I thought that after writing, three novels writing a short story would be simple. I would easily crank out a short story each month to submit for publication or a contest. Little did I know that while the literary components of a short story are similar to those in a novel, writing them is a different skill set. The pacing is different. The characters are different. What happens behind the scenes is different. So much has to be accomplished very quickly, like running the 100 meter dash versus running a marathon. You’ve got to jump at the gun and get those characters moving. The situation must be complex, intriguing, and resolvable in a quick amount of time, and don’t forget the ironic twist! That being said, I have found Ashley Lister’s How To Write Short Stories and Get Them Published to be a valuable resource for creativity, style, technique, and practice. Just like prepping for a sprint, short stories require practice, drills, and persistence. The race doesn’t always go to the swift, but to those who keep writing.
