The Art of Brevity

Crafting the Very Short Story

By: Grant Faulkner, Megan Giddings - foreword

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

With increased compression, every word, every sentence matters more. A writer must learn how to form narratives around caesuras and crevices instead of strings of connections, to move a story through the symbolic weight of images, to master the power of suggestion.

With elegant prose, deep readings of other writers, and scaffolded writing exercises, The Art of Brevity takes the listener on a lyrical exploration of compact storytelling, guiding listeners to heighten their awareness of not only what appears on the page but also what doesn't.

©2023 Grant Faulkner (P)2023 Tantor

Review: The Art of Brevity by Grant Faulkner – 4/5

Review: The Art of Brevity by Grant Faulkner – 4/5 Stars

I expected an exhaustive, technique-heavy guide to sharpen my short story prose. The later aphorisms—witty, concise wisdom—shone, but the book mostly preaches brevity’s virtues over actionable cuts (e.g., ditching “up” or “-ly” adverbs with before-and-after examples). It’s ideal for long-form writers needing permission to go short, but I craved a soup-to-nuts mechanics guide. The title promises mastery, yet the text leans philosophical, creating a gap between hype and delivery. Still, a solid 4/5 for inspiration and flash/aphorism fans—Faulkner’s passion carries it. A sequel with practical tools would be gold. Worth it for mindset exploration, not technique.

Deeply Inspiring

I had hoped this book would be an instructive text on how to write contemporary flash fiction, and for just a moment I was disappointed. But it drew me in. For some reason, I kept listening. Hitting the button. Now I'm bursting to write flash. I don't need to know how. Please don't tell me. I don't care. I am free.

Not what I was expecting

Too much focused on the erotic - I wish the author had written with more genres in mind.