Here are 107 contemporary short fiction writers I feel you should read. I’ve looked around the web, and I didn’t see a large list of short story writer recommendations. I would really like to add to this list. I have picked contemporary short story writers who are “the best” of today or of at least the last 50 years. It’s not comprehensive of course, but if you are looking to read some short fiction writers who are at the top of what they do, here they are:
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Adam Desnoyers
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Alexi Zentner
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Alice Adams
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Alice Monroe
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Alice Sebold
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Andrea Barrett
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Ann Beattie
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Anne Tyler
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Ann Harleman
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Annie Proulx
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Anthony Doerr
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Barbara Kignsolver
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Ben Fountain
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Bradford Morrow
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Brittani Sonnenberg
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Caitlin Macy
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Carolyn Ferrell
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Charles D’ambrosio
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Cynthia Ozick
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Dale Peck
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Dan Chaon
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David Malouf
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Denis Johnson
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Dorothy Parker
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Douglas Light
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Edith Perlman
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Edwards P. Joines
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El Doctorow
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Elizabeth Stuckey French
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Evan S Connell
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Flandry Oconner
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Fred G. Leebron
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Gail Godwin
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Gail Joines
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Gish Jen
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Gordon Lish
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Ha Jin
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Hortense Calisher
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Jane Smiley
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Joan Silber
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John Barth
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John Edgar Wideman
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John Gardner
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John Updike
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Joyce Carol Oats
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June Spence
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Junot Diaz
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Kevin Brockmeier
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Lee K Abbot
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Liza Ward
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Lore Segal
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Lorrie Moore
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Louise Erdrich
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Margaret Atwood
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Marjorie Kemper
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Mark Helprin
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Mary Gaitskill
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Mary Swan
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Michael Chabon
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Michal Parker
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Michel Faber
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Molly Giles
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Nancy Reisman
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Nell Freudenberger
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Olaf Olafsson
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Pam Durban
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Pam Huston
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Paula Fox
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Peter Ho Davis
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Ray Bradbury
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Raymond Carver
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Richard Ford
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Rick Bass
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Rick Moody
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Robert Stone
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Robyn Joy Leff
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Roger Mcdonald
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Ron Rash
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Rose Tremain
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Ruth Prawer
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Salman Rushdie
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Saul Bellow
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Shannon Cain
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Sheila Kohler
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Shirly Jackson
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Stanley Elkin
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Stephen King
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Steven Millhauser
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Sue Miller
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Tc Boyle
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Ted Solotaroff
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Tessa Hadley
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Thom Jones
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Tim Gautreaux
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Tim Johnston
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Tim Obrien
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Timothy Crouse
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Tobias Wolff
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Tony Tulathimutte
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Walter Mosley
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Wendell Berry
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Wendell Mayo
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William H. Gass
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William Kittedge
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William Trevor
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Yiyun Li
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Zz Packer
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There’s an authority/trust problem with a list of when you don’t spell Flannery O’Connor’s name correctly. The Barbara Kingsolver misspelling looks like a mere typo, but how’s someone who doesn’t already know of her supposed to know that? Same might be said for E.L. Doctorow–sure, for whatever reason you’re not capitalizing the second initial for authors who use their initials (curious choice, that), but for someone not familiar with Doctorow they may go off looking for El Doctorow (“The” Doctorow?).
In short (I realize we’re well past that), despite the fact that I generally agree with your list, the moments of sloppiness and inattention to details seriously degrades whatever authority with which you might’ve started.
And really? Junot Diaz wins the 2008 Pulitzer and you take away his only “n”? Come on…
And who’s Pam Huston? Is she new? I’ve not heard of her, nor can I find her, but then I’m only using the internet, so maybe she’s just not listed there.
Pam Houston, on the other hand, is great. I definitely think she deserves a place on this list.
Oh, I think I found at least part of Diaz’s missing “n”… you hid it in Bradbury’s name! You’re a tricky one, you are.
Seriously, all this and you actually get Tony Tulathimutte’s name correct? I mean, that one I’d understand…
William Kittredge. KittRedge. I’ve lost the strength to even attempt humor at this point.
Thomas McGuane???