Do you read short stories that are on blogs?

I took a gander at Clive Allen's blog "Going Away" and read an interesting post (Clive Allen's Blog Post). The main theme behind his post is what kind of content people actually take the time to read when surfing a blog. For instance, he believes that most of his visitors' comments come from his more opinionated posts or ones that contain content on blogging and computing. However, he says that very few, if any, comments are for his short story entries. The reasoning behind this? Because people drop by to read posts that are quick and to the point (short stories, although short, can't quite accomplish this). I think I have to agree with him on this as I do the same thing all the time when I surf.

Do you guys and gals do the same as well? The reason I ask is because I also post my short stories here (in the form of exercise results) in the Writing Fiction Step by Step category and want to know if there is something I can do to make it (or the blog in general) easier to read for you?

I suppose i'm not really expecting much of a response on this topic just because this blog is still relatively new and unknown (but i'm working on it) and the subject isn't the most exciting or controversial. Anyway, all suggestions/criticisms (harsh or not) are welcome here!

Oh, and by the way, just wanted to let you know that i've added another link to a great writing site in the Writing Web Sites category. Take the time to visit Benjamin Solah's site if you get a chance.

That's it! I think i've taken up enough of your time for tonight. :)

Comments

make that

http://tsp-solutions.net/creativerants

[Mike]

Vic,

Great hearing from you. I have my final blog up, but don't have content. The bitch of setting up websites is I get all itchy to add content, but want all the design right first. I'll probably spend most of the day adding in pages and links....for instance, a link to your site is happening as soon as I hit "post" from here.

I have one piece up at http://creativerant.blogspot.com

it's a rambler...which is how I tend to write...I'll be using the blog much he same as you...a way to get out rough sketches that might turn in to something more. Wish people would understand how vital feedback is to a writer.

Anyway, the permanent blog will be at

http://tsp-solutions.net/creativerant

[1ConfusedWriter]

First of all, welcome to the blogosphere, and congratulations on the birth of your son!

Thanks for your kind words in regards to my writing and the blog. There are two main reasons that I commit to doing this:

1) First, and most important, I do it to practice my writing. I realized, after posting one post a day, that I have learned a ton of things in regards to this craft. It also helps me with my writing rhythm. Posting once a day, usually in the evenings, is getting me into a joyful habit of writing. I look forward to it, everyday, after getting off of my “real” job. I’ll soon use this momentum to carry me through a novel I have in mind.

2) I am not a selfish person. Therefore, I figured while I worked my way to being a published writer, I would share the information with the world. This includes everything from tutorials, stories, news, books, etc. Knowing that I have some readers will also help me to keep to my writing schedule.

As far as my stories, I do have another in the works at the moment. The new “Writing Fiction Step by Step” entry will come soon, once I figure out how to unblock my muse. Of course, writing detailed posts everyday doesn’t leave much time for creative writing. But I find the time. The delay is simply in trying to work through some plot continuity problems, as well as tidying up a non-fiction book.

Stick around! I’ll be including another category, Short Stories, in the near future. This category will include various short stories that I’ve worked on and will possibly include other writers’ work.

Again, thanks for your comments. I hope you, as well as I, learn something useful from this site. Be sure to let me know when you’re final blog is up! I look forward to reading it. Feel free to send questions to writesville@yahoo.com

Oh, and don't worry about double comments. I always look forward to hearing from everyone, how ever many times that may be.

Take care,

Vic

[Mike]

I apologize for dual commenting, but just another thought (or two)

I heard a quote I was quite fond of, and I'll bash it up for you. "Where a novel is like a monsoon, a short story is a spring rain. Flash Fiction is a quick burst from a garden hose when you're not expecting it."

I've also heard that readers tend to strain more from a computer screen than the printed page (which does my heart good).

All that, in a nutshell, says that to get people to read your work online, one must make a snowball with an iceball in the middle and hit your reader as they walk by. That's why the poetry did better. It's shorter, and generally poems are meant to pack a boatload of emotion in to a teeny tiny box.

Well, all that and the decline of imagination and attention span due to the overstimulation of television, video games, and prepared meals...but again...another story for another time.

Would you believe I'm also a web developer?

"Technological advancement is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal" -Albert Einstein.

[Mike]

Vic,

Pertaining to your question...it depends. I have just launched my blog after a long writing hiatus. The birth of my son has inspired me to write again, but that's another story for another time. Digression is my forte, so bear with me.

I feel that in cultivating creativity, reading is the best way. Reading things that make you feel less then creative, in my opinon, is extremely detrimental to the process as I, for one, tend to see influences from the latest readings I've done in my own work.

That said, I find it intriguing that you are commiting to this blog, and it's a great service. More then often, I have longed for a "writing buddy" that would provide advise, inspiration, challenge, and objective critique. Your blog provides a service in that regard as we can all follow along.

Regarding your stories and those of others...I am not a blogger, so cannot comment on actualities, but I will say I'm surfing blogexplode and other listings searching sepcifically for authors that will inspire me, challenge me, or provide some insight, so yes...I read the stories.

Where your blog is concerned, however, I'm more interesred in referencing your stories as they pertain to the lesson. Perhaps you might be interested in posting all of your stories and providing persistant links, this way once we tire of learning, we can seek inspiration and brain fodder from your revisions? Truth be told, I'd certainly read that, as I'd want to track your progress, see the developmental process, and see where all of this study has led you. In addition, I'd like to read what the guy I'm taking advice from writes.

I'd be interested in making a link for your from my site, but I'm not sure I'm keeping it where it is. I have a server so don't really need blogger, but thought it might come in handy as far as visibility goes...any thoughts on that? Once I make up my mind and get a tad more content up, I'd like to link to this site as I feel it would be useful for any aspiring writer searching for resources.

[1ConfusedWriter]

Hey Mal! Thanks for your input as well as the spelling correction. This would explain why I never really made it past the first round of all of those spelling competitions back in grade school. ;)

[malcolm lambe]

Yeah...I think most bloggers are perhaps youngish and reading is a dying art. They want instant gratification. I have my short stories on my site but it's probably only educated people of my age (55) who take the time to read them. I track my visitors so I know what they read. It's sad really. But I have a fiendish plan.....BTW it's "controversial" not "contraversial". :) Mal.

[John]

I never read the short stories because they are usually just boring.

[cj]

I believe that people are reading the short stories...but just not commenting on them. And it's not a bad thing. They probably just don't know how to comment on it!

[Canadian Vegetable]

Yeah, I really think you have to draw the reader in very quickly. A short story requires a lot more effort on behalf of the reader to get into it.

I do also think if you hit upon something the reader knows about, or at least has opinions about, since those two don't have to be synonymous, you have a better chance of getting comments.

[charles]

i do take time to read

[Jeff]

I usually don't read posts that will take several minutes, but I'll bet there are plenty of people with more time than myself, so write what's on your heart and people will read it. And like Heather said, the opening hook will either grab or turn away the reader.

[1ConfusedWriter]

Wow! I didn't expect so many comments so far. Thanks for taking the time to respond. :)

One of the things that I keep in mind with my short stories is to obviously keep it interesting and well written. Good content will attract the masses, right? Hopefully I can continue following this rule of thumb as I keep on trucking.

Clive, seeing your comment here was a real suprise! Thanks for the link exchange, I really appreciate it. Keep up the great writing as I really enjoyed that thought provoking post.

[Gone Away]

Oh, and I forgot to mention: for B, both Internet Explorer and Firefox have the facility to make text larger. Just hit Ctrl and +.

[Gone Away]

Good article and thanks for the link (incidentally, if you want to link directly to a post on my blog, use the Contents to get to it and it will show the specific URL for it in the address bar). I have considered and the answer to your recent question by email is "yes". It'll be going up today sometime, if I can find the time to do it. :)

[Heather]

It's hard to say. For me, when I begin reading if the story grips me, then I'll continue reading. No matter if it's a personal entry, opinion piece or story. It's what grabs me and holds my interest. I know that didn't really help much, anyway. ;-)

[billy]

i can agree with you. on my blog i post short stories and poetry. the poems get much more comments than the short stories.

[B]

This is doubtless a minority opinion, but I tend to read more if the font size is just a little bigger.

[easywriter]

As people begin to get to know your blog it will be easier to know what kind of changes to make, or what categories to focus on and/or create.

I do think that people don't always comment on short stories for fear of offending the writer if the comment should be misundertood.

Just some thoughts, they may help, or not.