Let's Talk with Debra H. Goldstein
Short vs long
March 27, 2025
Some people think that a short story is merely an abbreviated novel or that a book is an extended short story. Both are true, but only in a limited sense in terms of their elements. As an author who writes both long and short, I’ve come to realize that although there is overlap, the two are vastly different.
Short stories tend, because of word count, to need to be written more tightly. There are usually less characters and narrative. Although a book can have several high and low spots or accentuated beats, a short story usually narrows the high beats to two or three. Because of space limitations, short stories tend to have less characters. Rather than the denouement found in a novel, shorter works display a significant twist with a quicker ending.
Both long and short writing requires good characterization, well-drawn settings, plots, and conflict. Without conflict, neither form of writing moves in terms of pace or plot. Rather, the piece becomes stagnant.
As a crime fiction author, I owe it to my readers to always play fair with clues and red herrings while delivering them quality work. I’ve honed my skills by writing five books in Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (a woman who is more frightened of the kitchen than murder) and two standalones: Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery and IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue, a mystery set on the campus of the University of Michigan in the 1970’s. During the past ten years that I have been writing seriously, I also have been fortunate to have more than fifty short stories published. By this point, I think I’ve begun to understand the difference between writing short and writing long. I’m also learned how one can write light versus dark based upon the underlying thoughts, settings, and characters in a story.
Recently, White City Press released With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying, a collection of eighteen of my short mysteries, from cozy to dark, centering around family and friends, their sins and their sometimes redemption that won awards or were award finalists. The stories range from humorous family holiday meals to the grit of being an undercover cop. They are told from the viewpoints of innocent children, flawed protagonists, and not-so-good-hearted villains. What each has in common is the presentation of a slice of life.
In my novels, I incorporate more description, subplots, and high and low beats. The short stories in With Our Bellies Full and the Fire dying are, by the nature of their word counts, more succinct in delivering their messages. The main goal, whether the piece be dark or light, is for the reader to enjoy the experience.
For a chance to win a copy of With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying, leave a comment whether you prefer short stories or novels and why. (print copies only for US mailing address; eBook available)
Want to know more about our author Debra H Goldstein? Visit her WEBSITE.
Posted in with Debra H. Goldstein • Tags: Debra H Goldstein, Let's Talk, Short vs Long, writing | 24 Comments
Your anthology is a hit with me, Debra. You have such a talent for short stories and yet you also write wonderful cozies. I admire that you can do both so well!
Thank you,
Hi Debra! What a timely topic. I’m taking a short story creation class from the Sisters in Crime Guppies. I’m so much more comfortable writing novel-length — but short stories are a way to introduce a character to your writing without having to create an entire novel.
Exactly. Also a good way to bridge the gap between novels.
With me the longer the book or series the better I hate it when I find a real good book then it ends it saddens me.
I think a lot of readers agree with you, but sometimes a good short story can have the same effect on you.
I like both. I like short stories because they are a great introduction to a new to me authors. I have gotten some new to me authors from anthologies I have read and enjoyed. I also like novels because you get a more fully fleshed out story. Short stories have more limitations in that aspect.
That they do… you have to limit the characters, themes, and high and low points.
Well, that is a very good question. I think that it depends on my mood. When I was teaching both, I loved the short stories like Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” or Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” They were fast paced with a real twisted ending and the students loved reading them and figuring it out if they could. But I think that I prefer novels, and especially mysteries, more because I love character development, twists and turns, red herrings, and figuring out who did it. I used to teach the plot elements. They always had a hard time getting where the climax was and if it was a denouement (like you mentioned) or a resolution or an epilogue. They also had trouble in the difference between a drama and a tragedy. I used Tom Hanks movies for the last two along with the plot elements. “Philadelphia” was the tragedy while “Saving Private Ryan” was a drama due to the saving of Private Ryan. Of course, I used “Big” to teach comedy. One reason I turned to cozies was that they were still mysteries which I love but lacked the gruesomeness of many harder core mysteries. thus, making them “cozy.” I like jigsaw puzzles which are like mysteries. I also love cozy series as I like to see the characters grow and change and interact.
I’m with you… a cozy reader, but familiar with all other aspects, too.
I have enjoyed the classic short story writers: Poe, Saki, etc. I still prefer novels simply for the character development and time for things to unfold.
Novels give you more time to do those things, but a story can be effectively told short.
I like short stories because sometimes I want a short read and I don’t have time to get involved in a novel. I enjoy novels when I have more time and want to get engrossed in a longer, more involved story.
You make a good point about time.
I like to escape into a novel and preferably a longer one. I admire your ability to write both short and long. I’m trying a novella now, and we’ll see how that ends up.
Keep us posted on that novella.
With mysteries I like both novels and short stories. It just depends on my mood and how much time I have available. I love it when my favorite authors can write both. And BTW I just loved reading the Sarah Blair mysteries.
Thank you… you made my day about the Sarah Blair mysteries.
I prefer novels. Short stories are well, too short and the content generally seems thin.
Although I never disagree with a reader’s thoughts, some stories, like those by P.D. James or Shirley Jackson are anything but thin.
To be honest, I consider myself a slow reader. Hence, I prefer novels that are around 200 plus to 300 pages. I enjoy such novels because I can see how the suspense or tension or plot evolve and grab my attention to the end. Is short story considered novella? I also enjoy novellas where I can finish it easily, however, it might not have as much intrigue or thrill as I like.
As a break from the normal length of suspense thrillers, I usually would read anthologies as I enjoy those short stories that are still giving me the chills and thrills in small bundles!
– Emily cwkuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a good balance.
I love short storied and long stories and mediums. Sometimes you just have a little bit of time to yourself to read and short stories are great and when you have a lot of time to read logs are great because I believe there’s more detai. To make it shorter I love all books
Thanks for dropping by. I’m with you – I love all books.