Short Fiction VS Novels

[Ronald Kelly]

Just a quick question for my readers: Which do you prefer to read from Ol' Ron? Short stories or novels?

Back in the early to mid-90s, I was a big novel writer (it was my livelihood, after all, cranking out those 400-page doorstoppers for the folks at Zebra), but I've always had a great fondness for writing short stories. I reckon it comes from listening to my grandmother spin tall tales and ghost stories when I was a young'un... she'd go from one to the other and, in one sitting, I could hear up to fifteen or twenty stories (sometimes more, if she was on a roll) of family history (or scandal!), rural folklore, and local tales of haints, giant rattlers, and psychopatic, skeleton-handed handymen. I reckon that's why I prefer the roller coaster ride over the long road trip, both in writing and reading.

So, what do you think?

[T-Dogz_AK47]

Well I think both your novels and short stories are truly epic, so I could not choose between them.

Can I be greedy, and suggest you do both a novel and an anthology of short stories - southern fried Cajun horror style.... Yummy my favourite.

[bsaenz24]

While I love a good short story, I think I'd still pick a novel hands down.

[T-Dogz_AK47]

While I love a good short story, I think I'd still pick a novel hands down.

But around twenty different short stories together in one anthology? That's a tough choice for me, I think he is a master of both.

[bsaenz24]

I agree that Ron's writing is great, but as a reader, once I am into a story, I like to hang around a while.

[Martin]

How is this for non answer. I like both equally!

[Ben Staad]

Your work in ATB was tremendous. I'm not sure which form I prefer but I think I enjoy your collections slightly more? Maybe.

[Ronald Kelly]

Your work in ATB was tremendous. I'm not sure which form I prefer but I think I enjoy your collections slightly more? Maybe.

Funny you should mention ATB... I was just discussing a sequel to ATB with Paul at Thunderstorm about a month ago. But this one would be a full-length novel with many of the main (surviving) characters, both good and bad, as well as some new ones. Interested?

[bookworm 1]

Yes I am interested. But to answer your question I think for me, and you can relate is family. I have come to really love short stories because the kids keep us busy running from one activity to the next. So I have months where it is easier to read short stories and not worry if I miss a day or two to read that I will need to go back a few pages to refresh my memory. I still read novels and do love them and will continue to read them of course.
I can imagine with the kids keeping you busy it is easier to focus on shorter works as well. Also as I get older I have come to appreciate the short story. Packing so much into so few pages when done well is an awesome craft.

[bookworm 1]

Yes I am interested. But to answer your question I think for me, and you can relate is family. I have come to really love short stories because the kids keep us busy running from one activity to the next. So I have months where it is easier to read short stories and not worry if I miss a day or two to read that I will need to go back a few pages to refresh my memory. I still read novels and do love them and will continue to read them of course.
I can imagine with the kids keeping you busy it is easier to focus on shorter works as well. Also as I get older I have come to appreciate the short story. Packing so much into so few pages when done well is an awesome craft.

[Ben Staad]

Of course I would be interested. I need to do a re-read so I can remember who made it out alive.

Funny you should mention ATB... I was just discussing a sequel to ATB with Paul at Thunderstorm about a month ago. But this one would be a full-length novel with many of the main (surviving) characters, both good and bad, as well as some new ones. Interested?

[Ben Staad]

Of course I would be interested. I need to do a re-read so I can remember who made it out alive.

Funny you should mention ATB... I was just discussing a sequel to ATB with Paul at Thunderstorm about a month ago. But this one would be a full-length novel with many of the main (surviving) characters, both good and bad, as well as some new ones. Interested?

[Ronald Kelly]

Yes I am interested. But to answer your question I think for me, and you can relate is family. I have come to really love short stories because the kids keep us busy running from one activity to the next. So I have months where it is easier to read short stories and not worry if I miss a day or two to read that I will need to go back a few pages to refresh my memory. I still read novels and do love them and will continue to read them of course.
I can imagine with the kids keeping you busy it is easier to focus on shorter works as well. Also as I get older I have come to appreciate the short story. Packing so much into so few pages when done well is an awesome craft.

I definitely agree that family time has a huge amount to do with what I write and read lately. I'm about seven chapters into DOCTOR SLEEP right now, but that's only because I have to grab a few minutes reading time here and there because of my kids' after-school activities, suppertime, getting them ready for baths and bed, etc. Otherwise, I would have finished the book weeks ago.

The same goes for my writing. It's so much easier writing 2,500 to 5,000 words at a stretch, than devoting a massive amount of time to a 90.000 word (or more) novel. Maybe it's the way I approach my writing career now, compared to the early to mid-nineties; I'm not so much writing for the money now than the pleasure of writing. So the urgency of writing novels doesn't concern me as much as it used to. I'll be 54 next week and my priorities have changed drastically over the years. I enjoy writing... but it doesn't dominate my life like it did when I was 35.

[cycloneed20]

Hey Ron: If I had to make a choice -- I'd say novels. However, I like both very much. There are times in short stories where character development is not as good as it should be. Or the story line isn't as well thought out as it should be. And, I'm left wanting a lot more. One of favorite past times is before going turning in for the night -- is to lay on the bed and get lost in a very good novel that captures my attention -- with a great well thought out story line with great characters. And, I enjoy going on the journey with a novel seeing how the story evolves from beginning to end. During this time -- the characters and the situations are very real to me. A very good medium that bridges these two things are the novella which I also enjoy.

[srboone]

Write either, Ron. And I'll read it!