Short Stories just for writers?

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:08 pm

I heard a comment on a podcast today that got me to thinking (a first, right

). It was a writing show and was focused on writing endings for short stories. One of the guests said that short story writers write for other short story writers, suggesting that the vast majority of those reading them are either writers themselves or are trying to be. Do you think that's true?

deusExMachina · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:34 pm **Posts:** 546

That can't be true. Is this guest implying that short stories are only read with an analytic eye? Can't they be enjoyed just because? I'm sure there are many story lovers out there who are not interested in writing a single word but who like to lose themselves in fictional worlds for a few minutes.

I do write though so I guess some may consider my opinion biased.

What do the non-writer members think?

SteveVernon · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:28 pm

I'm a writer - but offhand I'd say any claim that "Short stories are just for writers" is pretentious un-thought-out bullshit. Lots of people read short stories, not just writers.

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:50 pm

I hope that it isn't true. I love short stories but I like to write them as well, so I'm not sure if my persective is correct. I was taken aback when the guy said it and started to wonder. He was saying that anthologies don't sell as well as novels and that sort of thing. For someone who is such a fan of the medium it was a bit depressing.

horrordude · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:22 am

It's like anything that you love. Look how many people who love their music that are in bands. But there are tons of people listening to their favorite bands that can't play an instrument.

I read somewhere that short stories being very popular is a thing of the past, and with guys out there right now like, Piccirilli, Braunbeck and Gods like Bradbury and King, it's sad.

Then again, I'm a guy who would like to see bookstores the size of shopping malls, so what do I know?

DNiallWilson · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:10 am

That the person who said that has spent too much time in either "lit fick" communities, or the independent presses. Obviously, Cemetery Dance has thousands of readers, and they aren't all writers - same with F&SF and other big markets. Anthologies sell in the tens of thousands...

BUT...a large majority of markets for short fiction, at least at the beginning of a career, are smaller, with smaller circulations, and a lot of the editors of those markets ARE other writers...so I can see where the misconception could arise. I write for readers...I write with the hope (which has been fulfilled several times now) that I'll hear back from someone who got something memorable or cool from my words.

I doubt just writers bout all those King short story collections either...so, I agree with Mr. Vernon....it's bullshit (lol)

D

Alan Draven · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:21 pm

That's bullshit. Short stories might not be as popular as they once were but they are still more popular than publishers would have you believe. They might find it annoying to release an anthology because they have to work with a dozen to twenty different writers, that means a lot of egos and preparation and to them it's simply not worth it. But this is a myth; short story anthologies, while they don't sell as well as novels, do sell. The anthology I'm currently editing has a good buzz going for it right now, and I've been getting lots of mail from readers--not writers--but readers who are very much looking forward to it. I think as long as you put out a quality anthology with a good theme, readers will buy it. My two cents

Cheers,
Alan

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:06 pm

I buy a lot of anthologies and love to read them. I much prefer to write short stories over novels as well. So I'm glad to hear that they are still going to be around fro a long time to come.

unholycauldron · **Joined:** Mon May 19, 2008 12:24 am **Posts:** 23

DNiallWilson · **Posted:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:00 am

Short Stories just for writers?

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