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short stories as a medium

underrated. its more than just prose or poetry but not as much of a longform commitment as a novel. sometimes a story only needs 10 or 20 or 30 pages. great for people to practice writing, great to write for the sake of writing, can read one in a car ride, so much freedom in short stories. I resent the sentiment that they’re somehow lesser or lower brow than poetry or novel. specific ones I recommend, at least to start: The Fall of the House of Usher (or anything by Poe, he’s kinda the goat) The Scarlet Ibis The Metamorphosis The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas The Lottery The Most Dangerous Game

@bisonspider

Sep 3, 2024

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when things get dark

My favourite short stories tend to be creepy or magical. I think due to the necessary open-endedness of short stories, it lends itself most to mystery and magic. Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber is a great classic creepy feminist story to start with. Carmen Maria Machado’s The Husband Stitch continued Carter’s legacy I’m a HUGE Kelly Link fan, but her stuff is very strange so might not be for everyone, but my favourite of hers is probably The Specialist’s hat or Skinder’s Veil Shirley Jackson‘s The Lottery is also a classic, and if you like creepy stories and want a good overview of writers in that genre, I recommend the collection “When Things Get Dark”, a collection inspired by the tone of Jackson’s work; it features Kelly link, Carmen Maria Machado, Joyce Carol Oates, and loads of contemporary short story writers. I discovered the story Tiptoe by Laird Barron through this and its possibly my favourite creepy short story, it sent full shivers down my spine in a way no other story had.

@mouse

May 22, 2024

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Magical short novels

Magical realism/general spookiness is the perfect genre for short stories, mystery lends itself to brevity. We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson (158 pages) Our Wives Under the Sea - Julia Armfield (232 pages) Annihilation - Jeff Vandermeer (195 pages) Pirasesi by susanna clarke (245 pages) The Magic Toyshop - Angela Carter (200 pages) (Or even short Angela Carter’s Love which is 120 pages)

@mouse

Jan 4, 2025

Top Recs from @knarkibarki

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Take a ferry

they are often free and while bobbling over the water they are an instant peace of mind moment. (This is one in Amsterdam)

@knarkibarki

Apr 21, 2024

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Sleep

It really refreshes your brain

@knarkibarki

Apr 19, 2024