Short Stories

On Thursday, I shall be at The Hive in Worcester for the launch of my first collection of short stories, Smashing the Mask and Other Stories. There are twelve in all and although they are short reads, a number touch on serious issues including broken relationships, domestic abuse, grief and dementia. With the problems faced, each one has a hopeful ending that maybe the characters are able to move on from the experiences in the future, not in a simplistic way but with a positive outlook.

While preparing for reading extracts and answering questions about my writing on the night, I have been thinking about why I am so passionate about short stories. I've realised how much I have neglected the genre recently while concentrating on my novels. Here are some of those thoughts:

• I love the fact that you can read and write a complete story in relatively few words.
  Like poetry, no words are wasted. Della Galton, in her very useful book 'The Short Story Writer's Toolshed', says 'it gives the reader a chance to spend a brief time with
  
  some interesting characters.' She believes, 'writing a short story is like painting in miniature. It should have all the depth and colour that a full size canvas allows, but there is no room for waffle.'

• In short stories, we don't have time to explore your characters in the same detail as we can in a novel but the characters still need to read as real people, with real emotions and feelings. The reader needs to relate to that person, to like or dislike him or her, to understand the conflict or dilemma that the character encounters. 

• I enjoy getting inside the characters' heads, tapping into their thought processes. Perhaps that is why many of the stories in the collection are written in the first person. To do that, sometimes I've had to research real life stories just as I've had to do for my novels. 

• Short stories are meant to be exactly that, short, and read in one sitting. They are precise in their delivery and should capture the reader's attention very quickly. To create a complete tale with credible characters who have overcome some sort of struggle or internal conflict is immensely satisfying. 

• I also enjoy writing short stories that are outside my comfort zone. Naturally I am drawn to family orientated situations and relationships that I write about in my novels. However, I have been very pleased to have my stories published in specialist anthologies - my first horror story, a highly commended Welsh legend and a cat story. I have written about stalkers and hoarders, ghosts, characters' past lives and several crimes.

• Novels take a very long time to write, edit, submit and get published. Short stories are an excellent way of honing your writing in between stages of that process. In fact,  publishers often ask authors to keep their names active in their readers' minds by writing short stories or novellas.  

Together with the editors of Black Pear Press, I'll be sharing the event with poet Michael Thomas, whose anthology The Stations of the Day will be launched at the same event. If you're in the Worcester area on Thursday evening, it would be lovely to see you there. The event is free, but you need to book. Please click HERE for details. On the surface, I shall be aiming to appear 'calm, cool and collected', but that will be my mask!

Do you enjoy reading and/or writing short stories? What is the appeal for you? 
If you've had a launch of a book recently, how did you feel as the day approached? Do you have any advice? I'd love it if you commented and shared your thoughts. Thank you.

Thank you for reading. You may also follow me on Twitter @JanBayLit and on Jan Baynham Writer Facebook page.