Short Stories Mrs. Gary Loves

So what is a "short story," anyway?

According to www.cliffsnotes.com, a short story is "fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel. Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay 'The Philosophy of Composition,' said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours. In contemporary fiction, a short story can range from 1,000 to 20,000 words.

Because of the shorter length, a short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme, whereas a novel can tackle multiple plots and themes, with a variety of prominent characters. Short stories also lend themselves more to experimentation — that is, using uncommon prose styles or literary devices to tell the story. Such uncommon styles or devices might get tedious, and downright annoying, in a novel, but they may work well in a short story."

Below, I have embedded links to the titles of some of my all-time favorite short stories, just in case you want to check them out!

The final recommendation I have for you (although not a short story) is one from which I published a portion into my wedding program. (It's the part about being "REAL." Find it! You'll LOVE it!)

The Velveteen Rabbit