World Short Story Day

World Short Story Day is a literary observance celebrated annually on 14 February. This day is organized to introduce and promote the short story genre. It has been celebrated since 2005 with the approval of the International PEN Writers Association.

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Short stories convey human emotions and thoughts. Children learn new vocabulary and develop their imagination through reading stories. For this reason, World Short Story Day is a day that supports a reading culture.

The idea of 14 February as World Short Story Day was proposed at a Short Story Forum held in Ankara in 2002. This proposal was adopted at the 69th World Congress of International PEN in 2003. Subsequently, 14 February began to be celebrated as World Short Story Day.

The work of writers played a significant role in the development of this initiative. Events such as Ankara Short Story Days have also been part of this progress. Over time, these efforts acquired an international character.

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The writer who initiated World Short Story Day on 14 February is Özcan Karabulut, a member of the Türkiye PEN Center and the Writers Association.

The short story creates a connection between the narrator and the reader. It facilitates the sharing of emotions and ideas and contributes to the development of language and narrative.

World Short Story Day reminds us of the place of the short story in literature. It brings together writers and works from different cultures. It is recognized as a day that supports reading habits.

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Various short story events are organized as part of World Short Story Day. Writers and readers gather in Türkiye and abroad to participate in story readings and literary meetings.

Schools also hold activities in observance of the day. Students read stories in their classrooms, giving children the opportunity to become more familiar with the short story genre.