Since this series began in January 2018 there have been over 1000 Posts from Your Archives where bloggers have taken the opportunity to share posts to a new audience… mine.
The topics have ranged from travel, childhood, recipes, history, family and the most recent series was #PotLuck where I shared a random selection of different topics. This series is along the same lines… but is a ‘Lucky Dip’. I have posts scheduled for another few weeks but that will bring this current series to an end. Another series will begin in the new year.
Today author and poet Gwen Plano writing for Story Empire shares her thoughts on th growing popularity of short stories
The Rise of Short Stories by Gwen Plano
Hello SE friends, Gwen with you today, and I’m going to share a discovery.
Over the holidays, I read several novelettes and novellas. They were perfect for my busy pre-Christmas activities. I downloaded six or more of these books and when I found an hour or two, I’d escape into a lovely romance, an adventure, or a bewitching mystery. Because of the brevity of the read, these books were perfect for drawing me into the holiday spirit. Instead of just worrying about my busy to-do list, I could dream.
Most of the books I read in December had a Christmas theme. I suspect you might have read several as well. Novelettes and novellas were everywhere present and this realization got me wondering. Could it be that these shorter stories are growing in popularity?
We are all multi-taskers. Technology helps us leap from one blog to another, from recipes to medical treatments, from breaking news to the weather update. We’re savvy folks but if you are like me, there’s never enough time in the day. I look back to my pre-retired life and wonder how I accomplished what I did. But just last week, while strolling through internet pages, I may have discovered the answer to my question.
As part of my reading, I stumbled upon a bewildering statement. It claimed that the rise of technology gadgets had led to attention spans less than that of a goldfish. A crazy statement, right? Well, I couldn’t let such a claim stand without some investigation. I searched for the source and discovered this quote by Time Magazine:
The average attention span for the notoriously ill-focused goldfish is nine seconds, but according to a new study from Microsoft Corp., people now generally lose concentration after eight seconds…
photo from Canva
Are you surprised? I was. If they had mentioned a chimpanzee or a great ape, I could have accepted the comparison. But a goldfish? This was too much. I had to know more.
I went to Microsoft’s site, dug around a bit, and found their research. It turns out they used electroencephalograms to measure the attention span of their participants. Based on what they recorded and witnessed, they asserted that our collective attention span has dropped since the year 2000 when technology took center stage.
Now back to short stories (anthologies, novellas, and novelettes). Though full-length books dominate in sales, short stories are steadily increasing in popularity and this phenomenon is expected to climb. Could it be that Microsoft is on to something?
It’s undeniable that the digital world has changed our lives. If we can accept the goldfish analogy, short stories have a special seat at the table. A well-written novelette is fast-paced and concise. It can capture a reader in just one sitting and may motivate him or her to reach for more. Its brevity is its strength.
As much as the internet distracts and exhausts us, it has broadened the reading world. People like me will pick up a novelette especially during busy times because we know we can read it before shutting off the lights. For working folks, the story might be the perfect companion over lunch or while riding public transportation. And, who knows, it might so grab the reader’s attention that he or she will want to check out the author’s full-length novels.
photo from Canva
My reading choices in December opened my eyes to the value and importance of short books. Twenty-five pages or two hundred and twenty-five pages, each has an important readership. Whether it be whim or circumstance, readers choose to dive deep or dance with the goldfish.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you published a novelette or novella? I’d love to hear about your experience. Won’t you share? After my Christmas excursion, I’ve become a believer.
©Gwen Plano 2022
My thanks to Gwen for allowing me to share the posts from her archives and I know she would love to hear from you.. hugsx
About Gwen M. Plano
Growing up in Southern California, Gwen M. Plano loved learning, and she loved imagining stories, some grandly epic, all personal and heartfelt. She taught and served in universities across the United States and in Japan, then retired and focused again on her stories.
Her first book, Letting To Into Perfect Love, is an award-winning memoir recounting some of her struggles in life while providing insight into the healing process.
Gwen shifted to fiction after this first book and joined forces with acclaimed author John W. Howell in writing a thriller, The Contract: between heaven and earth. Its sequel, The Choice: the unexpected heroes, soon followed – this time a solo effort. The Culmination, a new beginning, is the third book of the series.
Gwen lives in the Midwest with her husband, traveling and writing, sharing those stories only she can imagine.
Books by Gwen M. Plano
One of the reviews for Culmination
Book three in a series, The Culmination reads easily as a standalone novel. A political thriller, that addresses denuclearization, tensions in the Middle East, and the fate of refugees, much of the story echoes current headlines. The plot is complex involving multiple heads of state, along with the strategical give and take of political maneuvering on a global level. The author clearly put an extensive amount of research into this book, and it shows. Adrenalin-fueled scenes alter with more cerebral moments, and even a few romantic interludes.
I especially loved the evolution of the relationship between the two central characters, Margaret Adler, VP of the United States and Ivan Smirnov, acting President of Russia. During the course of the novel those titles change, and we learn more about each, including richly developed backgrounds. I was thoroughly invested in the difficulties Margaret and Ivan faced, both on personal and political levels. Their scenes together were among my favorites of the book. There’s also a young refugee child who factors into the story and who stole my heart.
A unique combination of character-driven and plot-driven fiction, I recommend this compelling tale to readers who enjoy strong character development and complexly-plotted intrigue.
Read the reviews and buy the books: : Amazon UK –and : Amazon US – As Gwendolyn M. Plano: Amazon US follow Gwen : Goodreads –website:Gwen Plano – Twitter: @gmplano
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine 