How Short Should a Short Story Be?

Counting Words When Writing a Collection of Short Stories

I see a good deal of discussion on the internet – some of it insistent, some of it less so – about the “proper length” for a short story and a collection of short stories. I assume that most of those who advocate for one number or another have commercial viability in mind. What attracts a publisher? What sells? The opinions are often couched in terms of what “readers” are looking for without disclosing any objective criteria that led thos...