When I was in creative writing workshops in university, we studied short stories to become better writers. It’s a time-old tradition that encourages fledgling authors to focus on honing bite-sized narratives before they tackle a full-length novel. Writing a really good short story is a very hard thing to do. Trust me. I learned that the hard way. That’s why I wanted to share some short story collections with you all in the hopes that I may entice you to pick one up, instead of the latest hefty tome from your favourite wordsmith.
Short story collections with multiple writers are also a great way to introduce yourself to new authors you might not hear about otherwise. Crafty editors can surprise you with voices, tones, genres, or writing styles that are straight out of left field, but nonetheless compelling. These are some of the voices and collections that have resonated with me so far. The great thing about them is that you can dip in and out, reading a story here and there as your interest ebbs and flows. You don’t have to remember the plot, characters, or anything else. The next story will be waiting when you’re ready to start again.
Stones by Timothy Findley
Timothy Findley was a quintessentially Canadian author. If memory serves, we studied the story “Dreams” from the collection Stones in one of my workshops. I remember marking up the pages of my copy with my own thoughts, as well as our professor’s insightful analysis, and being taken with the intense atmosphere and dramatic tone of the piece.
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Are you ready for the 20
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The City of Vaughan will host a free virtual Canada Day celebration from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on July 1 to allow Vaughan residents the opportunity to celebrate safely and comfortably from home. The featured performers will be beloved Canadian band the