Comments on: The State of the Short Story http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/ Jeff VanderMeer Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:18:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jeff ford http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2976 jeff ford Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:43:49 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2976 “Then write the thing. Put up or shut up. But don’t tell me about it.” Jeff, this is what I was thinking when I was reading your posts up there about the elusive short story that will surpass entertainment and "focus on those things short fiction can do that no other art form can do." Which one of your stories is this one? Or haven't you written it yet? Or is it only for others to write? “Then write the thing. Put up or shut up. But don’t tell me about it.” Jeff, this is what I was thinking when I was reading your posts up there about the elusive short story that will surpass entertainment and “focus on those things short fiction can do that no other art form can do.” Which one of your stories is this one? Or haven’t you written it yet? Or is it only for others to write?

]]> By: Megan Powell http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2963 Megan Powell Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:52:46 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2963 I've also noticed, in an admittedly small sample set, that people who refer to the "book" rather than the "novel" inside them (perhaps tucked away in the aforementioned cathedral) are more likely to actually write the damn thing, or make the attempt. I guess "novel" has more resonance for those with unfulfilled desires. I’ve also noticed, in an admittedly small sample set, that people who refer to the “book” rather than the “novel” inside them (perhaps tucked away in the aforementioned cathedral) are more likely to actually write the damn thing, or make the attempt. I guess “novel” has more resonance for those with unfulfilled desires.

]]> By: Megan Powell http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2962 Megan Powell Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:00:39 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2962 How about a cancerous flying cathedral? How about a cancerous flying cathedral?

]]> By: Alex D M http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2956 Alex D M Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:19:52 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2956 I want to read a story about a person with a ~flying cathedral~ literally inside them. The logistics of that could be interesting... I want to read a story about a person with a ~flying cathedral~ literally inside them.

The logistics of that could be interesting…

]]> By: John Langan http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2955 John Langan Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:48:01 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2955 Oooh--a cancerous novel inside you. I think there's a story in that... Oooh–a cancerous novel inside you. I think there’s a story in that…

]]> By: Jeff VanderMeer http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 Jeff VanderMeer Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:03:49 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2949 What they really mean is they have unfufilled desire within them, or by saying they have a novel inside them it makes them feel, oddly, self-important, I think. But, almost everyone says it. My eyes tend to glaze over now. I want to say: "Then write the thing. Put up or shut up. But don't tell me about it." If I had a novel inside of me all that time, it probably would've turned cancerous. JV What they really mean is they have unfufilled desire within them, or by saying they have a novel inside them it makes them feel, oddly, self-important, I think. But, almost everyone says it. My eyes tend to glaze over now. I want to say: “Then write the thing. Put up or shut up. But don’t tell me about it.”

If I had a novel inside of me all that time, it probably would’ve turned cancerous.

JV

]]> By: pauljessup http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2948 pauljessup Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:02:44 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2948 Ah crap, for some reason that screwed up. Let me try again! (This) Another point: isn’t it curious how often people claim to have a novel inside them (”If I only had the time to write it…”) yet we never hear anyone claim to have a painting of a song or–I dunno–a building inside them, do we? I’d design that flying cathedral if I only had the time. (/This) Just gave me an idea for a short story about a man with a building inside of him- and all these little people who live in it. Ah crap, for some reason that screwed up. Let me try again!

(This)
Another point: isn’t it curious how often people claim to have a novel inside them (”If I only had the time to write it…”) yet we never hear anyone claim to have a painting of a song or–I dunno–a building inside them, do we? I’d design that flying cathedral if I only had the time.
(/This)

Just gave me an idea for a short story about a man with a building inside of him- and all these little people who live in it.

]]> By: pauljessup http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2947 pauljessup Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:01:42 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2947 -------------------------------> Another point: isn’t it curious how often people claim to have a novel inside them (”If I only had the time to write it…”) yet we never hear anyone claim to have a painting of a song or–I dunno–a building inside them, do we? I’d design that flying cathedral if I only had the time. ——————————->
Another point: isn’t it curious how often people claim to have a novel inside them (”If I only had the time to write it…”) yet we never hear anyone claim to have a painting of a song or–I dunno–a building inside them, do we? I’d design that flying cathedral if I only had the time.

]]> By: John Joseph Adams » Blog Archive » links for 2007-10-10 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 John Joseph Adams » Blog Archive » links for 2007-10-10 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 06:25:50 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2934 [...] Jeff Vandermeer: The State of the Short Story The discussion continues (tags: writing shortfiction) [...] [...] Jeff Vandermeer: The State of the Short Story The discussion continues (tags: writing shortfiction) [...]

]]> By: John Joseph Adams » Blog Archive » More on King & Short Fiction http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2887 John Joseph Adams » Blog Archive » More on King & Short Fiction Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:53:13 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2007/09/30/the-state-of-the-short-story/#comment-2887 [...] a LJ comment, in response to some of the discussions about Stephen King’s essay about short fiction that I linked to, J. T. Glover said: I think [...] [...] a LJ comment, in response to some of the discussions about Stephen King’s essay about short fiction that I linked to, J. T. Glover said: I think [...]

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