Writers and readers come together through stories. Photo credit: Unsplash

When Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen developed the idea of a book of short stories during the early 1990s in an analogy they called Chicken Soup for the Soul, they were turned down by publishers more than 140 times. Most said such a collection wouldn’t sell. Now, nearly 30 years later, the company continues to produce best-selling books with uplifting, humorous, and heart-felt stories that entertain and inspire.

I recently submitted a story about my shih tzu, Jeremiah, for a 2022 Chicken Soup compilation about dogs. If accepted, that will be my eighth story published in one of the company’s books.

I’m also blessed to be part of recently released anthology about animals. The Animals in Our Lives: Stories of Companionship and Awe is published by Cladach Publishing, the same company that edited and published my book Walking in Trust: Lessons Learned With My Blind Dog. Animals, whether dogs, cats, horses, livestock, or wildlife, can and do impact our lives, and short stories, whether about creatures or something else, can also make big impacts on those who read them.

Newly-released collection of stories about how animals impact people.
Photo credit: Cladach Publishing

Years ago, a friend of mine wrote and published a collection of short stories. Cowboys and East Indians, created by Nina McConigley, took time to sell to an agent and even longer to find a publisher. Like Canfield and Hansen, Nina and her agent were told “Short story collections don’t sell.” Not only did her book sell, but she also received the National PEN Open Book Award for her collection.

I enjoy writing short stories. Whether as part of a collection like Chicken Soup for the Soul or The Animals in Our Lives, or a magazine or newspaper article, these 2,000 words or less creations often educate and inspire readers. In an age where attention spans are short thanks to instant everything (from coffee to news), a writer can succinctly tell an amazing story and have an audience who will read it.

If you’re a writer, don’t negate the power of the short story. Through magazines, blog posts, newspaper articles, anthologies, and other outlets, you can find ways to share special stories that aren’t novels or memoirs. And you will have an audience for those works.

As a reader, you can find short story collections online, at your library, or in your local bookstore. From poetry collections to story anthologies and works of non-fiction, there are a plethora of incredible short writings. Absorb. Be encouraged, inspired, and educated. Smile. Enjoy.

My short story about America’s national parks appears in this edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Photo credit: Amazon.com

Here are links to two short stories/articles I’ve written should you like to read them:

“National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: https://www.chickensoup.com/book-story/195446/29-national-parks-america-s-best-idea

“Bison Return: Shoshone Tribe Works to Bring Back Iconic Species,” WREN Magazine:

https://www.wyomingrea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/0519-WREN_web.pdf

Pet Principle

August 23 was International Blind Dog Day. What has that to do with short stories? Well, just as publishers often shy away from publishing collections (as in the case with my friend Nina and the creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), people often shy away from animals perceived as ‘not perfect,’ those with health issues like diabetes, those without all four limbs, those which are deaf or blind. International Blind Dog Day highlights the joy and ABILITY of blind dogs. When my husband and I learned our springer spaniel, Sage, would completely lose her eyesight due to a genetic disease called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), some friends asked, “Well, you’re going to euthanize her, aren’t you? What good is a blind dog?” Sage’s ‘goodness’ showed throughout her life. Her sweet demeanor, her affection toward people, and her courage to continue running through the backyard chasing squirrels or exploring wooded trails with us showcased ‘disability doesn’t mean inability,’ in either pets or people. I am grateful for the 10+ years Sage graced our home because she also graced our lives … and taught us, and others, countless life and faith lessons.

My blind dog Sage positively impacted my life and the lives of many others, including school children. The many lessons she taught are reflected in this book, published by Cladach Publishing of Colorado.
Photo credit: Cladach

Don’t shy from the opportunity to adopt an animal others consider ‘less than’ – because they aren’t. Blind and other health-challenged animals are also worthy of love, affection, and opportunities, just like their human counterparts.

Sage and Gayle visiting a Wyoming classroom. Photo credit: G. Irwin