I idolize a variety of short story writers - classic, modern, antique. I do not try to emulate them, I do - though, try to reach up to their ankles. Sometimes I succeed. I do not know if this is a measure of quality, but... I like reading my own stories too. Actually I do it while writing them. I never plan a story, I let it flow the way it wants to flow (I am extremely democratic in this and other aspects) and it provides me, while writing, the same feeling as when reading an entirely new story: what will come next? what will be the end? Sounds kind of zany, I agree, yet if this is the way to create beauty, then... I believe and hope that I am not mistaken.