Cardiff and the Short Story

With the commercial value of short stories low and cuts to the arts scene high, expresslit. investigates the short story scene in Cardiff over the last year.

Results of expresslit’s recent poll found that short stories take up only 5% of most people’s bookshelves

As a form of fiction, short stories have been around for hundreds of years. In fact, some of the most famous works of literature in our canon today, such as Dickens, were initially serialized in the form of short fiction.

In the fast pace of everyday life, with quick commutes and dwindling attention spans, is it possible that the short story will make a comeback?

Editor of short story journal Riptide, Sally Flint, said, “Short stories seem better suited to fitting into a busy life style – they can be dipped into as and when the reader has time to catch a glimpse of other worlds.”

So how does the short story scene in Cardiff shape up over the past year?

The launch of the Raconteur took place in Chapter last Wednesday

Quarterly literary magazine the Raconteur has relaunched in print this December. The first issue themed ‘America’ contains short stories, articles and poetry from a range of writers, including local writers from Wales.

The Raconteur was relaunched in print

Editor Dylan Moore said, “The issue highlights the amount of talent in the immediate facility.” With an increase in self-publications and personal blogs there has been a proliferation of short story writing on online platforms.

“Publications like this are an important outlet for short fiction,” said Dylan. “It’s a trusted outlet so you know what you’re getting is good.”

Despite an international distribution, the Raconteur has strong roots in Wales and is published by Welsh publisher Parthian Books.  Co-editor Gary Raymond said, “We want to promote Welsh writers and do things for Welsh culture.”

The second of the Nu anthologies to be published

The last year has been a big year for local short story publications with Parthian books publishing Nu2: Memorable Firsts in June, the second volume of a collection of short stories, microfiction and poetry by new writers from Cardiff.

The book aims to give a voice to emerging Cardiff writers.

Editor Tomos Owen said, “It was both an intention of ours to give a platform to a group of writers that were already out there but in doing that the hope was that that it would spur on more people to start writing.”

expresslit. talks to Dr. Tomos Owen about the Nu anthologies, Cardiff’s literary scene and the medium of the short story.

Also published in 2011, in September, was The C Word: An anthology of writing from Cardiff.  Editor Kate North already has plans for further editions and believes the anthology is an essential tool for young short story writers. “If an aspiring author has a publication on their CV,” said Kate, “it helps agents and publishers sort the wheat from the chaff.”

Why does Kate feel it is so important to give short story writers a space to display their work?

She believes there is an industry problem in the UK. “Marketers and publishers think they will have an easier time selling products they can define with little ambiguity such as romantic fiction or crime,” said Kate. “So short story collections are not solicited nor are they promoted terribly well.

“When was the last time you walked into a bookshop and noticed a short story collection or a poetry collection on the table as part of the ‘three for two’ offer or with a Richard and Judy Book-club sticker on it?”

Despite innate problems with the short story industry, with a range of smaller publications of short stories, and a rich literary heritage it is no wonder Cardiff is home to some great new short story talent.

Cardiff-based writer Joao Morais, who was a runner up in the 2009 Rhys Davies Short Story competition, finds Cardiff an inspiring city to work in.

“Cardiff is an excellent place for writers of short fiction to be based,” said Joao. “There’s a lot of prizes, magazines, journals and readings here. As a capital city, people tend to take more notice of the scene compared to comparable-sized scenes in Bristol and Manchester.

“The good thing about Welsh institutions,” said Joao, “is that they are (to paraphrase the Gettysburg Address) ‘for the people, by the people.’ It’s good to know that you have someone on your side.”

Cardiff is a vibrant city for a young writer of short fiction to be based. This year has proved there is a strong platform of journals, anthologies and prizes striving to recognise and promote local talent.

Finally, express lit. leaves you with one we made earlier. A short story called Little Mahal.

How long is your favourite fiction?

Some of the greatest literature has been written in the form of a short story.  Even what we now consider as the “classic novel” by writers such as Dickens, were originally released a few short chapters at a time in journals. But currently short stories don’t appear to be ‘on trend’ in the consumer world. Is this because they are easily accessible online or seem less value for money in print?

Do you regularly read short stories, and where from? What types of books are on your shelves? Please let me know by answering the poll below (select three answers) and commenting with any further opinions.

Thanks!

I am currently reseraching a feature piece on the short story. The feature will specifically relate to short fiction writers, groups, awards and book shops found in Cardiff, more information (for you Glyn) can be found on the features page.

To cut a long story short #6wordstories

Nothing captures the concept of “express literature” more than writing a story in six words. Except perhaps writing a story in less. Ernest Hemingway once did just this (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”) and claimed it was the best thing he ever wrote.

And a few days ago the twittersphere, already used to tweeting with a restricted character count, embraced the six word story and got it trending. Here are a few that stuck out for me.

While twitter did have some great 6 word stories (although a worryingly high percentage concerned Justin Bieber and One Direction), it’s probably better to leave this task to the professionals. In 2007, an article titled To cut a long story short by the Guardian asked several contemporary writers to follow in Hemingway’s economical footsteps.

Dad called: DNA back: he isn’t.
Helen Fielding

See that shadow? (It’s not yours.)
Jim Crace

“Apple?” “No.” “Taste!” “ADAM?” Oh God.
David Lodge

Megan’s baby: John’s surname, Jim’s eyes.
Simon Armitage

As a trainee journalist still finding my way in the world of standfirst word counts and headline character counts, I’ve realised the task of condensing information down into the bare minimum is a difficult process. Each word has to fight for its right to be there and subsequently each word is loaded with information. It’s a little bit like poetry.

And so I’ll leave you with one last story by a fantastic author who spoke at my graduation ceremony. It goes one step further than the six word story and demonstrates how an absence of words can be the most powerful of all.

Hilary Mantel:

“Mind what gap?” … … …

Feel free to comment with your own six word stories

Mini Modern Classics

2011 sees the 50th anniversary of Penguin Modern Classics. I’ve always been partial to the sleek monchrome styled books, perhaps because (from 2007) Jim Stoddart’s latest design used the razz font: Century Gothic! In celebration of their 50th anniversary, Penguin have released 50 titles of short fiction from the best authors of the last century.

I feel that short fiction is under-appreciated outside of the literary world. As an English student, even I valued the chunky novel as a higher form of art until recently, but as I am currently in the process of writing my own ‘short fiction dissertation’- I have a new-found appreciation for the form. Penguin are encouraging readers to think of these new short classics as a shot of literary expresso. In their own words: ‘”the best short fiction by the greatest writers of the last century – from Beckett to Kafka, Nabokov to Saki and Updike to Wodehouse. Each little book is a quick literary hit, a satisfying shot of storytelling. And though they don’t take long to read, they’ll stay with you long after you turn the final page.”

Taking a trip to Waterstones the other week, myself and a friend witnessed first hand how addictive Penguin’s new release can be; we left with three of the new classics each… (clearly we should not be left in bookstores without adult supervision.)

For just £3 though, these little books are great. Easy to slip in your back pocket, handbag or hand luggage (even alongside Elle magazine, a course novel, a Marian Keyes saga, two moleskin notebooks, a travel guide book, a passport and an arroword puzzle book).

For more information, and for a full list of the fifty titles, head over to Penguin Classics