The Writing Life What makes a great short story? With Jenn Ashworth
22 snips
Oct 10, 2022 Writer and teacher Jenn Ashworth discusses the nuances of short stories vs. novels, including character development, modular storytelling, and the appeal of short fiction in uncertain times. She also shares insights on crafting compelling narratives and the challenges in promoting short story collections in the publishing industry.
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Short Stories Require Novel‑Level Worldbuilding
- Short stories demand the same worldbuilding as novels but in a far more condensed, deliberate form.
- Jenn Ashworth compares short stories to intricate watches where every part must relate tightly to the whole.
How Midsummer Eve Was Built Around Two Questions
- In Midsummer Eve Ashworth focused on two coaxing questions: who is Terry and what is happening at the resort.
- She aimed to make the reader constantly revise theories as each page revealed new clues about Terry and the resort.
Use Short Stories To Be Bold And Skip Exposition
- Use short stories to be bolder with premise and to skip heavy exposition that a novel would demand.
- Ashworth gives an example: a story where a couple take on dowsing for dead bodies needs no five chapters of setup in short form.