best short fiction

One example could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a short but impactful piece that packs a powerful punch with its unexpected ending. Another is 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway, which conveys a complex relationship through sparse dialogue.

One of the stories could be about time travel. It could show how a character goes back in time and accidentally changes a small event, which then has a huge impact on the future. These types of stories are common in science fiction short stories as they allow for a lot of creativity and exploration of cause - and - effect relationships.

One of the great ones could be 'The Cold Equations' which presents a moral dilemma in a space - faring context. It shows the harshness of the laws of the universe when a stowaway on a spaceship must be jettisoned to save the mission.

I really like 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a short but very impactful story. It makes you think about the dark side of human nature and how blindly following traditions can lead to horrible outcomes.

The 'best in short fiction' usually has a unique writing style. It might use vivid language to create a strong atmosphere. For example, it can make you feel like you're right there in the story's setting. Another aspect is that it often has a deep or unexpected theme that makes you think long after you've finished reading.

One of the best podcasts for short fiction is 'The Truth'. It features well - crafted fictional stories that are often thought - provoking and engaging. Another great one is 'Night Vale Presents', which offers a variety of short fictional tales with unique settings and characters. 'LeVar Burton Reads' is also excellent, where LeVar Burton reads classic and contemporary short stories in his wonderful voice.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival can be considered among the best for short fiction. It has numerous events dedicated to short story readings, discussions, and workshops. Here, you can discover new short fiction works from both local and international authors. Then there's the Bristol Short Story Prize Festival. This festival specifically focuses on short stories, with a competition and various events that celebrate the art of short fiction writing. Additionally, the Hay Festival also has a place for short fiction, where different voices in short story writing are heard and celebrated.

There are several good places. 'Clarkesworld' is a well - respected venue for short fiction, especially in the science fiction and fantasy genres. It has a dedicated following. 'Electric Literature' is also a great choice. It features a variety of contemporary short fiction works and has a strong online presence, which can help you reach a broad audience. Additionally, university - affiliated literary journals can be a good bet. They often publish high - quality short fiction and are always looking for new voices.

Smashwords is a good platform for short fiction. It distributes your work to various e - book retailers. It's free to use and gives you control over your pricing and distribution.

There are several top magazines for short fiction. For instance, The Paris Review. It has a reputation for presenting excellent short works. It not only features well - crafted stories but also provides in - depth interviews with the authors. Another good choice is Electric Literature. They are quite active in promoting new voices in short fiction. Also, Kenyon Review is a great place to find high - caliber short fictions as it has a high standard for the works it selects.