Short Vs. Long (Stories)

Got some pretty good advice recently. The last couple years I've been engaged in only one fiction project, that whole Norse mythos adaptation. I reached a milestone, yet realized I'm still a couple more years away from completion (unless everything else in my life falls to the wayside). And the truth is, I miss writing little short stories. Having to focus all my story-telling and literary energy on one particular tale is often constraining. And I am never productive when I feel bound or constrained or claustrophobic. That's why I can only write in public and open areas.

So, I asked someone with experience what I should do: keep working until I knock this thing out, take a break to work on other projects (and risk coming back to it unmotivated), or what?

Well, I was told that short stories allow writers to practice. It's like a scrimmage during soccer practice. Not quite a real game, but it allows you to see where you're strengths are, where your weaknesses are, and find ways to accommodate and experiment but not be on a grand stage, not be in a place where it can all come crashing down in a horrific and tragic manner.

I took this advice to heart. One part of me thought the worst (I become bored of this novel and can never get back to it). Another part thought, Gee, it sure was fun to write short stories all the time when I was in college. Yet another part of me thought the soccer analogy was rather poorly developed and wants to re-write that paragraph. And another part of me tapped along to some must playing in the coffee shop (my foot!).

Anyways, here's the plan! I will allow myself to write a short story here and there between writing for this novel, in order to 1) have some fun, 2) keep practicing and developing my craft, and 3) develop specific elements that relate to the novel and leave me motivated to go back to the novel!

We'll see if it works.