Authors Jerry Pinto and Shehan Karunatilaka Shed Light on Indian Short Story Market at the Times Lit Fest 2023

Pinto described youngsters as a "demanding, honest" audience and said that he gives it his all when he writes for them.

on Feb 13, 2023

Authors Jerry Pinto and Shehan Karunatilaka Shed Light on Indian Short Story Market

When asked why short fiction in the children's area hasn't taken off, author Jerry Pinto remarked that Indian parents prefer "soft, pre-digested, danger-free" stories for their kids, and "if there is a concept in it, they don't like it." This was mentioned during a session titled "The Power of a Short Story."

"They demand a retelling of the epics, and I have no objections to that. But if there is a single narrative that you are consistently feeding the youngster, do not anticipate a dynamic, vivid life of the (short story) market, "Pinto said.

His parenting guidance: "Bring a book of tales with a little boy living in a one-bedroom apartment similar to your home. Bring a book with a boy or girl whose name is similar to your child's household. Can't you see that you want your story on the pages when you read?"

Pinto described youngsters as a "demanding, honest" audience and said that he gives it his all when he writes for them. However, he highlighted that becoming an American citizen, submitting tales to The New Yorker, and winning the Pulitzer are the fastest ways to become a successful short story author.

Shehan Karunatilaka, a Booker Prize–winning novelist from Sri Lanka, blamed publishing companies for not increasing the short story space. "The common belief in publishing that "you are not fully the writer" until you have published a book is still true. You can dabble with short pieces, but the book is the only notable work."

He did, however, remark that radio and newspapers in Sri Lanka publish short stories. "It is a genuine form to start when you are starting as a writer."

According to Malayalam short story writer K R Meera, from Kerala, some writers choose not to produce novels because they believe short fiction is the best genre in literature.

She stated: "Another prize for short stories needs to exist. The finest book and short story collection of the year are recognized by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. As a result, a lot of short stories are published in Malayalam each year."