John asked Matthew Bruce Alexander:

I've heard various authors say that if you want to become a novel writer, you should write short stories first as opposed to plunging head-first into your freshman tome--and make your success in that realm first. Did you do this, and do you concur?

Matthew Bruce Alexander The advice seems sound, but it is not what I did. I did write a few novels as a child and young adult, so I certainly got my practice in, which is, I think, what they are going for.

To be honest, I have written very few short stories. I don't seem to have the knack. Every time I get a story idea that I pursue, it just grows during the planning stage. I don't want to write any throwaway stories, which means developing interesting characters. If I am going to spend the time developing interesting characters, I'm going to want a novel out of it.

I suppose I could write a series of short stories, Poul Anderson style, but I don't seem to have any little ideas. I never read many short stories and I just don't write them.

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