Single Scene Short Stories

The short stories Margaret Bishop has assembled in this collection are not only wonderful to read, but are also perfect stories for writing teachers who want to show, not tell, their students how to create effective scenes. Each of the thirty-two stories included in the anthology was chosen for "unity of effect." While all of the stories pack an emotional punch, the techniques the writers use to achieve this end are wide-ranging. Richard Bausch's story, "The Voices from the Other Room," is written solely in dialogue, giving the story a sense of urgency. In his story, "Eveline," James Joyce pulls back from the moment, using memory to uncover his protagonist's plight. Jack London employs numerous details to reveal his character's circumstance in "To Build a Fire," whereas Amy Hempel selects but a few piercing details to expose her character in "San Francisco." In terms of tone, Dorothy Parker charms the reader with "Mrs. Carrington and Mrs. Crane," while Joyce Carol Oates chills with her story, "In the Warehouse." Using various methods for centering on the precise moment in which the protagonist reveals her or his true nature, either wittingly or unwittingly, to the reader, the authors of each story in this collection provide models worthy of emulation.