‘Short short? Flash? Micro? Skinny? Nano? 55 words? 100? Less than 500? We may not be sure what to call them or how to define them, but we recognise these miniature fictions when we see them.’ URSULA HURLEY looks at the growth of the smallest form.
‘It is the contradictions of the human condition which Raymond Carver is so adept at exploring, a quality that makes his 1983 collection Cathedral a captivating read.’ WENDY GOOD recommends the story ‘A Small Good Thing’.
PAULINE MASUREL recommends the second posthumously published collection of early Kurt Vonnegut stories and finds that his prescient voice still has a great deal to tell us about the world we live in, today.
JOSE VARGHESE explores the longing beyond life in Louis de Bernieres’ short story ‘This Beautiful House’.
‘He was a grand old man of letters when James Joyce was still the up-and-coming kid on the block’: MIKE SMITH looks at the career of Irish novelist and short story writer George Moore, and calls for a revival of his work.
‘At some point, an author has to bite the bullet and read his or her work in front of an audience, a daunting experience, particularly for new writers like myself.’ In her 2nd post this week, JANE HAYWARD writes about the first Lightship Short Story Prize and reading her winning story.
‘There was once a woman who devoured stories. She read to enjoy; she read to escape the humdrum of her life.’ JANE HAYWARD weaves together a fairy tale and tells the story of a story.
ELLIE WALSH looks at two stories by Alice Munro and analyses the way Munro creates her complex and intriguing characters.
Reading your work to a live audience can be a daunting and unwelcomed task, but JULIET WEST takes comfort from the less-than-perfect readings of one of the greats.
We are delighted to be able to present three unique podcasts from master short story writer DAVID CONSTANTINE.
