Short story to novel?

by Mark J Braybrook
25th January 2014

Do you think a good short story can be developed into a novel or are the two incompatible?

Does anyone know of any successful authors who have done this?

Replies

Hi everyone, thanks for all you great responses to my question!

My reason for asking it was that I've had a couple of short stories where people's responses have indicated they wanted more of a particular character and now I will expand those characters and their situations further. I will let you know how it develops.

You've all helped tremendously.

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Mark J
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Mark J Braybrook
26/01/2014

I don't see why a short can't be the basis for a full novel. And vice versa.

A good example of this is Sherlock Holmes, with 4 full novels and 56 short stories it clearly can work.

I say go for it . I have been writing a short story for the February deadline which I think could work really well fleshed out into a series of novels.

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Anthony Scott
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Anthony Scott Glenn
25/01/2014

I think you just have to develop a short story idea further to make it a novel. You have to explore the plot/theme in more depth and add even more to the characters. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to, though.

I have a short story in the works that's threatening to turn itself into a novella :D

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Charlotte Josephs
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