Short Stories Vs. Novels

As writers, we often hear the piece of writing advice that suggests you write a short story before working on a novel or anything of substantial length. Do I agree with this? Well . . . yes and no. 

Every writer is different, and what works for some is hazardous to others. There are some writers who can’t seem to write a single short story, but have somehow finished five novels. And then there are others who can form short piece after short piece, but can never seem to finish a longer draft. 

I fall into the latter category. To this day, I have only completed one full-length novel draft, but boy have I started several. However, I have written plenty of short stories, some of which are published here on my website.  

My advice? I suggest writing short stories. Unless you know for sure that short works are not for you, I full-heartedly encourage you to give it a go, and here’s why: 

It’s easier to manage. You can complete an actual story without it having to take ages. You usually have a smaller number of characters, a smaller setting, smaller everything really. This lets you work on the story without it becoming overwhelming. 

It also lets you feel the triumph of having finished a piece. Writing and storytelling can be time-consuming tasks built up to form a long-term goal, which can be discouraging to reach. Short stories allow you to finish something smaller and actually feel the benefits of having completed something. It also serves as an example of your writing. You can show people a sample of your style and excite them to look forward to future projects. 

Now, again, short stories are not for every writer, but if you have been feeling the disappointment of not finishing anything, then this may be a good exercise to try. And hey, we’re writers. A little more writing never hurt.