I’ve always loved reading and writing, but the subject of my interest has always been novels—that is, before this summer. I was never a fan of short stories before then; short stories never satiated my constant curiosity and my desire to loyally follow a character through their emotional journey through life. I thought it cruel for an author to introduce me to a character, only to wrench the character away after a few paragraphs. What’s the point in getting acquainted when an inexorable breakup is eminent? Moreover, a few pages did not provide enough information for me to fully understand and feel affection for a character. Thus, I never bothered reading short stories; nor did I ever write them.
However, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge completely changed my impression of short stories. I realized how satisfying it is to peek into the lives of a myriad of characters; to be enlightened by a bit of everyone’s secrets. Ever since I’ve read her book, I’ve been inspired to emulate her style and produce a work similar to hers. Through taking Professor Cross’ class, I hope to develop and hone my skills in this domain, and grow as a writer.
I’ve realized that there are advantages to short stories. Since the stories are so short, only the crucial facts are included, so there is never a dull moment. Moreover, short stories allow the reader to use their imagination to supply parts of the story line. It is very satisfying, as a reader, to be able to tacitly understand the author without being blatantly told every little detail. It is like being equipped with the pieces of a puzzle by the author, but putting the pieces together independent of the author. Thus, I’m extremely excited to learn how to write a good short story!
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