tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post1679457195566278651..comments2024-03-09T00:19:36.011-08:00Comments on Reading the Short Story: The Figure of the Author in the Short Story Conference--IssuesCharles E. Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642048806407593585noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-58304882369327070982012-04-08T04:51:13.627-07:002012-04-08T04:51:13.627-07:00Hello Charles,
Regarding the section Craft vs Pas...Hello Charles,<br /><br />Regarding the section Craft vs Passion- <br />'Are short stories too often too well crafted? Is the messiness of many novels more like “real life”? Is it the task of fiction to mirror “real life” with all its messiness?'. <br />Do you agree that short stories are often too well crafted, and more so than the novel? As I am of the thought that the word restriction in the short story can inadvertently liberate the writer as s/he dares to improvise etc etc as Julio Cortazar explains-<br /><br />'...It’s like improvising in jazz. You don’t ask a jazz musician, “But what are you going to play?” He’ll laugh at you. He has a theme, a series of chords he has to respect, and then he takes up his trumpet or his saxophone and he begins. It’s not a question of idea. He performs through a series of different internal pulsations. Sometimes it comes out well, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s the same with me. I’m a bit embarrassed to sign my stories sometimes. The novels, no, because the novels I work on a lot; there’s a whole architecture. But my stories, it’s as if they were dictated to me by something that is in me, but it’s not me who’s responsible. Well, since it does appear they are mine even so, I guess I should accept them!' <br /><br />I definitely agree that the short story is as Poe stated- a tightly concentrated form but I'm not sure if I agree that the novel is 'messier'(why is it perceived as messier also?) and therefore closer to 'real life'. I think that is wholly dependent on the success of the storytelling, or maybe other decisions made by the author? I was wondering what you thought of Cortazar's opposing view? <br /><br />Thank you again for providing such stimulating material for your readers. Going slowly through your archive is a pleasure! And I hope you don't mind me picking at your very much admired brain!shing Lin yoonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948790964678465656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-69925105843531000382011-03-30T11:37:42.465-07:002011-03-30T11:37:42.465-07:00Thanks for a much needed blog. I'm hoping you ...Thanks for a much needed blog. I'm hoping you can help me find a short story. Here's the plot: a man goes to a vaction abroad with his wife and 2 children. The parents are mostly getting stoned and they sober up when they realize they've forgotten their daughter at a local grocery. Thanks for your help and good luck with your presentation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-12032071778720553642011-02-03T09:59:02.065-08:002011-02-03T09:59:02.065-08:00Ann, I cannot find the Antonya Nelson Glimmer Trai...Ann, I cannot find the Antonya Nelson Glimmer Train essay you refer to. If you have a copy online, could you send it to me. Thanks.Charles E. Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11642048806407593585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-50184015137723974462011-01-29T08:56:50.712-08:002011-01-29T08:56:50.712-08:00Dex, always good to hear from you. I know that no...Dex, always good to hear from you. I know that novels are not easy to place; I just meant that relatively speaking, it is easier to get a novel published than a collection of short stories, and even then the writer usually has to promise a novel to come. My real interest, of course, is why readers don't like to read short stories. I think part of the issue is the division between popular short stories and literary short stories. There used to be more popular short stories published in Saturday Evening Post, so-called women's slick magazines, pulps, etc. That market seems to have pretty much disappeared. That only leaves literary stories, and the audience for literary stories, like the audience for poetry, has never been very large. The very fact that short stories have got a reputation as being "literary" has perhaps reduced the market for them. Does that make sad sense?Charles E. Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11642048806407593585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-28951702361241060402011-01-29T05:42:55.869-08:002011-01-29T05:42:55.869-08:00When you say writers have a better chance of publi...When you say writers have a better chance of publishing novels rather than short stories, you are talking about book publication, right? A lot of writers never get to that level--or are never able to remain there long. These writers sort of live their lives in middling literary magazines and university reviews where editors are more worried about what is "good" than they are about making profits. Book publishers--if my two favorite novelists are any indication--aren't interested in short stories until the writers can produce good sales. After all, they are in business. Anyway, getting novels published isn't as simple as you imply or I infer you imply. I hope you do regular posting from France. DexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-53359015115999742342011-01-26T19:33:07.144-08:002011-01-26T19:33:07.144-08:00Can't wait to read more! Thanks!
For what it...Can't wait to read more! Thanks! <br /><br />For what it's worth. I am in love with the short story form; I do not have an MFA in creative writing and have only been through a workshop process once at Squaw Valley. <br /><br />Antonya Nelson wrote an interesting essay in Glimmer Train's Writer's Ask, issue 47, comparing novels and short stories.<br /><br />My blog entry: http://authoranngraham.blogspot.com/2010/03/read-antonya-nelsons-essay-story-v.htmlAnn Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08257054651903250806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161136885462262525.post-23684047070910538312011-01-26T07:23:57.330-08:002011-01-26T07:23:57.330-08:00Charles...this is really interesting. I look forw...Charles...this is really interesting. I look forward to reading more about why authors enjoy writing the short story vs. readers preferring novels. Wish I could hear you speak at the conference in France!Ean McCrystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08278629208446313302noreply@blogger.com