Story a Day

No, it's not another one of my ridiculously harebrained writing projects, like trying to write 20 2,500-word short stories in one month during last year's NaNoWriMo. (For the record, all I got out that effort was two finished stories and two partial stories, plus plenty of relaxation.)

Instead, for some reason I've decided it would be a great idea to read the entire Norton Anthology of Short Fiction (2nd Edition, 1981). I've been lugging the book around to various abodes since taking an undergrad lit course in the mid 80s, but hadn't cracked it open again until last night (June 8, 2005). My quixotic goal is to read one story a day until I've finished the whole anthology. I haven't counted how many stories are in there, but I'd guess it will take me the better part of the rest of 2005. (Update: There are 106 stories, which means I should finish on Sept. 21.) I'll update this post regularly with my progress.

(Note: Personal favorites are marked with an asterisk.)

6/8/05: Woody Allen, "A Giant Step for Mankind"
6/9/05: Sherwood Anderson, "The Egg" *
6/10/05: Sherwood Anderson, "I Want to Know Why"
6/11/05: James Baldwin, "Sonny's Blues" *
6/12/05: Honoré de Balzac, "A Passion in the Desert"
6/13/05: Donald Barthelme, "The Indian Uprising"