Jared Lemus: Short Stories Are the Best Bang for Your Buck

Jared Lemus is a writer of short fiction whose stories have appeared in or are forthcoming in The Atlantic, Story, The Kenyon Review, among other places. A Latinx writer, Lemus has been a Tin House Scholar and Colgate Writers’ Conference fellow. He holds an MFA from the University of Pittsburgh and is Visiting Writer at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Follow him on Instagram.

In this interview, Jared discusses wanting to tell the stories of everyday Guatemalan people in his debut short story collection, Guatemalan Rhapsody, his advice for writers, and more.

Name: Jared Lemus
Literary agent: Eric Simonoff, WME
Book title: Guatemalan Rhapsody
Publisher: Ecco
Release date: March 4, 2025
Genre/category: Literary Fiction/Short Stories
Elevator pitch: Guatemalan Rhapsody is a kaleidoscopic portrait and song about Guatemalan characters all attempting to do their best but falling short. From a healer at the Temple of San Simon, the patron saint of alcohol and cigarettes, to hotel owners attempting to bring in new clientele, to a group of siblings committing literal highway robbery to make ends meet, each of these characters is struggling and hoping to better their circumstances or the circumstances of those around them by whatever means necessary, good or bad.

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What prompted you to write this book?

Guatemala has had a rough history: colonization and occupation by the Spanish from 1524 to 1821 (almost 300 years!) when Guatemala regained its independence, the extortion by the United Fruit Company (including a coup d’état backed by the U.S. Government), and the 36-year civil war, once again backed by the U.S. government; I thought it was time to tell the stories of everyday Guatemalan people living their lives in the now that was shaped by this history.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

The inception of these stories began in 2017, with the major part of the writing occurring between 2019 and 2022. The idea never changed for me; it was always my attempt at bringing to light and life the struggles of these characters. These are the fictionalized stories of my uncles, cousins, brothers, parents, friends, and strangers I knew or saw while I was growing up. These are the stories of the people who tried to rob me during my most recent visit to Guatemala, the drug dealer I met during a gas station pit stop, and stories from my life, all reimagined into fiction. But the seeds—the people—those are real.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

During my entire MA and MFA program, I was told that there isn’t a market for short stories. I have found that this isn’t the case. Yes, stories may not sell as well as novels but, in my opinion, short stories are the best bang for your buck; here are 8-15 compressed novels in one collection. The thing I hear most is that people don’t “get” short stories or that there isn’t enough time to develop a plot or characters. I have been told that Guatemalan Rhapsody succeeds in refuting these misconceptions.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

There was a surprise in the writing process of every page of this book. I’m what’s called a “pantser,” which means I do not outline or plan anything in advance of sitting down in the chair and beginning the story. I start with the first sentence, then I rework that sentence until I think it sings. Then I move on to the next and rework those two until they work together, and so on. Suddenly, the rhythm requires that I use this word or sentence, and it changes the direction of the story. By changing a “yes” into a “no” or a “getting into the car” to a “decides to walk,” the next move in the story has been altered, the plot has been redirected, and the motivation of a character shifts.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I think one of the main things I want is for readers to see the tenderness and vulnerability underneath the tough exterior of each of my characters. These characters are in difficult, threatening, or life-altering situations, and they must act or react in ways that don’t align with who they really are. The characters are products of their upbringings and surroundings, and those aren’t always the best locations or circumstances. I also hope that readers will see that a story can hold as much lore, history, weight, depth, and impact as a 300-page novel.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Read poetry and study craft. Before sitting down to write any piece of prose, engage with the language by reading your favorite poets or poets you’ve never heard of. We all have stories, and sometimes those are similar to the stories of others; the thing that will make yours stand out is the way in which it’s written. If the sentences sound like music and the movement of the story is natural, you’ve got this reader’s money.