yeah, I think 'pressure' is just it, in first-person terms at-stake-ness, everything is at stake in Proust ('the self'), everything is at stake Borges ('the world'), both the self and the world are at stake in Kafka, probably my distrust of Joyce is the fact that for him, I think, not everything is at stake, he's too much an artist for that, I also love O'Connor but there seems to be some movement against her at the moment, I think Secret Squirrel insulted her somewhere on Substack, it was tragic
Great piece—I very much agree, and thought of Borges and Ted Chiang after reading Traylen's piece. But I'd like to suggest another category of short story, quite apart from the Proustian, Borgesian, or O'Connor-ian, that should survive the culling: the short story as a parable, of which Kafka's shorts are the best example, though I also think of Donald Barthelme as an exemplary producer of this kind of story.
I am a someone who wanted to write novels, but alas, am 'gifted' with good short fiction writing abilities. Now this debate crushes my humble brag opportunities. I am conflicted... not a huge fan of the short story, this debate outlines some reasons why, ... but the but...
I think this debate on short stories applies to modern literature in general.
I wonder why no one mentions Chekhov in this debate.
At the link below there is an exceptional short story by Jane Gardam. Its existence alone provides justification for the form:
https://zmkc.blogspot.com/2025/05/vale-jane-gardam.html?m=1
Will read!
yeah, I think 'pressure' is just it, in first-person terms at-stake-ness, everything is at stake in Proust ('the self'), everything is at stake Borges ('the world'), both the self and the world are at stake in Kafka, probably my distrust of Joyce is the fact that for him, I think, not everything is at stake, he's too much an artist for that, I also love O'Connor but there seems to be some movement against her at the moment, I think Secret Squirrel insulted her somewhere on Substack, it was tragic
Great piece—I very much agree, and thought of Borges and Ted Chiang after reading Traylen's piece. But I'd like to suggest another category of short story, quite apart from the Proustian, Borgesian, or O'Connor-ian, that should survive the culling: the short story as a parable, of which Kafka's shorts are the best example, though I also think of Donald Barthelme as an exemplary producer of this kind of story.
I am a someone who wanted to write novels, but alas, am 'gifted' with good short fiction writing abilities. Now this debate crushes my humble brag opportunities. I am conflicted... not a huge fan of the short story, this debate outlines some reasons why, ... but the but...
I think this debate on short stories applies to modern literature in general.
And do not forget the fable of the fable...
https://whyweshould.substack.com/p/formeika-on-literature
The Booker is with you: https://substack.com/home/post/p-164032291
haha how terrible