You Have Time for This: Contemporary American Short-Short Stories

by Mark Budman (Editor), Mark Budman, Tom Hazuka (Editor)

This collection takes the modern reader on fifty-three literary rides, each one only five hundred words or less. Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka, two of the top names in the genre, have compiled an anthology of mini-worlds as diverse as the authors who created them.

Contributing writers include Steve Almond, author of My Life in Heavy Metal and Candy-freak; Aimee Bender, author of The Girl in the Flammable Skirt; Robert Boswell, author of five novels including Century’s Son; Alex Irvine, author of A Scattering of Jades; L. E. Leone, who writes a weekly humorous column about food and life for the San Francisco Bay Guardian; Justine Musk, author of dark-fantasy novels including Blood Angel; Susan O’Neill, writer of nonfiction and fiction with a book of short stories Don’t Mean Nothing: Short Stories of Vietnam; and Katharine Weber author of several novels, her most recent is Triangle.

From Buddha to beer, sex to headless angels, there’s a story here for everyone. In You Have Time for This you will find: 

Flash fiction from forty-four authors

Works from across the globe

Highly regarded authors from all types of genres

Fresh work from emerging writers

Fifty-three stand-alone pieces that tie the world together

Enjoy. You have time for this.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Anthologies

135 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

I’m a first-generation immigrant. My novel “My Life at First Try” was published by Counterpoint Press. I have published two short story collections with Livingston Press and two anthologies with Ooligan Press. My work has been featured in publications including Catapult and the Mississippi Review. My latest collection received a starred review from Kirkus, and Kirkus also named it one of the best books of 2023, and one anthology had an honorable mention in the 2022 Foreword Indies Award.


markbudman.com


A trailer for his anthology "You have Time for This."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBfOw1...
***
Mark Budman’s "My Life at First Try," is smart and funny and compelling, and in an era when both the immigrant experience and the resurgent aggression of the once-Soviet Russia are central issues, the novel is timely, as well. This is a splendid debut by an important new American voice.

Robert Olen Butler, a Pulitzer Prize winner, the author of "Intercourse" and "Severance"
***
A review of "My Life at First Try" in Publishers Weekly.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/artic...

Reviews

[S. Wigget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of flash fiction--bare bone stories no more than five hundred words each--includes a wide variety of stories that, despite their brevity, have a complete beginning, middle, and end. The stories include (among others): the thoughts of two people who meet in an airplane; an unappreciative husband's karma catching up with him; a divorced couple dining out at a Chinese restaurant; and a mentally unhinged and jealous victim of unrequited love. Oh, yes, a bizarre science fiction story involves characters who are experiencing a disturbing metamorphosis...but I recommend that you take the time to read the book yourself.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it amazing that you can have such satisfying and complete stories with so few words. This book is a treasure of mini worlds and lives, some perhaps startling slice of life moments like “Homeward Bound” and “Headless Angel,” both by Tom Hazuka, who is also one of the editors, some fantastical like “Skins on Sule Skerry” by Sonya Taaffe, and some wonderfully bizarre like “The Mouth” by Lincoln Michel, but each one a rewarding piece of literature. It’s worth taking your time with each story to truly appreciate the concise writing and nuances that give these short works so much story in such little space. As it says on the dedication page, “Words must be weighed and not counted.” I found this to be a great break from reading novels in that it’s something I could take in little bits at a time and not be left wondering and wanting to keep reading even though I have to get to work or whatnot. While I also appreciate the anticipation of not knowing what’s going to happen next in a novel, the ending is always a satisfying goal to be able to sit with and ponder. With these short short stories, you have several satisfying endings to consider after one brief sitting. Also, as a writer, I generally write much longer stories and find it hard to even contain them to a normal short story length. So, these extra short ones were a wonderful lesson in concision and in the style itself, which is something that I would like to try my hand at.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by You Have Time for This: Contemporary American Short-Short Stories. Editors Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka did an amazing job finding unique pieces to compile this contemporary work of short-short stories. Full discloser, I’m not the biggest fan of short stories. I usually find that a few pages are not enough to compel me to care about what happens to the characters I’m reading about. At 500 words or less per short, I expected to care even less. However, that’s not what happened. I found that, at least for me, the characters were no longer the point, the experience was.

Although the stories are short, they were impactful. It reminded me of short campfire stories but with more depth. They were little, easily digestible snippets of writing by a huge variety of accomplished and new authors from around the world exploring experiences both real and imagined. I was surprised to find how quickly I read through it. It is a short read, but often I wait for chapter breaks to put a book down and do care to pick it up to read if I only have a few minutes. However, when all the stories are only 500 or less, it made the perfect thing to turn to while waiting in line or on the bus instead of my phone. I would strongly recommend this book to busy people. I spent several years when I first became a parent struggling to find time to read and really missed it. This book would have been perfect to feed my book addiction without upsetting my time restraints.

I also really enjoyed that they included a healthily sized paragraph on each author, so when I found authors with writing styles I particularly enjoyed, I immediately knew where to go to find more.

[Lisa Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Described as “contemporary American short-short stories,” You Have Time for This truly lives up to its name. I’m a busy graduate student, and reading for pleasure is often marred by the nagging thought that I should be working on something else. You Have Time for This circumvented that feeling by allowing me to get my storytelling fix in the moments between tasks on my overloaded schedule. Over the course of two months, I read a story from this collection each time I commuted on public transit or right before bed when I craved a narrative to help me shrug off my worries of the day and head to sleep. I hadn’t read much flash fiction before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. What I found was that though the title was published in 2007, short fiction seems more relevant now than ever. I could easily see some of the You Have Time for This stories turned into Twitter short fiction threads, a writing form that continues to evolve and gain legitimacy. I didn’t adore every story I read, but the beauty of the format is that I never sunk enough time into any story to really regret the read. Some of my favorite stories from the You Have Time for This collection included “Memento Mori” by Susan O’Neill, “Wrong” by Aimee Bender, “The Diary of a Salaryman” by Mark Budman, and “Sleeping” by Katherine Weber.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sought this book out because I had heard about flash fiction and was intrigued to sample some of it. And this anthology really is a sampler. There are 53 short-short stories here, each under 500 words. The editors have placed them into informal groupings, with stories about families, travel, love and sex or the supernatural all sectioned off.

In addition to diverse thematic concerns, the stories vary in tone and style. Some are traditional stories, with inciting incidents, complications and then resolutions. Others are more like tone poems, haiku or tableaus. Some have characters, but no plots. Or plots, but no setting. Like film directors focusing their cameras on specific close-ups at the expense of other elements, these writers have pared their ideas down to essentials. If a full-length comedy movie is the equivalent of a novel and a comedy sketch the equivalent of a short story, then these quick pieces are like one-liners.

I found the collection intriguing, but not completely satisfying. There is simply too much variance in style and not enough depth or staying power for me. True, some of the stories are impactful in the moment. But often enough, they weren't memorable an hour later. It's like eating a lot of appetizers and ruining your meal. You may be physically full, but you still don't feel like you've eaten.

[Giacomo Ranieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for waking your brain up and getting out of bed, or a reference for any kind of aspiring writer. These stories are especially great at setting a cadence and tone. Keeping a piece together, whether it's a novel, poetry collection, or a single 100 word flash fiction piece, takes practice and patience. This collection allows you to dissect a piece, which encompasses a single page. It's relaxing to work with and learn from.

I drink espresso instead of a tall mug of drip coffee. I quickly got in the habit of reading a story from "You Have Time for This" while drinking my espresso, each morning.

Like most great flash fiction, I ended up digging into certain sentences, or strange choices of syntax. I picked pieces apart and tried to figure out what the story was saying. I am a bit disappointed how much work I had to do to figure some of them out. Overly experimental wording, or a twist that would only work in a short story, ruined some of them.

But, the good ones really shined. I discovered writers by flipping through this book, and I've dogg-eared certain ones. I still share them with friends, or reread them myself. I would highly recommend this book for a casual reader, or a writer of any discipline.

[Justin M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Towards the end of Mark Budman's introduction to this delightful collection of PNW-flavored flash fiction, he claims that finally, "flash fiction is ideally suited for today’s world of instant gratification." I find this frighteningly prescient when read eleven years after its initial pressing, read now in 2018. How does this relate to the rest of the collection? I argue that what Budman of flash fiction said was not only true but is actually more accurate in today's era, and that the stories he chose in this book don't ever read as dated or out of touch, and they really _are_ perfect bite-sized works of high-end literary under 500 words.

One of the stronger shorts here was M.J. Rose's 'The Lothario,' a very short story centered around an assumedly young man named Ethan and a mysterious German lady sitting nearby on a train in Europe. I can't say anymore because I've already told you most of the story, which is the best part of a collection like this. It's a grab bag full of lofty shorts and worth your time, especially over the holidays.

[Jennifer Ladwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of short stories, I was really drawn to this book. As editor Mark Budman states in his introduction, even the busiest among us has time to read a story that spans just one to two pages. The works in You Have Time for This are brisk and to the point, getting to the heart of a story in fewer works than many of us devote to Facebook rants or Twitter chains. Bruce Taylor's "Exercise" perfectly demonstrates the true art behind flash fiction. Take your story and cut it in half. Cut it in half again and again until you can't cut any more. And finally you've reached the core, allowing you to see the essential elements more clearly. This is what the more than forty writers present to us on every page of this anthology. With topics spanning love, hate, self-worth, war, home, sickness, family, and much more, this slim collection can speak to anyone, and as the title so aptly tells us, nobody has the excuse of not having the time to read this beautiful book.

[Erin Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Have Time for This is a speedy and refreshing read. I’ve only read flash fiction a few times before and while I’m not sure this book has converted me to a fan of the genre, I’m glad that I read it. Each story was a new experience, just a small glimpse into a different life. It’s like when you’re people watching and you get to see little pieces of these stranger’s lives, gone as quickly as they came. My favorites include, “The Dark Side of the Moon,” “The Story of You,” “The House Broods Over Us,” and “Nebraska Men.” They’re all beautifully written and strangely, wonderfully mysterious. In the succinctness that defines this genre, I was left both wanting more and thankful for what I’d gotten. This is a collection you’ll want to make time for.

[Maeko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up You Have Time for This because I haven't often spent much time with flash fiction or short stories. Ironically enough, as I was flipping through the pages, I recognized a familiar name — an author who has more recently made a name for herself in my home town. That's how I knew I was supposed to read this collection. While not all the stories resonated with me, some like "Buddha's Happy Family Jewels" and "Sleeping" stood out and I found myself returning to these same stories over and over again. Some I even wished had more than 500 words to work with, simply because I had to know what happened to the characters. This excellent little collection is perfect for any on-the-go reading and is well worth the "time."

[Kento Ikeda · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing I noticed while reading You Have Time For This is that short stories take longer to read than most novels, and flash fiction more time still. Entering a new story is difficult. You need to get to know a new world, and new people. It’s often rewarding, but it takes both energy and bravery to enter something new, and to ask that over and over again can be too much.

Fortunately, while the book asks for a lot, it also gives. The best stories, “Sleeping,” “Beer and Gun Play,” and “Three Soldiers” are all disquieting, but it’s a rich, full form of disquiet. I do wonder if this is a peculiarity of this collection, or if this kind of unease is the most potent emotion for the medium.

[Julie Swearingen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest and tell you that flash fiction is not my preferred genre, but reading You Have Time for This began to change my mind. While many of the stories left me wanting more, the brevity of these flash fictions opens the mind to wander and wonder where the characters and stories could be taken. After each story is a brief bio of the author, which is a great way to find more of their writings. Favorite stories: Rapture by Gayle Brandeis; Damn Irene by Susan O'Neil; Headless Angel by Tom Hazuka; Buddha's Happy Family Jewels.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to flash fiction. Each story is 500 words or less, but they still manage to convey lots of feeling. Editing down a story to the fewest words possible means that each story is very streamlined and efficient; every word has meaning. The stories cover death, unrequited love, hatred, and one night stands. An unhappy marriage is effectively and chillingly conveyed in less than two pages in "Damn Irene" by Susan O'Neill. "Memento Mori" by the same author struck me with its lovely language, and "The Man with the Shovel" by Chauna Craig somehow made roadkill seem beautiful. Like any collection, some stories will strike you more than others, but overall, You Have Time for This is well worth your time.

[Riley Pittenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very mixed collection of short stories. This is the beauty of short fiction collections, If you don't like it, turn a page and start anew. Plenty of bite sized, somewhat anxiety inducing but ultimately enjoyable stories, perfect bathroom reading.

[Dona's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instagram Review: http://www.instagram.com/p/CCzaIWIgg-U/

I have been preoccupied lately with collecting as many examples as possible of short short fiction; I'm fascinated with the form; the shorter the better. So imagine my pleasure when I found this lovely little collection of 500-word stories, You Have Time For This, edited by Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka.

It might seem I have every reason to rate this anthology five stars: Some of my favorite flash writers, such as Aimee Bender and Sherrie Flick, contributed pieces to the anthology. I found several of the pieces to be beautiful or clever; but a handful were in my opinion poor examples of the form. Also, the editors' own large numbers of contributions in the anthology were a distraction, and a surprise. I don't often come across anthologies or collections in which the editors work is included. In the cases I can think of where it is, the editor doesn't include their work with more frequency than the other contributors, as occurs here.

To writers of flash: this collection is worth reading so you can study such contributions as "Parting Ways," "7:23 PM," or "Beached."

To readers of flash fiction, this is an eclectic anthology and you're bound to find something for you here, no matter what you like. Even if you like a little Weird, in which case, definitely check out "The Curse of Fat Face." That is one freaky story.

All my best to you readers and writers, hope you're finding your way outside <3

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading flash fiction and I have to say that I'm a fan. It's not just that it's short and quick to read, but the craft of writing that goes into something that is only about 500 words is amazing. The technique and story building is wonderful within each story. You will want to make time for this.

[Terence Brierly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Critiquing the flash-fiction genre can be a rather complicated undertaking, especially when many pieces are bundled together, as is often the case. The end result is not unlike an anthology of poetry, providing the reader several small glimpses into alternate realities; the scattered worldviews of disparate authors. You Have Time for This is one such anthology, its title an assurance to the reader. Each of the 53 contained narratives is under two pages in length, and the book can be read in a matter of hours, but these bizarre and variegated stories will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Not every story is a hit, but I strongly suspect any reader will find something to like with this much variety on the table. To quote the back of the book, this anthology boasts "topics ranging from Buddha to beer and sex to headless angels." The truth is even weirder. One wonderfully bizarre story concerns a half-mechanical woman, her husband, and the male cyborg that has cuckolded him. Others are more grounded, like that of a salaryman who's learning to enjoy the home life he'd sacrificed so that he might make a little bit more money.
Is You Have Time for This a particularly good collection of flash fiction pieces? I'd say so. The pieces were hit and miss for me, but they do all evoke a contemporary understanding of American Life. The collection was edited by Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka, big names in the flash-fiction community, names that have a little pull behind them. I read this anthology over the course of a few weeks, just a few pages at a time, and thoroughly enjoyed the process. If you're interested in an accessible collection of short stories, the kind that will serve as think-pieces for those little breaks in your daily routine, You Have Time for This is a weird and wonderful assembly.

[William York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard the term flash fiction just barely six months ago. Then three months ago I took a grammar class in which the final project was, as a class, to publish an anthology of “Flash Fiction.” Since then I’ve become quite fond of the genre and have been working towards not just reading but also building a small section in my home library for works of flash fiction, with my own anthology as the sections first member.

I am quite happy that I stumbled across the book, You Have Time for This. Flash fiction is quick. Short bursts of emotion, plot, characters and story that burst off the page and into your face. A few, like many inside You have Time for This, also work their way into your heart and soul, making you glad for their swift entry into your life. While the average short story, if there is indeed such a thing as average, is often three to ten pages in length, flash fiction is far shorter. The treasure that this book and the flash fiction genre in general is that many of the stories are only one or two pages long, sometimes more, but not often.

Mark Budman’s (one of the editors of this book) story entitled, “Dark Side of the Moon” is a great example of how far just a few carefully crafted words can take you. The story begins with the main character, as a child, standing on the shores of the Baltic Sea. By the end (one page) the protagonist is now presumably a Russian mob boss, and ends with: “The cell phone rang. ‘This better be good.’ I said. ‘It’s done boss.’ Was the reply. I hung up quickly,...If you blow the whistle in my company you don’t last long.”

I highly recommend that if you have not yet dabbled in reading flash fiction that you give it try, and you’d do well to start with, You Have Time for This.

[Amylia Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though many people may not understand the appeal of flash fiction, I believe the appeal rests almost entirely in the title of this anthology: You have time for this. With each story weighing in at under 500 words, it's impossible for someone to give the excuse of not having the time to at least peak at some of the stories in this collection.
The appeal of the stories themselves is present, too. Due to the nature of their limited word counts, each piece is striking in its own way. Though some may not have as lasting an impact as others, each physically minuscule story bears the weight of being emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually massive. Stories such as "Homeward Bound" by Tom Hazuka, "Black Silk" by Ian Randall Wilson, "Exercise" by Bruce Taylor, "The Diary of a Salaryman" by Mark Budman, and "Three Soldiers" by Bruce Holland Rogers will leave you transfixed and thinking long past their 1.5-page length.
There are so many different genres, moods, and subjects touched on in this collection that there's bound to be something for everyone. Trust me, you have time for this.

[Melina]

You really do have time for this book. I haven’t read flash fiction before but I am amazed at how powerful a story can be told in so few words. This little anthology has over 50 very short stories many of which are centered around themes of domesticity, parenthood and pregnancy, and magical realism. Each story is a beautiful moment, a poignant flash of a story. Some almost feel like a tease, you are left wanting more from these little pieces. I find myself drawn back to pieces that still have a hold over my mind, I am particularly fond of “Sleeping” by Katharine Weber, “Indian Casino” by David Schuman, “The Argument for a Shotgun” by L.E. Leone, “7:23 PM” by Sherrie Flick, “Rapture” by Gayle Brandeis, and my favorite, “The Man with the Shovel” by Chauna Craig.

If you are interested in reading flash fiction, and you all should be, this is definitely a great book to start with, a little gem of a book filled with little gems of stories.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m sure I’m not alone in randomly opening up a book to any page and just start reading. It’s a fun game, somewhat akin to palm or tea-leaves reading. I can imagine carrying You have Time for This around for a long time, just for that purpose. With stories like “Snapdragons” and “The Diary of a Salaryman”, the impact of the contents of this collection shift depending on the reader’s shifting perspective. It is like opening a door onto a broad plane, seeing the expansiveness and then quickly shutting it tight. The lasting impression is very strong, but you only get that one, brief view.

“You have Time for This” was the very first flash fiction collection I've read. And there’s a good reason for that—I like getting deeply engrossed in a book and not wanting it to end. This collection doesn’t offer that satisfaction, but if you’re looking for solidly good writing that leaves you with much food for thought, this collection is highly recommended.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Have Time for This is a tremendous foray into the world of flash-fiction. Each story is capped around 150 words and, because of this, the words are deliberate and the messages pronounced. Ranging from heartbreaking familial realities to captivating emotional realizations to simple relatable tales, these stories are incredibly well-written and an absolute thrill to read. The title speaks for itself––you truly will have time for this book, not only because of its shorter stories and shorter overall length, but also because you will find yourself unable to put it down, racing through the pages to discover what is next. I cannot recommend this title any more highly, for flash-fiction fanatics as well as those less-exposed to the genre. It is a solid text with a clear message and a truly wonderful compilation of beautiful writing.

[Alison McCarter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although flash fiction isn’t usually my top choice, I’ve found that You Have Time for This has filled a hole in my reading needs. Since I’m the kind of reader who doesn’t like to be interrupted or put the book down unless I’m at a stopping point—a break in the text or end of a chapter—I don’t often read during the day. With each story under two pages, I was able to fit in reading a story or two during my brief periods of freedom, which was a delight.
Though you’re only given around five hundred words to get to know a character and their world, the lovely, detailed writing in these stories drops the reader firmly in each setting and each character’s actions reveal who they are and their motivations. The topics are so diverse (affairs, suicide, religion, the memory of a favorite aunt) that there’s something for everyone in this collection.

[Mary Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flash fiction is an underrated art form. A good short short story is like poetry. That said, not everything in this book is like poetry. It's billed as a contemporary collection, but many of the stories feel dated. Perhaps I just feel that because I'm a 20-something and many of these stories speak to a much older age. They all manage to be at least mildly interesting, though, and some of them are phenomenal. I first read "Maybe A Superhero" by Deb Olin Unferth years ago and I have never stopped thinking about it. I would give the book a good rating for that story alone. Overall it's worth the time, and I definitely want to pursue flash fiction further, but only a handful of the entries elevate themselves into something above average.

[Casey]

Read for a marketing assignment, but thoroughly enjoyed. I read a lot of short stories, and flash fiction is very satisfying because each one takes only a minute to read. This is an excellent selection of flash fiction, covering everything from lost children to anorexia to houses that come alive, through the lens of fantasy and metaphor as well as the perspective of everyday life. The tragic bent of most of the stories get a little tiresome, but since they fly by, only the really good ones stick in your head. If you don't like short stories, give flash fiction a try-it's a good introduction to the form.

[Katey Trnka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always looking for good books for the bus, and this one fits the bill perfectly! One can easily get through a handful of stories on an average bus ride, in between classes, or just to clear his or her head a bit in the middle of finals week.

Although I didn't love every story I read, overall the prose is clear, concise, and captivating. The perfect book for the student or commuter with a tight schedule, for those who love the written word but don't always feel they have the time to commit to a novel (at least not right now).

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Have Time For This is flash fiction at its best. Extreme brevity may not suit everyone, but if you want to give it a shot then starting with this collection is recommended. There are over fifty short stories in here, which means there are plenty of opportunities for your taste to be met. Aimee Bender’s, “Wrong” was my favorite story in this compilation, and her contribution was my initial reason for picking up the book. I ended up enjoying the rest of the stories and the exploration of life through folk tales, fantastic metaphors, and everyday humanity. Highly recommended!

[Avital · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely anthology of very short fiction, featuring Steve Almond, Aimee Bender, Avital Gad-Cykman...

You Have Time for This: Contemporary American Short-Short Stories (Paperback)
by Mark Budman (Editor), Tom Hazuka (Editor)

AMAZON order:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932...

[Kenny Chaffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great anthology. My favorites:

The Man with the Shovel - Chauna Craig
Homeward Bound - Tom Hazuka
La Guaca - Daniel A. Olivas
Infarction - Kellie Wells
Family Therapy - Pamela Painter
Lamp - Sarah Arellano
and my favorite (and not because he was the editor. :) but because I truly felt it was the best story in the anthology):
The Diary of a Salaryman - Mark Budman

Great stuff! Worth the read, particularly the stories above!

[Mary Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have always wondered what exactly literary fiction is, read this book. "You have Time for This" was a pleasure to read. The book fits into pocket or purse and goes anywhere.

Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka have chosen the best stories from some of the best writers they know. These stories are Flash Fiction, very, very short, and take only moments to read, assuring "You Have time for This."