Spring Short Story Panel discussion

Could you comment on the new rage for linked short stories - what the challenges are, and technically how the stories are written - as separate stories? as nearly free-standing chapters of a novel? as stories with the links woven in after the fact?

Aren't linked stories really an episodic novel with lousy or ignored transitions? I wrote my second novel as twelve linked stories/novellas way before the "new mania." However the form isn't new: Sherlock Holmes comes to mind first among the oldest, but then there's the Decameron. For me, the challenge of having a character appearing in linked stories is keeping compassion for him alive. Sometimes I'd shift him slightly off-center to keep down the monotony. As for the mania being new, I think it's a result of the proliferating Writing Programs that focus on the short story more than a novel (easier to teach.) Students who want to write a novel usual have a lot of short story material about, and revisioning them launches a novel more quickly. Possibly.

Linked stories do give the advantage of not having to maintain a consistent narrative voice or even a consistent protagonist. The eponymous character in Olive Kitteridge, for example, does not physically appear in every story; in some, she is just a passerby or a memory. In a novel, there would be more demand for her presence. Instead, while the reader does get the arc of her life, it is sometimes reflected through the experiences of others. I think it was cleverly and skillfully done.

I agree with Sarah, the structure of linked short stories in Olive Kitteridge provided glimpses, snapshots and rare close encounters of a quirky, cranky, very human older woman. It was one of my most enjoyable reads in 2009 simply because I thoroughly enjoyed actively constructing my impression of Olive from the snippets 'others' told me. I've not read any other 'linked stories' - suggestions please.

Jenny wrote: "I've not read any other 'linked stories' - suggestions please. "

The classic is Winesburg, Ohio.

I'm currently reading Alice Hoffman's The Red Garden. Loving it!

From L.A. Times: A novel-in-stories, "The Red Garden" presents fables in dated, chronological order, beginning with William Brady's catastrophic expedition to the Berkshire frontier — "He led them in circles for the full month of October … fumbling through the wilderness until an early blinding snowstorm stopped their progress."

Nothing much happens in Blackwell; everything happens in Blackwell.

I guess I've always understood linked stories to be stories that can stand alone, but reveal another layer when read together. Does that definition work or am I missing something?

If I didn't think differences in taste made for great discussions, I wouldn't print this. I was very disappointed in Olive Kitteridge. I read it because of the Pulitzer Prize, but I didn't care about any of the characters except for the piano player, certainly not Olive. Perhaps it's an age thing. I'm a 'senior citizen' and most of my peers are fun, nothing like Olive. She's a stereotype (quirky, cranky) I don't like and I wouldn't want to have her as a friend. Would you?

Chirs, I so agree with you re Olive Kitteridge. I too read it because of the Pulizer Prize. Sure wished it would have been a library book I borrowed instead of one I purchased. For me, I found the story disjointed with lackluster characters. Not only was Olive quirky/cranky but I found her completely boring. If linked stories are the aim then something must be in place to propel the reader to become invested in wanting to know more. Olive Kitteridge failed in this for me.

Jenny wrote: "I agree with Sarah, the structure of linked short stories in Olive Kitteridge provided glimpses, snapshots and rare close encounters of a quirky, cranky, very human older woman. It was one of my m..."

God's Dogs by Mitch Wieland was a perfectly constructed group of linked stories- beautifully written, and wonderful reading. I enjoyed them so much. They were linked by both character and narrative. Also, John Dufresnee writes short stories that are linked by characters and narrative- His collection, The Way that Water Enters Stone, is only loosely linked- but this collection contains my favorite short story of all time, Must I Be Carried to the Sky on Flowered Beds of Ease? - this collection is my book for the desert island, the last thing I snatch as the flames force me to flee the burning house.

Charles wrote: "Aren't linked stories really an episodic novel with lousy or ignored transitions? I wrote my second novel as twelve linked stories/novellas way before the "new mania." However the form isn't new: S..."

You're right, there have been stories linked by characters for a long time. I think the interesting challenge is to have them linked by narrative as well. Time would be another interesting way- Column McCann could have done his novel that way- Let the Great World Spin.If there were linked characters who all had a story about what they were doing when-

Chris wrote: "If I didn't think differences in taste made for great discussions, I wouldn't print this. I was very disappointed in Olive Kitteridge. I read it because of the Pulitzer Prize, but I didn't care about any of the characters except for the piano player, certainly not Olive. Perhaps it's an age thing. I'm a 'senior citizen' and most of my peers are fun, nothing like Olive. She's a stereotype (quirky, cranky) I don't like and I wouldn't want to have her as a friend. Would you? "

Differences in taste definitely make for good discussion. I wouldn't want Olive as a friend, but that isn't the standard against which I measure a character. To me, she was memorable and distinctive. In my review I wrote "I loved the way she moved into the center of the book slowly, edging out the other potential protagonists through the sheer force of her personality."

Actually, she reminded me a lot of my grandmother, who one wouldn't really have described as likable. She is nonetheless still a powerful presence in my family even now, close to a decade after her death. Some people have that effect.

I like your reasons, Sarah, but I either want the main character to ride into the sunset or get their comeuppance -- or somewhere in between. I didn't really care what happened to Olive. I looked up Elizabeth Strout. Olive is not her peer, and how sad that when she writes about an older woman, Olive is what comes to mind. To be fair, I guess I should read more of her work.

To each her own.

I liked that Olive wasn't a stereotype and that she got a life, rather than a perfect ending. She had redeeming qualities and exasperating qualities. She wasn't anyone I had met in literature before.
I absolutely loved this quote, which kind of summed up the book for me:
"Olive's private view is that life depends on what she thinks of as "big bursts" and "little bursts." Big bursts are things like marriage or children, intimacies that keep you afloat, but these big bursts hold dangerous, unseen currents. Which is why you need the little bursts as well: a friendly clerk at Bradlee's, let's say, or the waitress at Dunkin' Donuts who knows how you like your coffee. Tricky business, really."

I like that quote, too. Really true.

Chris;
You Ladies sure can provide some provocative thinking. I'm trying to catch up with all of you and think about the defination of "linked" at the same time. --Addison

Question: I have written a few stories where a certain city bus is an important prop. Are those stories linked stories?

Chris wrote: "Question: I have written a few stories where a certain city bus is an important prop. Are those stories linked stories?"

Yes, as in 'Tales of a Gun' and 'The Yellow Rolls Royce.' Even more coherently: 'Ship of Fools' and 'As I Lay Dying' which uses a casket on a road trip to link stories.

Thanks, Charles. Never thought of the casket as a link, or of 'As I Lay Dying' as short stories. Did Faulkner? The others I haven't read except for 'Ship of Fools' years ago. I'm thinking Katherine Porter but too lazy to look it up and it doesn't sound right. Thanks for the examples. I went back and read your profile and loved your honest ambivalence. I, too, read more than one book at a time and lament the day I don't 'find time' to write. Get a Kindle. The new one is really handy, sometimes fits in my pocket. I've had three and this is the easiest one. Also if you are someone who always has to look up unfamiliar words, the dictionary is on the Kindle for a click. No, I don't have stock in Amazon.

Speaking of dictionaries on Ereaders, does anyone know if there is an update for the NOOK dictionary that increases the capability?

Jenny wrote: "I've not read any other 'linked stories' - suggestions please."

I loved Margot Singer's collection of linked stories, The Pale of Settlement. You can read my review for Kenyon Review Online here.

Chris wrote: "Never thought of the casket as a link, or of 'As I Lay Dying' as short stories. Did Faulkner?"

I'm pretty liberal with definitions, and consider "story' somewhat interchangeable with 'short story form.' As for Faulkner, he loved torturing literary forms, so I feel safe he had at least a notion that all of his characters' chapters would, if strung together rather than presented intermittently, been short stories linked by that casket. Each is in his or her story as the central character in relation to the casket, especially Cash, who is physically attached to it.

Thanks so much for your help..........all of you.

"Each is in his or her story as the central character in relation to the casket, especially Cash, who is physically attached to it."


Don't think I ever thought of it that way. Thanks. New perspective--- New perspectives always welcome with Faulkner. The words 'page turner' have unique meaning for his work.

Renaldo;
The lead. I purchased same and it actually tripled the database of words. Thanks also to all of you that emailed direct. CIAO

Thank you all for your suggestions of other linked stories and for the interesting discussion about "Olive Kitteridge". From my own circle of friends who have read Olive I've gathered equally diverse views. It is a book which provokes much discussion, or perhaps it is Olive herself?