The Short Story Initiative: September (a fresh start!)

The Short Stories on Wednesdays weekly event that Nancy Cudis of Simple Clockwork has been running for the last few months, has now been converted to a monthly event called The Short Story Initiative. The aim, as it has always been, is to encourage folk to read short stories, whether it be just one a week (now one a month) or many. Nancy has organised it so that there is a Mr Linky open each month for as many links to as many short story reviews as one might have. She intends consolidating the lot at the end of each month. She also has monthly themes for anyone who would love to participate but are not too sure where to begin. For the rest, she very flexible about how the participants work out their short story reading.

 

As I’ve said, the only aim of this event is to encourage folk to read a much often neglected literary form — the short story.

 

This month’s theme is all about getting to know the participants. Here are a few questions Nancy has asked us to answer.

 

1. Why do you want to join The Short Story Initiative?

I have a few short story collections that I would like to read and this seems good incentive to pick them up and complete  them if possible.

 

2. What kind of short stories do you read? Is there a specific genre or culture or nationality you would like to explore through short stories?

At the moment I have some classics shorts to read by famous writers like O Henry, Saki, Conrad, Fitzgerald, L M Montgomery, Chopin, Mansfield, Poe and Murakami. When reading for the weekly event before, my choices used to be rather random as I picked things from off the net. Perhaps I prefer humour and something homely. But after I read all the afore mentioned writers my idea of what I like might be more fixed?… let’s see…

 

3. Who is your favorite short story writer? Why?

I don’t know that I have a favourite short story writer. I know that I have enjoyed works by O Henry and Saki. But my short story reading has been too sparse to form an informed opinion.

 

4. What is the most memorable short story you have read?

Surprisingly, this one is an easy answer for me — “Who Slays the Giant, Kills the Beast” by Mark Chadbourne. It’s a fantasy short that mixes history with the eerie world of faerie. The title comes from Sidney Spencer’s  Faeirie Queene and the main character of the short story is Spencer himself.

 

5. What is your experience with short stories in the past? Is it a good or bad experience?

Some have been good. Some have been okay. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience with short stories. I have found it a really good way to get introduced to new writers and get a feel of their style before plunging into their novels or plays. In the last one year I was introduced to Woolf, Chekov and Willa Cather in this manner.

 

6. Share one book confession when it comes to short stories?

I find it very hard to pick up a short story. Once I begin I am hooked. But there is always this fear that when I pick a short story to read, it will not be enough. I might be left wanting something more. The whole experience might be incomplete. Like I’ve said, though, I’ve never really felt these things after reading shorts.

 

7. Share something about yourself that has nothing to do with short stories.
I like doing some needlework every now and then. Nowadays, it’s my only other option for relaxation besides reading and blogging.  

 

So, are you participating in The Short Story Initiative as well? If not, would you like to? Do you like reading short stories? Would you like to try them? Tell me!

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