FREE KINDLE FOR PC

FREE KINDLE FOR PC
So you can read my books

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

We Are An ENDANGERED SPECIES and How To Go Down Fighting!



If you are reading this,
then obviously
you are a reader.


The ranks of book readers 
are shrinking.


A recent study revealed 
that
33% of high school graduates 
plan never
to read another book ...
ever.

That same study revealed
42% of college graduates
plan never to read 
another book either.


I know what you're thinking.

But You and I 
are of another generation.

We reflect the thinking of 
the Past not the Future.


In this Digital, 
Multi-Task Era,

our world is designed
 for shallow skimming 
rather than deep diving.


Think SHORT STORY

Perfect length for this
distractible time.


Don't groan.

Think H. P. LOVECRAFT


His stories existed 
in a linked universe

with entities and tomes
crossing over from one
story to another.


Readers did not have 
to start from scratch
with each story.

The surroundings 
were familiar
although terrifying.

Or have a character common 
to all your stories.


Short stories bring more pressure, 
because like with poetry, 

each paragraph, sentence, and word 
is more important 
than they would be 
inside a large novel. 

 Short stories are precise 
with their delivery, 

they must capture 
the attention of the reader 
extraordinarily quickly, 

and

tell a full tale 
from beginning to end 
in roughly 
a half hour of reading.


Which is the perfect length
in today's world
with too much to do.


If you got anything useful
from this post,
consider
sharing it, will you?

:-)

8 comments:

  1. That's why a book series does well - people know what to expect.
    I should really do more short stories although the novel I'm working on is threatening to be rather short.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lately, I have been short novels myself with my Dark Hollywood Cycle of tales. Best of luck with your latest,Alex!

      Delete
  2. I'm considering releasing the four novella-length stories I'm working on as individual eBooks first before doing a print book of the collection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like a great plan. With the hurricane about to hit later this week and weekend, I will be making other kinds of plans and running flooded roads on blood runs, Always something, right?

      Delete
  3. I seem to have a knack for selecting books that other people like. It's my small contribution to keeping reading alive. I can't even imagine how sad my life would be without books.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Audiobooks keep my sanity while I drive my often dangerous blood runs! :-)

      Delete
  4. Yes. Great interview with King. And, as I still ponder my entry for the latest IWSG short story contest. I'm ready to dive into the shallow end.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I confess. I'm a reader, and I hate to see those stats about the decline in readership. I just heard that Starbucks is not going to sell newspapers anymore because their patrons aren't bothering to read them. Thanks for the post, Roland.

    ReplyDelete