Short Story Writers from the LGBTQ Community

Short stories are written compositions with a developed theme, compelling characters, drama, and descriptive language presented in a concise format compared to a larger novel. The average short story is 1,000 to 7,500 words, with some outliers reaching 10,000 or 15,000 words.

Historically, the short story has proved to be a narrative form transgressive in nature, addressing diverse, intersectional characters with diverse and intersectional social issues. Many authors use short stories as an experimentation — that is, using uncommon prose styles or literary devices to tell the story. This fits perfectly within the context of the LGBTQ community itself because it is often viewed as a transgressive community at the margins of society.

LGBTQ short fiction has almost always told the story of the community and the period of time when the story was written. When viewed over time, this reveals the evolution of the LGBTQ community including its rejection and acceptance. Short stories are an important medium to convey and archive the history of the community. Many LGBTQ+ readers can remember the first short story or book that they read that actually represented them - often read in secret, but becoming a turning point in their lives. It is important to note that LGBTQ short stories also represent the diversity of the community.

Many LGBTQ short story writers are household names, such as E.M. Forster, Colm Toibin, W. Somerset Maugham, Katherine Mansfield, or Bret Easton Ellis. Many have also received awards such as the Pulitzer Prize, the Pushcart Prize, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, or a vast array of regional and local literary prizes established for short story writers.

Although most long-form writers also have a history of short story composition, our list presents the many LGBTQ individuals who have gained a highlighted reputation for their short story writing.

Belgium