Short Stories, pt. II

Told you I'd be back...

And the reason I'm back is because I'm procrastinating on my latest rewrite of this goddamn short story. How do... why... ARGH!

As you can tell, this short story process is kicking my ass. Writing a novel was easier. Even cutting 60k words on the first rewrite of the novel was easier than this. Why? I have no idea. What is it about short stories that is so... enigmatic? Novel? Sure, here are your plot points, here are your characters, here are some sub-plots... go nuts! Short story? Uhh...

Okay, I'm exaggerating a little. Obviously, short stories aren't some great mystery to be unlocked via guided meditation, tantric chanting, and candle-lit altars. Short stories get published all the time. People write tons of short stories.

So what am I missing?

I'll let you know once I figure it out. For now, I just have to keep applying elbow grease. Or typing grease. Some form of grease.