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Welcome to another edition of Open Book Blog Hop. Today’s question is: “Do you ever write short stories? What do you see as the biggest difference in the writing process between a short story and a full-length book?”
As a matter of fact, I’ve written a lot of short stories and am putting some into a collection I’m calling Living Vicariously in Wyoming. These stories are set mostly in Wyoming. The idea behind the title is this. When you read a short story or novel, no matter the setting, you’re living vicariously through those characters.
In a short story, unlike in a novel, there’s little room for character or plot development. You can’t take time to provide a lot of background information about characters. The reader only needs to know enough about the character that is relevant to the story. A short story’s plot can’t be too long and drawn out.
For some, writing a short story can be a challenge. But for others like me, who have an idea that doesn’t work as a novel, the short story form is perfect. In fact, a couple of my short stories started out as novel ideas but had to be downsized because there wasn’t enough of a plot. On the other hand, my first novel, We Shall Overcome, started out as a short story. But I realized there was more to it. To each, one’s own, and whatever floats one’s boat.
How about you authors out there? Do you write short stories, and what do you think is the biggest difference between writing a short story and writing a novel? You can click here to participate in this week’s hop and read other bloggers’ responses.
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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
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My Corner 
I like a great collection of short stories – such as those by Louise Erdrich.
The individual stories are tied together to create a more complete picture, However, each of her stories is a stand-alone piece. I have read her stories over and over again because they are so beautifully crafted. I think your decision to pull together a collection of Wyoming-themed work is a great idea. And, I think it will be unique because you are not a native-born person from that state. You will have some really different perspectives as you look through your own lens.
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Thank you, Lynda. As a matter of fact, three of the stories I plan to include are connected but can stand alone. I hope you will enjoy the collection when I eventually get it out.
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I really enjoy short story collections. It’s nice to get a complete story in a single sitting as a reader. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
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I know what you mean, Samantha. Thank you for commenting.
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Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak.
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I enjoy reading shorts. My first favorite author was Zenna Henderson, who wrote dozens of shorts back in the 1950s and 1960s. I just don’t find most of my stories developing into shorts unless it’s for a prompt with a strict word limit. My characters just have more to say, generally.
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Well, I’m just the opposite. My characters don’t have much to say, and my story ideas don’t have enough of a plot for a novel. Thank you for commenting and sharing my post on your blog.
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My first novel started out as two short stories, which I later realised could be joined and expanded.
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Wow, that sounds like my first novel, which started out as one short story that I expanded. Thanks for commenting.
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Knowing what form a story should take is sometimes clear from the beginning and other times the stories surprise us!
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Yes, but I usually have a basic idea of how the story will go before I write anything down. Thanks for commenting.
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I much prefer writing and reading short stories, although I have a good plot for my next book which may turn out to be my longest one yet.
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Good luck with the new novel, Stevie. Thank you for commenting.
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