Does anyone read short stories anymore? How many people get, for instance, Asimov's or F&SF, and of those, do they really read the majority of the stories? Or how many buy anthologies?
Do you fear that you may spend time and effort to revise a short, send it out until acceptance, only to have a potential reader not read it?
At a given time, I might read anywhere from one to three novels, but hypocritically I can't find the interest or time for reading short stories outside of critiques. Somehow I am not my own target audience.
[This message has been edited by ChrisOwens (edited June 28, 2005).]
I do think, though, that the big markets sell to more than just the submitting authors. I don't think they could keep their sales up on that small market group. I don't know who reads it, but I have to think someone does.
I *always* buy 'The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror' every year.
Currently the only magazine I am reading each month is Cemetary Dance.
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If it's done right, I'm quite happy to go. But, yeah, that's the problem with short stories sometimes: they leave you wanting.
Novels can be the same way. I got to the end of The Last Unicorn and I didn't want the story to end. Same with Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell. However, that didn't mean the stories weren't satisfying or that I didn't feel a sense of closure at the end. I just didn't want to say good-bye.
I'm rediscovering shorts. I read a few when I was younger -- mostly from anthologies -- and enjoyed the few I read. I had no intention of writing sf/f at the time though I did write a few contemporary shorts that were never completed.
When I was in my late teens, an older friend (in her early fifties) gave me a small stack of magazines. Included in that stack were a few Asimov's and F&SF. The stories in there didn't really appeal at the time. I liked novels better.
However, at the time, I was a single teen who had enough time between classes to devour novels in a week or two. I no longer have that kind of time.
I think what I like best about shorts is that they're... short. I don't have to worry about losing my place or forgetting who is doing what if I find myself cut off from the story for a couple weeks. They don't demand as much and that fits perfectly with my life at the moment. Because of their size, the stories also tend to be down-to-earth -- no room for Tolkien-esque epics or uber-complicated technology. I like that.
Now, if only I could write them.
Don't get me wrong, I have always enjoyed a good novel (and still do ), however, I balk at books that are more than an inch and half thick -- especially when they are already 6"w x 8"h.
I like being able to sit down and finish something quickly.
I understand what you are saying. Particularly the comment about F&SF seeming a bit amatuer.
I recieved a subscription to Asimov for Christmas last year, and eagerly awaited the first issue. Both my wife and I found about 20% wortwhile. 20% we gave up after the first few pages. and the rest proved acceptable. So we picked up a book for Herbert to recuperate.
I purchased a newstand copy of F&SF and only enjoyed two of the stories.
I feel like short story authors are not putting in the hours per word that a novelist does. I grew up reading anthologies by Bradbury, Asimov, LeGuine, etc. and quite enjoyed them. I'm just not seeing that quality here.
However, like I said the issues of Asimov I've read do have some gems, and they almost made it worth the subscription fee.
I don't like to be critical, but I was very surprised by what was being published.
In creativity rising,
John A. Manley