When the library closed for the pandemic on March 13th and I contemplated the altered days ahead, I had a revelation. I decided that I would tackle a goal I had long held–to read more short stories.
Every year I feel hard pressed to read enough of the newly-published fiction and nonfiction to feel grounded in my work as a readers’ advisor. Not to mention all of the older books I also keep meaning to get to, or that I hear about from colleagues and patrons. I used to think that I didn’t have time for short stories or that I preferred novels. Where did that idea come from?
Yes, short stories can slow you down. You have to make space for the world a short story creates, and each story, even in one collection or anthology, has a different pace, tone, cadence, and perspective that you are thrown into. Short stories are the gems of literature–they can be rough cut or burnished, but each story offers a prism through which you will discover a new voice, perspective, or world. When I thought that I did not like short stories or did not have time for them I was wrong, and I was missing out.
As an act of accountability, I have been posting every story read on Twitter. I have tagged authors and online magazines and interacted with writers and editors. I have met other readers and writers who are also reading a short story a day, and have gained insight and ideas from them.
My greatest discovery overall is that while I started this project hoping that the pandemic would be short lived, I find that I love the pleasure and the plunder of ferreting out the time to track down and read a short story in my day.
While I have been reading many stories at online and subscription magazines like Nightmare, Lightspeed, Uncanny, FIYAH, and Tor.com, here are some of my favorite collections from this year: New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl, A People’s Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories and The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu, We Had No Rules by Corinne Manning, Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin.
As with all reading, I have learned that there is joy in the journey as there is no end to the road.
What did you learn or make this year? It might just help the next person discover what will help them get through the coming months.
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