I’m starting to think there’s a fine line between an embarrassment of riches and ordinary, old embarrassment.

It’s not the first time I find myself debating quantity versus quality. And perhaps it’s only natural for a writer to second-guess his decisions when he’s preparing to publish and especially when he’s trying something outside his comfort zone.

Something new.

Eight years ago, I declared that anyone can write a short story (except me), exaggerating my circumstances at the time: I vastly favored longform fiction over its little siblings. However, while I still tend to think of narratives in terms of full-length novels and series, I find myself tinkering more and more with short stories.

On one hand, it can be incredibly cathartic to crank out a few thousand words of something completely new in between drafts, rounds of editing, and releases of books. On the other hand, ideas tend to pile up—particularly when one devotes decades to producing series—so exploring short stories allows an author to play with a character, theme, or plot twist without investing too much time.

Now I have more than enough to bundle together into a book of their own.

I expect I’m not the only writer with a smattering of short fiction varying in length, tone, and genre. Although some advise authors to stick to a prevailing theme and, if possible, limit a collection to a single genre, I plan to demonstrate the breath of my writing styles and embrace the many different spec-fic subgenres I enjoy.

Which only makes winnowing down the contenders for my short story collection that much more difficult.

The precious

A handful of the short stories are all but assured a spot in the collection:

‘Ghost Mode’

Genre: science fiction

Reasons to include:

  • I feel it’s a well-written story with a strong message and has garnered positive feedback in the past.
  • “Ghost Mode” already appeared in a fantasy anthology and was a featured reading on the Story Tale Podcast.
  • Because of its prior release, I already have an excellent image that could be used for the collection’s cover (see above).
  • I even have a blurb for the story.

‘Drifters’

Genre: dreampunk

Reasons to include:

  • This standalone story does a fine job of introducing the concept (and consequences) of dream drifting while filling in a gap or two from The Soul Sleep Cycle.
  • Because “Drifters” features Allison and Milton, two characters in common with the aforementioned series, it can serve double duty in cross-promotion, driving readers of one work to the other.
  • “Drifters” was selected for inclusion in a dreampunk anthology last year, suggesting the story has merit.
  • I have the beginnings of a blurb.

‘Gamechanger’

Genre: YA fantasy

Reasons to include:

  • It’s a lighthearted-yet-heartfelt tale that contrasts nicely with some of the darker/heavier topics broached in other stories.
  • The story delves deeper into the larping world of Mezzo-Earth and serves as a standalone introduction to Mak/Brutus the Bullheaded in particular.
  • Because “Gamechanger” stars three characters from The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot, it can attract fans of that book to this collection as well as tempt the readers of the short story to check out the novel.
  • Since I’m planning to produce a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) set in Mezzo-Earth, it wouldn’t hurt to have another piece of Larpsalot fiction in circulation.

(You can currently read “Gamechanger” for free here.)

‘Reputation’

Genre: sword-and-sorcery fantasy

Reasons to include:

  • With so much geography and so many characters crammed into my Altaerra setting, I feel like I finally wrote a story that introduces the world in a fun, bite-sized way.
  • “Reputation” also features never-before-seen-on-the-page characters, including a Renegade Leader named Domacles Herronin, a rival who was only hinted at in The Renegade Chronicles.
  • And, yes, there’s a benefit to including a new Altaerra story, not only to entice existing fans, but to nurture new fans of The Renegade Chronicles and Magic’s Daughter.
  • Most importantly, “Reputation” stars everyone’s favorite midge, Noel!

‘The Lake Road’

Genre: paranormal

Reasons to include:

  • I wrote this oddball story many years ago and have yet to find a good home for it—until now.
  • I love how the plot pairs something mundane (a daily commute) with something much more profound (spiritual warfare).
  • Despite the setup of fundamental Good versus Evil, there’s a fair amount of humor sprinkled throughout the tale.
  • This is also the only story I’ve ever written about angels and demons. That novelty alone compels me to include it in this strange collection.

The promising

These contenders have a lot of potential, and the odds are good they will make the cut, despite a few lingering concerns:

‘Going Viral’

Genre: soft sci-fi

Reasons to include:

  • This was perhaps the second short story I ever wrote that felt publishable to me, due to strong, stylistic prose and a few plot twists.
  • “Going Viral” received an honorable mention in a writing contest.
  • I have the beginnings of a blurb already written.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Because I wrote this so long ago, I worry that the message might not be as timely as it once was.
  • Arguably, the stakes in this hacker-gets-hacked story could be higher.

‘The Fix’

Genre: science fiction

Reasons to include:

  • I received very favorable feedback from beta readers on this story about a con artist whose latest prize could cause more problems than it’s worth.
  • “The Fix” features two of unique characters—arguably some of the most complex and compelling I’ve ever conceived.
  • I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a full-length work about Nic and Bettie, so introducing them in this collection could prove fortuitous.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Beta readers reported that “The Fix” feels like the first couple chapters of a novel, which makes me wonder if the ending is satisfying enough.
  • This story contains the harshest language and grittiest narration I’ve ever written, and I wonder if the story’s R-rating would make it a poor companion to lighter fare like “Gamechanger” and “The Lake Road.”

‘Anthropology in Apogee’

Genre: science fiction

Reasons to include:

  • A story about an anthropologist visiting Earth from another planet has been rattling around my gray matter for some time, and this version is far better than earlier attempts.
  • Although there are other science fiction stories in the running for this collection, “Anthropology in Apogee” is the only one that features extraterrestrials.
  • Hand in hand with my interest in this anthropologist character is a desire to someday write a postapocalyptic utopian novel about humans contending with benevolent overlords; this short story could lead nicely into that.

Reasons to leave out:

  • While the writing is strong, I worry that too much is left to reader interpretation; a heavy round of edits will be needed to make the alien protagonist more empathetic.
  • Because I’m not well read in the science fiction genre, including other (classic) novels about alien invasions of Earth, it’s altogether possible I’m treading too-familiar ground here.

‘Dead Magic’

Genre: contemporary fantasy

Reasons to include:

  • This story about a clandestine arrangement between an unscrupulous human and her faerie counterpart isn’t horror, but it’s arguably the creepiest of the lot.
  • After spending a lot of time researching for a novel about changelings, I ultimately abandoned the project but still wanted to use what I learned somewhere.

Reasons to leave out:

  • I still need beta reader feedback on this one before deciding whether transforming the rough draft into something better would be time well spent.

‘Epiphany’

Genre: superhero

Reasons to include:

  • Insistent ideas for this story kept me from sleeping one night, so I got out of bed and hammered out a first draft. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever written, and I think there’s a lot of potential.
  • Even if I never write a full-blown book or video game about superpowered heroes, I like the idea of exploring the subgenre in this collection.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Early feedback on “Epiphany” was mixed, and my biggest fear is that it feels more like the beginning of a larger work than a satisfying, self-contained tale.

The precarious

Welcome to the chopping block…

‘The Monster & The Mirage’

Genre: sword-and-sorcery fantasy

Reasons to include:

  • I haven’t written too many fantasy stories outside of Altaerra, and this early attempt led me down an interesting (desert) path.
  • Exploring concurrent events from two disparate characters’ points of view keeps the reader guessing at motivations up until the very end.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Because this started out as the opening to a potentially larger work, I’m concerned that the ending comes off as too inconclusive.
  • At 10,000 plus words, this would be a considerably longer read than any other story in the collection.

‘Flesh and Blood’

Genre: thriller

Reasons to include:

  • This tense, action-packed story about hired killers getting snuffed out one by one includes a surprising amount of depth.
  • A collection that includes a story about angels and a story about assassins? What variety!

Reasons to leave out:

  • If included, “Flesh and Blood” would be the only story lacking a supernatural component, which might seem strange for a collection billed under the speculative-fiction banner.
  • Though yet to be beta read, I already fear the story might prove too complex—or even convoluted—for so small a wordcount.

‘The End’

Genre: fantasy/sci-fi mashup

Reasons to include:

  • I always have a blast playing with genre tropes and preconceived notions; “The End” is no exception.
  • Unlike several other short stories that started out as bigger ideas, this one has always been no longer or shorter than its current incarnation; in short, it works well as a short story.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Until I get some beta readers on this, I can’t be sure the genre-bending and surprise-twist aspects of “The End” actually work.
  • So many of my stories seem to have sad endings. Maybe this would add one tragedy too many?

‘The Suspect’

Genre: dystopian sci-fi

Reasons to include:

  • The reader has to do a lot of reading between the lines in this story about a rogue writer being prosecuted for his crimes, adding some interesting facets to what could have ended up being a typical cautionary tale.
  • The enigmatic POV character—I hesitate to label her a protagonist—is what really sells this story, I think.

Reasons to leave out:

  • While I don’t shy away from writing about different kinds of people and viewpoints, I seldom focus on politics. I could see “The Suspect” potentially offending everybody.
  • I’m not in love with the title.

‘Captive’

Genre: soft sci-fi

Reasons to include:

  • Some of my favorite things to read and write focus on the nature of reality. Enter the unreliable narrator of “Captive.”
  • The futuristic science in this story plays second fiddle to a greater, more immediate concern, adding layers to a seemingly simple story.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Here’s another tale with a less-than-happy ending.
  • The verdict is still out from beta readers as to whether the concept works as a story.

‘Unparalleled’

Genre: science fiction

Reasons to include:

  • While I strive to keep relatable issues and struggles central to all of my speculative fiction, this story in particular focuses on the human condition and the struggle to reach one’s full potential.
  • A long time ago—before I started writing fantasy stories in Altaerra—I focused on soldiers and superheroes set in modern-day Earth; the protagonist (and antagonist) of this story pays homage to my very first “alternate reality.”

Reasons to leave out:

  • The first draft is rather rough, requiring an extra dose of motivation to make a second pass.
  • Perhaps parallel universes are played out as a sci-fi device?

‘School Spirit’

Genre: paranormal

Reasons to include:

  • I believe a certain set of readers will find something relatable and, hopefully, helpful in the main character’s sad high-school circumstances.
  • Despite a supernatural spin, “School Spirit” offers a down-to-earth lens that could counterbalance some of the more fantastic elements in the other stories.

Reasons to leave out:

  • Because it started as a flash fiction exercise, it’s significantly shorter than any other piece under consideration.
  • Despite a major shift in tone, some of the themes and even the setup of “School Spirit” tie closely—too closely?—to those in “The Fix.”

The predicament

For those of you keeping score at home, that’s seventeen short stories vying for a spot in the collection. While there’s nothing stopping me from including them all, I suspect that when all is said and done, somewhere between twelve and fifteen stories will make the cut.

At least I’m not alone in this head-versus-heart conundrum. My friends at the Allied Authors of Wisconsin have and will continue to provide some much-needed objectivity, and I’m hoping to find a few more beta readers to help me separate the good from the bad from the embarrassing.

What say you?

Interested in getting a sneak peek at my 2021 short story collection? If you’d like to be a beta reader, please comment below or contact me here!