Succinct fiction : an exploration of the short-short story with a collection of original short-short stories.

Abstract

This study includes a three-part critical analysis and an accompanying body of original short-short fiction. The critical analysis traces early innovations in short fiction and examines influences of literary experimentation upon the emerging short-short fiction genre. The analysis examines various attempts to define the genre with the aim of developing a new definition of the short-short story. The new definition is then applied to specific stories. The critical analysis concludes by examining several organizing principles of short-short fiction and discussing examples of published short-short fiction that has influenced this author's writing.