Comments on: Guest Post: The Long End of Short Stories http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/ and it has addled her brain Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:42:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: She Is Too Fond Of Books … » Blog Archive » Spotlight on Bookstores: Vroman’s Books in Pasadena, California http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-6661 She Is Too Fond Of Books … » Blog Archive » Spotlight on Bookstores: Vroman’s Books in Pasadena, California Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:51:38 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-6661 [...] about the perceived difficulty discussing short stories in a book group setting.  Check out his post for insight from an author of two published collections of short stories (The Middle-Aged Man and [...] [...] about the perceived difficulty discussing short stories in a book group setting.  Check out his post for insight from an author of two published collections of short stories (The Middle-Aged Man and [...]

]]> By: Heather J. http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-4731 Heather J. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:24:35 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-4731 Thanks for giving me this link - it will definitely help with my book club's short story discussion this month. :) Thanks for giving me this link – it will definitely help with my book club’s short story discussion this month. :)

]]> By: Dawn http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Dawn Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:55:24 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-386 Yes, it's boring when everyone agrees! I find that my favorite book groups are the ones in which we can have a heated discussion, yet it doesn't leave the room or carry over into "real life" (the emotions - anger, disagreement, etc.) Yes, it’s boring when everyone agrees! I find that my favorite book groups are the ones in which we can have a heated discussion, yet it doesn’t leave the room or carry over into “real life” (the emotions – anger, disagreement, etc.)

]]> By: Tim Jones http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Tim Jones Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:41:33 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-385 Thanks for this comment, and your comment on my blog, Dawn. I'm in a book group myself, but we have never used discussion questions: we just read the book, then come together and sit around until one of us ventures an opinion, and things take off from there. Books we all like, or all dislike, usually don't take us far into the evening; it's those which some of us love and some hate that produce the memorable meetings. Thanks for this comment, and your comment on my blog, Dawn. I’m in a book group myself, but we have never used discussion questions: we just read the book, then come together and sit around until one of us ventures an opinion, and things take off from there. Books we all like, or all dislike, usually don’t take us far into the evening; it’s those which some of us love and some hate that produce the memorable meetings.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Dawn Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:42:41 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-384 Tim - I use "released" when referring to a book going on sale as well ... I guess it does come from the recording industry, doesn't it?! I liked the link to your site and the futher links to some of your previously published stories; thanks for sharing it. And, of course I got a chuckle from your comparison of discussion questions to exam questions ... we use these as a starting point and usually jump off in all directions (no "number 2 pencil" and "ovals filled in completely" required) Tim – I use “released” when referring to a book going on sale as well … I guess it does come from the recording industry, doesn’t it?!

I liked the link to your site and the futher links to some of your previously published stories; thanks for sharing it.

And, of course I got a chuckle from your comparison of discussion questions to exam questions … we use these as a starting point and usually jump off in all directions (no “number 2 pencil” and “ovals filled in completely” required)

]]> By: Tim Jones http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Tim Jones Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:07:42 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-383 I found this whole article fascinating. Thank you for posting it. It was the comparison of a short story collection to an album that clicked with me: what Christopher described is exactly how I approached sequencing the stories in my collection Transported, and indeed I refer to the result as a tracklisting: see http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/transported-tracklisting.html One of the promotional tasks Random House asked me to do for Transported was to come up with a list of discussion questions about it for book clubs. It wasn't easy: although I tried to take the thematic approach Christopher suggests above, I felt as though I was setting exam questions for secondary students rather than questions suitable for a few people to chat about over a glass of wine. I found this whole article fascinating. Thank you for posting it. It was the comparison of a short story collection to an album that clicked with me: what Christopher described is exactly how I approached sequencing the stories in my collection Transported, and indeed I refer to the result as a tracklisting: see http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/transported-tracklisting.html

One of the promotional tasks Random House asked me to do for Transported was to come up with a list of discussion questions about it for book clubs. It wasn’t easy: although I tried to take the thematic approach Christopher suggests above, I felt as though I was setting exam questions for secondary students rather than questions suitable for a few people to chat about over a glass of wine.

]]> By: Christopher Meeks http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Christopher Meeks Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:47:09 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-379 Thank you for reading the post, and I love the comments, too. I'm visiting family in Palm Springs (117 degrees at 4:30 p.m.) and the connection to the world through Dawn's site takes me out of the heat. I happen to be thrilled when libraries have my books, by the way, and if you don't want to buy "Months and Seasons," request it at your local library. That's one way around Booklist. Power to the people through a grassroots effort. Libraries often buy the books that are requested. My last book is in Harvard's library, in Bozeman, Montana's library, in Vancouver, Canada's and many more--all thanks to individuals who asked for it. Ask for my book or anyone's collection of short fiction. What do you say to a campaign to get more short fiction in and circulating in libraries? The power is with you. I'm also trying another approach: the video approach. You can SEE an excerpt of my book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JGhhxgmvPA I also just saw Book Club Girl's post on her site. I love that her book club read and discussed "Unaccustomed Earth" and had a good time. Book clubs can enjoy short fiction. Thank you for reading the post, and I love the comments, too. I’m visiting family in Palm Springs (117 degrees at 4:30 p.m.) and the connection to the world through Dawn’s site takes me out of the heat.

I happen to be thrilled when libraries have my books, by the way, and if you don’t want to buy “Months and Seasons,” request it at your local library. That’s one way around Booklist. Power to the people through a grassroots effort. Libraries often buy the books that are requested. My last book is in Harvard’s library, in Bozeman, Montana’s library, in Vancouver, Canada’s and many more–all thanks to individuals who asked for it. Ask for my book or anyone’s collection of short fiction. What do you say to a campaign to get more short fiction in and circulating in libraries? The power is with you.

I’m also trying another approach: the video approach. You can SEE an excerpt of my book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JGhhxgmvPA

I also just saw Book Club Girl’s post on her site. I love that her book club read and discussed “Unaccustomed Earth” and had a good time. Book clubs can enjoy short fiction.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Dawn Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:50:54 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-380 bookroomreviews - I think it was litlicense who posted earlier this week a quote about being able to enjoy and digest one story at a time. It was a nice thought about taking time to settle with one story before moving/plowing on to the next. Terry, Women Rule and Tania - thanks for your comments. I enjoy all your blogs. Even though I'm not a writer, the behind-the-scenes tips and struggles (and successes!) are fascinating to read about. bookroomreviews – I think it was litlicense who posted earlier this week a quote about being able to enjoy and digest one story at a time. It was a nice thought about taking time to settle with one story before moving/plowing on to the next.

Terry, Women Rule and Tania – thanks for your comments. I enjoy all your blogs. Even though I’m not a writer, the behind-the-scenes tips and struggles (and successes!) are fascinating to read about.

]]> By: Tania Hershman/The Short Review http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Tania Hershman/The Short Review Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:35:47 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-382 PS I have posted about this on my blog and the Short Review blog. Thanks, Dawn, for inviting Christopher to write about this! PS I have posted about this on my blog and the Short Review blog. Thanks, Dawn, for inviting Christopher to write about this!

]]> By: Tania Hershman/The Short Review http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2008/07/16/guest-post-the-long-end-of-short-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Tania Hershman/The Short Review Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:23:47 +0000 http://sheistoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-381 Christopher, thanks for a fascinating insight into the publishing world and short stories. It makes no sense to me, this eternal cry to "write a novel"! I am glad you didn't veer from the path of short stories and look forward to reading and reviewing your collections. Great advice for book clubs, that's where short story writers need to aim, in part. Short stories are not just one thing, they are rich and diverse and magical, and it's a shame if people who love reading miss out because of the market's misguided emphasis elsewhere. Tania Christopher, thanks for a fascinating insight into the publishing world and short stories. It makes no sense to me, this eternal cry to “write a novel”! I am glad you didn’t veer from the path of short stories and look forward to reading and reviewing your collections. Great advice for book clubs, that’s where short story writers need to aim, in part. Short stories are not just one thing, they are rich and diverse and magical, and it’s a shame if people who love reading miss out because of the market’s misguided emphasis elsewhere.

Tania

]]>