THE ONE THING which can rescue literature as a cultural force is the revival of the short story. By revive, I don’t mean continuation of same. The pattern of the system “literary” story encouraged in hundreds of writing programs needs to be blown up. On every point, the new writer needs to do the opposite of what’s acclaimed today. Across-the-board rule breaking. The objective should be to present a short story which looks unlike any ever created. This is how to create excitement—the excitement of art.
Is it doable? Are there writers alive today who want to do it?
A handful, by my reckoning. If they pull it off, they’ll be artistic trailblazers. Creative revolutionaries.
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