Intellectual exercise
Hi.
So, for now, under 10,000 words is at the long end of short stories, but how short? Are we saying under 1,500 words is not a short story? Great writers can do in 600 words what a solid writer might manage in 1,100. Maybe at 500 words, the confinement begins to create a new form, often very interesting, but more of an intellectual exercise; literary showing off rather than a natural giving of truth.
What does it mean by 'an intellectual exercise'?
Top answer
One measure of great writers of short stories is the length of their stories. Almost anyone can write a 10,000-word short story. Good writers can make a story of 1100 words.
- One measure of great writers of short stories is the length of their stories.
- Almost anyone can write a 10,000-word short story.
- Good writers can make a story of 1100 words.
- The greatest writers can pare the number of words down to 600.
- But that's where it stops.
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One measure of great writers of short stories is the length of their stories. Almost anyone can write a 10,000-word short story. Good writers can make a story of 1100 words. The greatest writers can pare the number of words down to 600. But that's where it stops. That is about the minimum number of words for a good story.
A writer may try to go even shorter, but that will be not only v
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