Read a Short Story a Day with John M. Floyd’s Collections
by Paula Gail Benson
Barb Goffman, an excellent short story author and editor, has suggested that the best way to learn the craft is to read a short story a day for a year. Barb’s collection from 2013, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even, is an excellent place to start. May I also recommend John M. Floyd’s work?
If you haven’t encountered John from his stories, excellent posts in SleuthSayers, or his programs (in October he gave a class on Plotting the Short Story for the virtual Mystery in the Midlands: Writing Short Mystery Fiction 2025), then definitely you need to check out one of his collections. John, a former Air Force captain and IBM systems engineer, has written over one thousand stories, been nominated for an Edgar Award, received a Shamus Award and six Derringer Awards, and has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Crippen and Landru has recently released River Road and Other Stories, John’s ninth collection, which includes his work found in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, The Strand, and the Saturday Evening Post.
Fifty Mysteries: the Angela Files compiles the Solve-It-Yourself stories about Angela Potts written for Woman’s World magazine. Although each is less than one thousand words the mysteries are well developed and thought provoking.
Dreamland contains Floyd’s Law and Daughter series along with some of his work in genres other than mystery.
Rainbow’s End and Other Stories offers thirty stories that features Floyd’s skill with the plot twist. Readers will enjoy his dialogue, diverse settings, and invention.
For quantity and quality, John’s work is inspiring. For anyone wanting to learn the craft and anyone wanting to enjoy great storytelling, these collections would be fabulous gifts.
I have read excellent stories by John and Barb both. Short fiction is gaining a lot of attention these days, and lots of mystery writers are choosing to write short. Thanks for sharing this info, Paula.
Short fiction has captured my attention, too, especially lately. I used to write short stories for myself. One of these days, when I tire of writing long, I’ll try my hand at short again. Thanks for another suggested reading list.
I admire short story authors. Writing a short story for me is not easy because multiple characters appear, then scenes, and before I know it, I’m 20,000 words into the story.
John is a master (as is Barb).
John and Barb are beyond talented in the short story arena. Writing short fiction, for me, is often as difficult as writing a novel — sometimes it feels even harder. No dipsy doodling to get to the end, every word counts. Thanks for sharing here. I’ll share at all the usual suspects.
Thank you, Saralyn, Gay, Kathleen, Debra, and Judy. You are right. Time spent reading John or Barb’s stories is always enjoyable and well spent.