The Art & Craft of the Short Story

Most of the books I've come across on writing provide formulaic methods and page after page of boring exercises. They tell you things like, grab the reader's attention in the first paragraph; use a lot of dialogue. Yet those of us who appreciate literature know that some of the best writing is the kind that breaks all the rules.One of the first things Rick DeMarinis tells us is that he doesn't know how to write a short story. Though he's been writing for 30 years, it's still a struggle. All he can really do is tell how he goes about it, and give us examples of where he thinks other writers have succeeded. For every piece of advice he gives, he shows examples of how another writer took a different approach and it worked. You might think that this would tend to make the book confusing and almost worthless, but it doesn't. Certain important points do emerge. For example, a short story is more like a poem than a novel. Due to its length, each word is important and must be chosen carefully. Most of the time the theme of your story will not come through in the first draft. It will take several re-writes. There are any number of approaches one can take to a story-some more conventional than others-and the writer should not be afraid to experiment. Trying to develop a style or trying to "make a point" with your writing often results in stilted prose.For me this book was a validation of all the things I've been doing all along, but that other books had told me were wrong. It's not for the individual who is looking for a shortcut to getting published, or who wants to write best sellers. As the author tells us, "This book is addressed and dedicated to all of you who can't quit, who would be miserable if denied pencil, pen, or keyboard." If you fit that category, then you need to read this.

The Art and Craft of the Short Story is an enlightening read for writer-wanna bes, writers in school and even established writers. This is mainly because of DeMarinis' personal approach to writing advice (plus the fact that he's been publishing short stories for 30 years, and has taught creative writing at the university level). His approach is to expose his own creative process, the development of his stories, and even to provide insight into his personal life. (The latter makes a very valid point-- writing and short stories are integral with the writer's life.) In fact, the Art and Craft of the Short Story can be read as a primer for his other books, such as Borrowed Hearts. He does use examples from his students (giving the novice comfort in numbers), he sites many excellent stories to develop his points (Hemingway and form is an obvious instance) and he quotes the established icons of literature to give the Art and Craft of the Short Story the mythical tinge that literature strives for: "here's what Joseph Conrad had to say about the subject..." (p.77) and a quote from Raymond Carver's comments on a confession by Flannery O'Connor (p.34.).The book is divided into the expected (and needed!) short story elements: Where Stories Come From; Beginnings; Theme; Characters; Plot; and on and on. The introduction includes a fascinating analysis of the Golden Age of fiction, and the current state of affairs. DeMarinis also provides a succinct (and accurate) summary of what the contemporary short story is about. Additional asides and other note benes include comments on the sophistication of today's readers, a caveat and a confession and more. DeMarinis does suggest some exercises, my favorite was Write The Worst Story You Can. The Art and Craft of the Short Story-- through DeMarinis' instruction and his own stories-- motivated me to experiment and write more. In fact, based on all the suggested readings and exrcises, a person could read for a year, or take their own private writing course.