  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: Mavis Moog  
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In this week's newsletter I review a published story. I hope it inspires short story writers to read some excellent fiction.
Mavis Moog |
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FLYTOPIA by Will Self
A review
I've been reading some wonderful short fiction this month. Of course I've chosen a selection of short stories from WDC authors, which you can judge for yourself by seeing my selection under Editor's Picks, but I've also been reading from Will Self's book of short stories, "Tough, Tough Toys for Tough, Tough Boys."
I have heard many WDC authors complain that since they've been reviewing on this site, reading published stories has become a more objective exercise. We often feel we need to make edit notes in the margin, and find it difficult to settle back and just read for pleasure. I even find myself criticising the plot lines and characterisation of TV movies, and reaching for a pen to jot down my thoughts. Have I irrevokably damaged my ability to be entertained? I hope not, but this phenomenon gave me an idea, which I hope interests you.
I decided that this month, I would write a WDC-style review of a Will Self story. Now, I happen to have a great deal of admiration for Will Self's writing skills, so my review might be more glowing than many. If you haven't already had the pleasure of this great, British writer, I urge you to buy one of his short story collections and read his work for yourself. Fortunately, Mr. Self is still alive so, unfortunately, his work is under copyright. I cannot reproduce a whole story for you, but in the course of my review, I shall be giving quotations, which may whet your appetite.
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Will Self. Scarily attractive?
Will Self is exactly five months older than me. He was born 26th September 1961, and educated at Oxford University, England.
He is a novelist, short story writer, journalist and broadcaster who has become an icon of our times. He makes frequent reference, in his writing, to popular, and more high-brow, modern culture. Often in the news himself - once for allegedly smoking heroin in the toilet while on John Major's (then, British Prime Minister) campaign jet - he runs with the intellectual elite of the art and literary world.
He's hosted TV arts programmes and is not afraid to satirise himself and all he represents. He was a regular panellist on the popular BBC shows, "Shooting Stars" which was hosted by the anarchic Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, and "Have I Got News for You." an irreverent current affairs quiz.
I have to admit that I find him scarily attractive. His saturnine features and pneumatic mouth give him an erotic quality rarely seen in bookish men. Although his work could be described as post modern, and has more than a slight hint of angst and depression, the humour and satire of his work saves it from the dullness so often associated with that genre. He displays a wild imagination and love of language which suggest he could have a magnificent career as an observational stand-up comedian.
Will Self's shorter fiction includes:
 The Quantity Theory of Insanity (Short Stories) 1991
Grey Area (Short Stories) 1994
Tough, Tough Toys for Tough, Tough Boys (Short Stories) 1998
Dr. Mukti and Other Tales of Woe (Short Stories) 2004
The Sweet Smell of Psychosis (Illustrated Novella) 1996
The story I want to review for you is Flytopia. It is approximately 6,000 words, and was published in 1998.
It is set in the fictional village of Inwardleigh, in the non-fictional, English county of Suffolk. Inwardleigh (the name is significant) is described as being "washed up in the ox-bow of demography," and represents a sneering view of English, rural life. It is fashionable for wealthy Londoners to have a second home in the country. Self seems to enjoy taking a pot-shot at these twee city-slickers, who dream of making jam and walking the Labrador through green meadows.
Inwardleigh is dying. The pubs are empty and the hairdresser sits in her salon, snipping idly at her own hair. Most of the shops have closed down and the property advertised in the estate agent's window are displayed on curling, sun-foxed sheets of paper. The nearby coast is blighted by the presence of a nuclear power station.
Self spends the first 1000 words vividly describing the dismal decay of this rural idyll. This is all through the eyes of the protagonist, "an indexer by profession," Jonathan Priestly.
Jonathan's wife is in London and he is working on an index for some obscure tome. He tries to settle down to some work, but the flies in his stuffy cottage, distract him. The humour is so often in the imagery. He describes a crane fly thus: "...skipping up the Artex pinnacles in the bathroom, then abseiling down them..." (Artex is a flexible, ready-made plaster used for putting texture on walls and ceilings. It is considered very bad taste.)
Jonathan becomes obsessed by the flies and other insects, which seem to swarm in various areas of his cottage. The metaphor is inescapable. The insects are evidence of the general decomposition, not only of the village but also of his own life. It may seem difficult to imagine humour in this unstartling, clichéd analogy, but Self uses words like a jeweller setting precious stones.
"It occurred to him that perhaps they were learning to imitate the noises of the computer; that through some quantum, phylogenetic leap - the insects were becoming computer-like. An outrageous act of Batesian mimicry, akin to that with which the undistinguished wasp beetle jerkily pretends to the status of its more dangerous namesake."
You can see from this quotation, Will Self is not a stickler for some of the rules many amateur writers inflict on themselves. He uses "that" and adverbs where we would assiduously weed them out. I forgive him these lapses, if that's what they are, because the whole is so pleasing and artful.
Here he describes Mr. Khan, the corner-shop keeper.
"Mr. Khan manifested himself by Jonathan's elbow. A dun pyramid of a man who multiplied his chins to acquiesce with his customers, and divided them to dissent."
Note that the second sentence is a fragment, but who cares? We all know what he means and the image is just delicious.
Humourous images apart, Self revels in the seedy aspects of life. This story wallows in the imagery of decomposition and infestation, as this excerpt illustrates.
"The haunch slathered with infective matter. Bulging from within, the fact of decay possessing and altering it, changing it from organism to environment. Delicately, methodically Mustica Domestica goes about her business of insertion."
The puns and verbal motifs are witty and meaningful. Here he uses the word, business in all its connotations, to elicit a revulsion from his readers.
The story has an absurd and macabre conclusion. Jonathan is gradually conquered by the myriad insect-life. They communicate with him in a bizarre manner, and he begins to fantasise about his wife, in the image of an elegant blue-bottle. I will not completely destroy the pleasure of reading this story for you by giving too much away, but I assure you it not humdrum.
I can learn so much from this story. The flagrant disregard for strict grammatical gentility would incense me in a lesser work, but here the imagination, descriptive powers and, let's face it, charisma of the author obliterates any petty objections. When a writer truly knows what he's doing such matters become unimportant. That is not to say I can dispense with them. I am not yet a great writer, but with the influence of Will Self...who knows...maybe someday. |
Thank you Nada for recommending this story, it's interesting and inspirational.
This story was written by a 17 year-old. Hold on to your hats, you will find the youth of the author difficult to believe.
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Here is a science fiction story. I found it flowed very well and the gentle nature of the story charmed me.
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We've been experiencing quite a bit of snow, here in Blighty, this week, so this story appealed to me. It's set in Montana.
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These next two stories, by the same author, are just a sample of a wonderful protfolio. I love the Irish voice of this work, it is witty and gentle.
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scarlett_o_h
Thanks for featuring my story in the Short Story Newsletter. It's strange but I never take a book of short stories out from the library and yet I try to write them! Maybe I should read some f your excellent recommendations...when I have time.
Nikola~No Pony Agiain! 
I read several of the titles you mention while in college literature. That is when I fell in love with the classics! These are wonderful reads and a great basis for any library.
nomlet 
Hi Mavis. Thanks for the recommendations. The two book reviews were especially useful, explaining specifically what it is about those particular authors/volumes that might make them compelling reads. Both sound excellent to me. I look forward to reading more reviews.
animatqua
Your list of short stories very closely resembles mine. As for the "Don Camillo" series, I thought I was the only one who appreciated them.
Maybe in high school I was. Anyway, great list, great job on the Newsletter!
Jaoli~ miss you all, bye ;(
Thanks so much for the great list of best short stories. I've read The Red Pony but not any of the others.
Have a great day...thanks again! ~Jaoli
alicengoreland
I love that you are going to look at some classic short stories! I know the whole reason I feel in love with the written word is because of some of these stories. Please consider noting how often they are used still for movies and or TV.
Hopkin Green Frog
Thanks for the newsletter, just started writing short stories myself, and will certainly look up some of your recommended reading - been reading Will Self, Poe, Bradbury and Ballard myself. For short fiction, I can also recommend Michael Marshall Smith for some nice quirky tales, and if you fancy trying someone quite experimental you could do worse than checking out "Pixel Juice" by Jeff Noon.
tahubley
This is in response to the question about what to write about to attract people to your short stories: I agree it's not about a specific genre but about how you craft the piece. Beyond that, write from your own heart. Your interest will show through and help make it attractive. Readers can fell the emptiness when you're just "going commercial".
schipperke
For Ellen Stone question of what kind of things should you write about to get people to read your short stories?
Short stories should focus on one or two characters involved in a situation challenging enough to draw the reader in. A short story needs to grab the attention of the reader right away. A twist always helps too.
Mavis: Another excellent short story writer is Ambrose Bierce. I highly recommend members to get his books out of the library.
This Week's Question
aoi_sakura
I am kinda new to writing.com and recently, I have been reading your tips and its really helpful. I just wish you could give us beginners in writing some tips of how to expose our stories/novels and how to catch readers attention.
Mavis answers:
There are many ways to get publicity for your work on Writing.com. Here are some,
Review as much as you can. The more you read and respond to other people's work, the more interest yours will attract.
Post your item on the Reviews Request Page.
Try one of the review forums advertised here,
This is my own review forum,
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Click on "Sponsor This Item" at the bottom of the piece you wish to publicise, and bid to include your item in the top 10 or 15 sponsored items. This is very effective, as it gives you site-wide exposure.
Enter contests. Many members enjoy reading the entries for contests, and you could win a prize.
Submit your work to newletter editors. We are always on the look out for items to feature. Make sure you choose the most appropriate newsletters for your item.
Consider your "Brief Description" line carefully. A good hook will draw readers in.
Set out your portfolio in an accessible and interesting way. Don't forget to write a bio-block. These can be thought of as your shop window. Tell readers a little about yourself and try to make it appeal to your target audience.
If anyone has any other suggestions please submit them and I will include them on next week's newsletter.
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Short Stories: March 08, 2006 Issue [#914]
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