I would have to say that my favorite opening line is from Kafka's Metamorphosis.
"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."
That is a first
sentence that doesn't f*ck around.
Name one short story that inspired you to write short stories yourself.
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates. Possibly the creepiest thing I've ever read.
Who are your five favorite short story writers?
Sherman Alexie, Dagoberto Gilb, Tim O'Brien, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Etgar Keret
What are five short stories that you would recommend everybody should read?
War Dances, by Sherman Alexie
How to Tell a True War Story , by Tim O'Brien
The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson