A novel is like a long relationship and a short story is a brief one that lingers - it lingers powerfully and maybe more powerfully. I think that's true in a lot of cases, most long-term relationships compared to some of the briefer ones - the intensity of those brief ones that end, I think a short story is kind of like that. There's a certain level of intensity that I think is different.
Peter OrnerA stellar, fully-realized collection of stories... grounded, wonderfully, in the river valleys of western Maine. You come away not only understanding a place but the soul of its people.
Peter OrnerWhat you can do with a short story that you can't do with a novel is punch someone in the gut, in the best of ways.
Peter OrnerI beat a story to within an inch of its life - that's when I know its done. Not before, not after.
Peter OrnerI agonize over things like this - the order of things, section titles, all this architectural sort of stuff. Takes me years to figure out.
Peter OrnerMy first book came out again - the re-issue from 2001. I was rereading it to make sure that I didn't miss any mistakes, and I didn't know who had written some of these stories. I really didn't. I am a different person now. It's weird. I think if stories are good, they have to have a life of their own that's independent of the writer. I like to think of my characters out there in other peoples' heads. That's a nice thing to think about.
Peter Orner