How to study "The best short stories" : $b An analysis of Edward J. O'Brien's annual volumes of the best short stories of the year prepared for the use of writers and other students of the short-story

This compact guide invites aspiring writers to look beyond the surface of celebrated short fiction, using Edward J. O'Brien’s yearly “Best Short Stories” as a training ground. By breaking each selection into its building blocks—plot, character, voice, and structure—the author shows how a careful reading can reveal the mechanics of a successful story.

Drawing on interviews and anecdotes from a range of early‑20th‑century authors, the text offers concrete examples of how ideas are generated, revised, and polished. Readers are led through step‑by‑step analyses, followed by short exercises that encourage them to apply the same techniques to their own work. The tone remains conversational, making the often‑esoteric craft of short‑story construction feel accessible.

Whether you are a student in a workshop or a solitary writer seeking a sharper literary palate, the book provides a systematic way to train your critical ear and to translate observation into craft. By the end of the first part, listeners will have a toolbox of questions and strategies to carry into any story they read or write.