Writing Short Stories

The third edition of Writing Short Stories has been revised and updated to provide a complete guide to the craft of writing short stories. It emphasizes the importance of voice as a foundation for work on characterization, imagery, dialogue and pace, as readers move from their first sketches to working on more complex narrative structures.

Ailsa Cox guides readers through key aspects of the craft, providing a variety of case studies of classic and contemporary core texts. The wide range of writers discussed include Edgar Allan Poe, Katherine Mansfield, Angela Carter, Alice Munro, Ali Smith, Iphgenia Baal, Octavia E. Butler and William Gibson. The diversity and flexibility of the short story genre is highlighted throughout, along with the specific challenges the writer faces. The book considers a range of genres, such as fantasy, science fiction, horror, autobiography, romance, comedy and satire. The new edition also includes extra insights into getting published, including publishing a first collection, with an updated list of resources and trends in short-story writing.

This inspiring guide is the ideal companion for those new to the genre or for anyone looking to improve their technique. Each chapter contains a series of engaging exercises to help readers develop their skills and build confidence in their writing. There are also bolded key terms, with an extensive glossary at the end of the book.