The memoir that grew into a novel that shrunk into a short story collection. Almost. I still haven’t decided on that last part: the short story collection. And I wouldn’t say the memoir “grew” into a novel exactly. More like I changed lanes. The word out there is memoirs won’t sell, unless you’re famous. Unfortunately, I had already written it at this point.
I started out with the idea of humorous Family Stories told in short stories like that of David Sedaris. But word out there is short stories won’t sell, either, unless you’re famous.
I like my story better as a memoir, because to make it a novel I must actually follow rules, a formula complete with a beginning, middle and end and with plot points, character arcs, resolutions, and, omg, a likeable character.
So rules, I followed. And I rewrote and rewrote and read and read, not for pleasure, but for scene structure and pace and all the while I was impatient to be done … again. So I took bits of my book and reworked some of them into short stories and submitted to lit journals and some actually got published. But I’m not ready to submit the remaining thirty shorts from my book all over kingdom come. My dream is to be read (nice if I was paid too). My dream isn’t for this one big story to be read in bits and pieces. It’s like a series of one-night stands without any true bonding with the standee/characters. For any of you who have read my published excerpts—and admits to it—I want to yell, “But wait, There’s More.”
Then came the idea that I should publish all the stories to lit journals, then compile them all into a short story collection.
My indecisiveness is what keeps me from moving ahead. I need to decide its fate before I read my novel once more for plot holes. Should I choose to move ahead with a short story collection, I’ve got a little dismantling work ahead of me. If I choose to keep it a novel, I’ve got more rewrites—you mean there needs to be a plot? Easier would be to know the direction before taking the journey.
Do you like reading short story collections or do you prefer a long-term relationship with your character? Come back on Friday to meet a special guest who managed to do both by compiling a short story collection and by linking the stories to create a thread through one character’s life. She will be discussing short stories vs. novels (she’s written both).
Tricia
Tricia Sutton's Blog 
I’m not sure it’s true that short story collections, especially by non-famous authors, don’t sell. I believe Robin Black and Tracy Winn did quite well with their debut short story collections in 2010.
And the way you describe your special guest’s story collection is exactly how I’d describe your book. You could easily have a collection of episodes in Patty’s life with the linking theme of desperation to be normal and fit in.
Go for it. 🙂
Linda~When I saw the blog tour request, I had a light-bulb moment: Hey, that’s me, I said.
Then reality snapped the light bulb off and said, “Duh, it WAS you until you tweaked it to death.” To achieve this new purpose I must now undo all the damage/rewrites.
It would be like painting my whole house purple then red then deciding it looked better when it was green. Work. 😦
It’s always work, Tricia. But next time, with all you’ve learned, it will be less work. I figure by the time I get to the tenth book, I’ll be able to write it perfectly first time around. 😀
Linda~Next time I won’t be so fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants. There’s a lot to be said of Pantsers, but next time I’m going to try to be a Plotter. Larry Brooks from Storyfix.com would agree.
Writing a serious blog post (I do this places other than Dummies) is difficult enough. I couldn’t imagine writing a whole novel!
I’ll be back on Friday.
Mel~I can’t even write a serious blog post. And if you read my novel, you’d understand. 🙂
Well several of my Hamster-Britain books are actually just short stories cobbled together – and look how successful they are….NOT! I’m not sure that it’s quite the right comparison to make though. I think you might possibly sell rather more of your work than I do of mine. But shorts with a thread running through them are good. To get a whole story in one chapter is great for people who read before going to bed. Do I know what I’m talking about? Probably not. Please ignore.
Tooty~I love that you don’t know what you are talking about, but you make more sense than you give yourself credit for.
I could see your stories on the BBC channel. Why haven’t you written for TV?
Actually that would take me full-circle. I began by writing TV scripts, but such was the frustration that grew out of dealing with the ever-changing minds of TV folk, I had to either give it up, or go mad. And ten-or-so years ago I very nearly had a a family Christmas special animation produced: But we couldn’t raise the funding. I think I still have the original script on a floppy disc somewhere. Captive Echo, Silent Apocalypse, Volume One of The Horatio Horseblanket Chronicles, and the new book that I’m working on right now, were all based upon my failed TV scripts. Does anyone know a TV producer out there? Huh? Anyone?
Tooty~How frustrating. So close, too.
I don’t know any TV producers out here. Heck, I don’t even know my neighbors.
In Canada short story collection don’t do so poorly, and quite a few authors debut with them.
Barnacle Love, by Anthony de Sa, short listed for the 2008 Giller Prize (one of the two top best prizes along with Governor General Award) is exactly as you describe. I def recommend it to you to read.
Jennifer~Thanks, I’ve just written the name down. I’ll see first if my library has it (I’m a 5-minute walk from the library).
My personal reading preference isn’t for short story collections but that’s not to say they aren’t popular with other readers. I just happen to like to get my teeth into a good, long read. I write very few short stories, too, because I like to get involved with characters and keep up the relationship through a series of conflicts.
I hope you solve your genre dilemma soon. I know it’s stressful to be wandering in a fog without knowing your direction.
Carol~I tend to lean toward the novel as well. But I like short story collections to follow an epic novel for balance.