In January I posted a blog about Bloomsbury declaring 2012 as the 'Year of the Short Story' (read more here) and maybe this prediction is coming true. Random House has released a digital brand called 'Storycuts'. This range contains over 250 digital short stories. Taken from parent collections to be available as single stories or small bundles. If you have a favourite short story then you may find it in this new digital collection.
Yesterday Radio4's Open Book programme with Aminatta Forna was entirely devoted to the short story. It briefly covered the origins of the short story from Poe, through Dickens, Chekov and onto Raymond Carver and Alice Munro. Helen Simpson, herself an excellent writer of short stories, described short stories as "highly nutritious... with a high protein content", which I think is one of the best analogies I've heard to define this genre of fiction writing.
If you missed Open Book then the same episode is repeated on Thursday 23 February at 4pm, click here for more details.
It really does seem that short stories are becoming popular again - women's magazine editors please take note!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed that this trend continues!
ReplyDeletePatsy, Sally - totally agree with you!
ReplyDeleteAnd Sally many congratulations on the Womag Blog win, really good to see you won the serial competition :)