I’ll preface this by saying that I know, all art is subjective, nothing needs to fit a set criteria and I shouldn’t worry about liking what I happen to like and not liking what I find unsatisfying.
I think I’m just at a bit of a loss when it comes to articulating what I like about a particular short story (or the opposite, if I don’t happen to enjoy it). With a novel, I can be pretty confident – I find the characters intriguing, the plot engaging, the imagery and prose and so on…
But I find it a little harder with a short, especially since the plot/narrative is intrinsically limited in scope, and I can often be left feeling a little – wanting at the end, like I wish the story were explored further, especially when ending on an ambiguous note. But I’m pretty sure this isn’t just because I’m reading bad stories.
I’ve lately been dipping into some of John O’Hara’s short fiction, and enjoying it (despite this post!). But I often find the same question hanging over each one when I finish. Almost like, what was the point? The story seems cut short (probably too used to novels), the dilemma unresolved. Sometimes almost like it’s a writing exercise, like he’s practicing the natural dialogue and sketching out interesting characters (which I couldn’t exactly call flaws!)
I don’t know, I guess I’m just looking for tips on how to evaluate shorter fiction in a more meaningful way. I’ve got a Complete Works collection of Flannery O’Connor, love Dubliners (I admit, some more than others, and a few more than ‘The Dead’). And I’m a big Poe fan. But it never seems to hit quite the same way as the novels I read, though I do enjoy the shorter fiction hit. So if any short story wizzes could offer any pointers or discussion, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading!
by Armentieres
2 Comments
From my experience, a good story should be relatable to you & the audience alike. Sometimes if I’m not able to figure ‘that’ out, I create an alter-ego for myself & stay (act) in that ego for sometime to understand the nuances of that persona as much as possible (I jot down the properties or traits of that persona beforehand so I don’t get off the track).
A good short story isn’t about plot. It should be hyper focused on setting, character, or emotion. Put you indelibly in a place and time, make you feel like you’re there. Anything else is extraneous. For instance, Monkey’s Paw has a “plot,” sure, but it’s 90% about atmosphere. You can feel the fireplace warming your skin, or the cold wind blowing outside the windows. The Contents of the Dead Man’s Pockets brilliantly puts you in the character’s shoes.
To me, that’s what it’s all about. Hitting hard within a narrow scope. Otherwise you have a novella.