Short Story Writers - David Sedaris, et al.

[KingMedicine]

I've recently been introduced the writings of NY short story writer/essayist David Sedaris and am looking for recommedations of other contemporary short story writers.

What do you have for me, OOT?

Also, are there any English teachers in OOT? Preferably creative writing teachers. Even more specifically, short story writers?

[TheBlueMonster]

I graduated with a concentration in Creative Writing. Call me annoying, but I'd rather read a Hemingway story than most of the newer stuff.

[Blarg]

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I graduated with a concentration in Creative Writing. Call me annoying, but I'd rather read a Hemingway story than most of the newer stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

So would I. Reading every short story he ever wrote isn't that hard, and might be one of the better ways to learn how to write them -- what you like and don't will become much more clear.

[Jiggymike]

If I remember correctly, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace was half awesome/half unreadable, but since they are short stories you can just skip the ones you don't like. However I read it a while ago and I could be wrong (i.e. it could be bad) but I'm prertty sure I enjoyed some of it.

[amplify]

Chekhov is the best short story writer without question.

A lot of good contemporary short fiction is to be found in those "The Best American Short Stories 200x" compilations.

[Blarg]

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Chekhov is the best short story writer without question.

A lot of good contemporary short fiction is to be found in those "The Best American Short Stories 200x" compilations.

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Agreed. Those compilations will have a clunker here and there, but they are very reliable overall. There are a few of these collections put out every year, but this one is my favorite.

[Boris]

[ QUOTE ]
If I remember correctly, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace was half awesome/half unreadable, but since they are short stories you can just skip the ones you don't like. However I read it a while ago and I could be wrong (i.e. it could be bad) but I'm prertty sure I enjoyed some of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like pretty much all of the stories. Highly recommend this book. Not that it matters but I'm not a big fan of Sedaris.

[Triumph36]

Chekhov and Carver ftw.

Of course these aren't at all in the vein of David Sedaris, but what can you do - Sedaris is a unique writer.

[The DaveR]

Sedaris is very distinctive. What do you like about him? Also, you are aware that very few of his stories would be considered fiction, right?

[2/325Falcon]

It's been a while since I read his stuff, but Andre Dubus is great.