I began writing novels in the Brenebourne series - The Trouble With Mother and The Cherry Tree. I also have a couple of drafts to follow these up but much as I love writing novels, I wanted to be able to get more work "out there" more often, which meant having to have a go at short stories. I was also aware that short stories could act as an advert for my longer works. To begin with I found short stories almost impossible to write. I kept wanting to write on beyond the length of most short stories. But I kept practicing and reading and following all the advice given for short story writers and I started finding I could produce work to around the 2,000 words mark.
I enjoyed sending work out more often, knowing I was putting my hat in the ring for competitions and so on, and the more short stories I produced, the more I wanted to produce. I quickly discovered the joys of re-writing short stories that had been rejected and finding I could improve my original ideas. I've been able to place a few stories that way. It's certainly been a lesson in not giving up!
Most of my short stories are in the fairytales with bite category but, for competitions, I've had fun having a go at crime/suspense short pieces. Within the last year or so, I've started having a go at flash fiction and have had one or two pieces on Shortbread Short Stories, which attracted good feedback.
I think I'm more rounded as a writer now I write short and long pieces. Certainly I never run out of things to do!