a time or else the thing blows up into a full-length novel. That said, only through writing a full-length novel can a writer learn how to write a full-length novel.
Just my two cents...
Hey, referenced your entry on my blog. http://lanceolot.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/short-and-sweet-or-sour/
ReplyDeleteFor me, Novel is just for books, and short stories are for internet reading.
ReplyDeleteHuge number of text is for books for me because it is much easier to read.
I think same goes for many internet readers, so it's better to write short stories in particular site. Just my opinion. :)
Ervin Alcordo,
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