Reading is a part of my daily ritual. Typically, it’s how I calm my mind to get ready for bed. If I find extra time in my day, which is atypical, I will push through to finish an especially tantalizing book, especially if it’s a psychological thriller. If you were to take out a magnifying glass and train it on my reading habits, you might think I was a prime candidate for experimental study… or maybe counseling. I have specific tastes and routines, but there are rules. Well, the term rules might be a bit rigid. Let’s call them strategies.

I use short stories as a strategy when I’m working on my own novel or piece of non-fiction. In my day job as a faculty member, non-fiction or academic writing is an integral and required part of my job. I write a lot about mental health. A lot. When I am working on a novel, I work on it most days until I’ve completed the first draft. During these periods of heavy writing, I don’t read other novels. Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to read them, but I know myself well enough to know that when I’m under pressure, I’ll default to spending all day reading my book and doing nothing on my projects.

This is where short stories come in. After several trials using different approaches, I finally settled on the short story treatment. Rather than reading a 350-page novel, I turn to short stories that can be read in a single or double sitting. I get to read authors I might not otherwise read. I can finish a short story and close the book with a satisfying push of the (Kindle) button. Nothing pulls me away from the other work I have to do. You can bet, though, that when I’m finished writing a particular work, the very first thing I do is download a full-length psychological thriller.

Here are some of my latest short story reads:

Lisa Unger: Fog Descending (House of Crows), Circling the Drain (House of Crows), Let Her Be, The Sleep Tight Motel

Fredrik Backman: The Answer Is No

Caroline Kepnes: The Bad Friend

Chris Bohjalian: Slot Machine Fever Dream

Jess Lourey: Catch Her In A Lie

Ivy Pochoda: Jackrabbit Skin

The brevity of short stories is a perfect cup of tea when I’m writing other works. They are little understated gems that allow me to continue my self-care routine while not overwhelming an already hectic schedule. Their brief form frees me to continue the discipline of cranking out manuscripts while not derailing me or playing a guilt trip. It works wonders for me. Have only a little bit of time? Check out a short story.