What is the purpose of short stories?

[davidlevine]

I'm off to the Cascade Writers workshop this weekend, where I'll be an instructor. One of the things I'll be doing is giving a talk on "The Purpose and Practice of Short Stories." I have a few ideas, but I thought I'd ask you as well: what do you think is the purpose -- or, indeed, the point -- of writing short stories these days?

Comments

[bibliofile]

Also a reader, but I've been attending conventions for decades now. If you're writing novels but having trouble selling them, maybe short stories are another way to try to get some/any of your work out there?

I've also heard that the shorter length can help with writing muscles & discipline, looking for the bones of a story and removing extranaeity (if that's a word).

At any rate, it'd be interesting to hear what other options come up during your conversation.