Monday, May 19, 2014

Monday at the Movies: Stephen King and Ray Bradbury

One of my favorite classes in university had me reading nothing but short stories. More than the longer novels I'd read for my English literature course work, the short stories reigned at evoking emotional responses.

I experienced true terror while reading "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates. My heart rate rose and my palms got sweaty. "Patriotism" by Yukio Mishima drew me in with beautiful, transcendent language and then horrified me with a graphic depiction of seppuku. I was completely caught unaware by Ambrose Bierce in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Franz Kafka. Stephen Crane. Flannery O'Connor.

I think I have my reading list for the summer! And I think it's time to try my hand at short stories again.

Here are two contemporary short story writers talking about their craft. Yep, it's a double feature on Monday at the Movies.

Pop the popcorn!


I love this personal look into Ray Bradbury's life. Besides, his legs are whiter than mine!




Anyone inspired to write a short story or two or forty-two?

4 comments:

Susie Finkbeiner said...

Oh man! Now I really miss writing my short stories! Hm. Maybe I can work one in sometime soon.

And, wow. Ray Bradbury had some...ahem...interesting style choices there. Hee hee.

Patti Hill said...

I know, Susie, I haven't written a short story in a very long time. I like the idea of starting and finishing something in a shorter amount of time. Writing a novel is like always being in the middle of a marathon. These two very different men have inspired me to do some "sketching."

Sharon K. Souza said...

Very interesting interviews, Patti. I really enjoyed them. I've written only a handful of short stories, and that was years ago. I'm not suited to that particular craft, but I admire those who are, because it really isn't an easy thing to do.

Patti Hill said...

It would be a great personal challenge for me to pick a theme and write 3-5 stories around that theme. Most short story writers fill novel-length books with bushels of stories. If ever...