Short stories can be just as powerful and moving as longer works of fiction; indeed, some argue that this form can be even more impactful because short stories deliver their central message in a single, resonant hit. If a novel is like lighting up a room using all the house lights, then a short story is like using a flashlight to illuminate a hidden corner. Short stories are also an excellent place to take risks, to create things that interest us but which may not work in a whole novel.
