Short Story Writing
A short list of two books to help you craft short stories
It’s no secret that different pieces of writing require different skill sets. While fiction writing may call for compelling character development and copious worldbuilding, short stories must be approached with brevity and mastery of pacing. Instinct is usually not enough to create a gripping, thought-provoking short story when detailed minutiae are so critical for a piece of writing so brief. If you’d like to solidify your foundation of short story knowledge, the following two books will be helpful. The first will provide basic, introductory knowledge and exercises, while the second is a deeper analysis of the ins and outs of a short story.
Short Stories Unzipped is a beginner’s course for short story writing. With a playful tone and straightforward explanations, it provides a no-brainer introduction to different types of short stories and encourages you to put your best foot forward in starter exercises. Though perhaps too juvenile for some, this book does hold some valuable tips about story skeletons and is helpful to those who would like clear descriptions for their first journey into short story writing.
Author: Ceil Cleveland
Published by: Peterson
Release Date: Aug 2007
Buy the Book: Amazon
"Though they say that the apple never falls far from the tree, these aren't your average hot-to guides. Peterson's Unzipped guides get to the core of what college students need to know with results as sweet as mom's apple pie."
- Goodreads
The Table of Contents gives a sample of the book's casual tone.
If you're new to short story writing, this book is an easy introduction. It's marketed as a tool for college students, but would be understandable for an even younger audience; as such, it may feel a bit juvenile for adult writers, but Short Stories Unzipped will surely make you feel like writing a short story is child's play. The publisher, Peterson's, specializes in educational material, making for a book that concentrates on describing the process of writing short stories, common types of short stories, and how the skeleton of a story might change depending on what type of short story you choose to write. If you're able to read through the youthful voice of Ceil Cleveland's writing, you'll find solid introductory writing exercises to start warming up your short story writing skills.
For the more experienced writer, On Writing Short Stories offers an academic exploration of short stories supplemented by the expertise of a handful of accredited short story writers. As a textbook in many graduate-level writing courses, this book will take you through the ins and outs of short story writing as well as being a short story writer. This book also provides a delightful anthology of short stories in the latter half, serving as both educational and inspirational material.
Author: Tom Bailey
Published by: Oxford University Press
Release Date: Jul 2010
Buy the Book: Amazon | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble
"On Writing Short Stories, Second Edition, explores the art and craft of writing short fiction by bringing together nine original essays by professional writers and thirty-three examples of short fiction. The first section features original essays by well-known authors--including Francine Prose, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andre Dubus--that guide students through the process of writing. Focusing on the characteristics and craft of the short story and its writer, these essays take students from the workshopping process all the way through to the experience of working with agents and publishers. The second part of the text is an anthology of stories--many referred to in the essays--that give students dynamic examples of technique brought to life."
- Amazon Books
Tom Bailey gives a visual aid to show how story climax occurs at the cross-section of opposing motivations.
On Writing Short Stories is often used as a textbook for MFA programs, and it's easy to see why. Tom Bailey is joined by various accomplished authors to provide an all-encompassing guide to short story writing. This book will define a short story and its essential elements, teach you how to read one through the lens of a writer, and provide insight on writing habits, motivations, and business relations.
What's nearly as valuable as the teaching advice in the first part of the book is the carefully curated selection of short stories in the second part. While thirty-three short stories may seem like a daunting amount, each is gripping in its own right and every reader is bound to find a handful that resonates with them in terms of technique, delivery, and writing style. Reading this anthology with a critical eye will help you to grow in your own writing, and eventually you'll be writing short stories that will impress your readers in the same way.
A good short story makes for a brief read but leaves a lasting impact. Setting a picturesque scene and filling it with lively characters can be hard with length constrictions, and these are only a couple of the unique challenges that short stories come with. These two craft books will help ease the pains of short story writing by helping you to identify key elements, learn how to adjust the story structure to fit your genre, and gain a critical eye to recognize what makes or breaks a short story.
