Once again (well, again if we go back to 2007, I think there was some beyond major slacking in 2008) I'm hoping to treat May as Short Story Month, as in National Short Story Month, or even International Short Story Month, and hope others will join in the enjoyment of the shorter form of fiction with me.
My goal each day will be to find three stories to read and blog about - one from a collection that maybe I've held onto a little too long, should have finished and reviewed by now, etc; one from a print journal; and one from an online journal.
By month's end, if all goals are met, just under 100 short stories will have been read and commented upon. I hope to meet these goals, if only because it means I'll have scared up the time to read nearly 100 short stories!
I've started a bit early and found a great story from the online journal, Juked, published earlier this month by Stephen Graham Jones, titled How Billy Hanson Destroyed the Planet Earth, and Everyone On It. I think one of the best features of Jones' story is how he stretches out the cause of the destroying of planet Earth for quite some time, and then with between 10 and 15% of the story remaining, it becomes pretty clear what might have happened, and then completely clear, and somehow the story still maintains its tension right on up until the end. Even though we, the reader, understand what has happened to cause what will happen, and know what will happen, it's still necessary to read until it happens. It's an impressive feat on Jones' part. Go on, click that link above and go enjoy.
where's the 'like' button here?
Posted by: Scott Garson | April 28, 2009 at 11:30 PM
I won't be able to take it to 2007 levels, but I'm in.
Posted by: Cliff Garstang | April 29, 2009 at 07:04 AM
I'm in. And May is the perfect month for it. We need a logo, and a flier people can upload and print. A contest for both???
Posted by: Kevin Watson | April 29, 2009 at 10:14 AM
I have an online story I'd love to have your take on:
http://sporkpress.com/weeklies/prose/archives/00000036.htm
Posted by: Shya | April 29, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Thanks, Shya. I actually have this one bookmarked already as one to peek at!
Posted by: Dan Wickett | April 29, 2009 at 03:10 PM
stephen graham jones is a prolific genius, and i'm so glad to see you post up that link, and juked is fantastic as well, love them, been trying to break in for awhile now
um...on that note, if you're absolutely starving for something in the 1000 words range, i have a little appetizer for you that won the chizine publications "enter the world of filaria contest" and i'm not too shy to pimp it, sadly, and yes, i'd like to think i'm emerging, like a cotton-headed butterfly from a downy cocoon - scared and disoriented, but pretty to look at nonetheless
http://chizine.com/maker_of_flight.htm
:-)
keep up the great work, and i can't wait to read more great writing, and discover a lot of new voices as well
peace,
richard
Posted by: Richard Thomas | April 29, 2009 at 10:52 PM
I have an odd little story that Andre Codrescu accepted for Exquisite Corpse's last issue:
http://www.corpse.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=234&Itemid=1
Posted by: Daniel Olivas | May 01, 2009 at 01:03 AM
Whoa, that's quite an impressive commitment! If you're interested in reviewing short erotic fiction, I try to post new stories every Friday on my website, http://blackheartmagazine.com. It looks like you've got a good list of literary journals and litblogs to choose from, though, so I will try to join you in your challenge on my blog (http://buttontapper.com). Good luck!
Posted by: Laura Roberts | May 01, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I'm doing my little bit for this: I'm doing a daily reading of three short stories in my blog. So far, it's been exhausting, but I'm so glad there's a SSM -- albeit unofficial. :)
Posted by: Sasha | May 05, 2009 at 08:06 PM
International Short Story Month! Perfect for this writer.
Come see LongShortStories ...
Where The Short Story Lives!
Wayne C. Long
Writer/Editor/Internet Publisher
www.LongShortStories.com
Posted by: Wayne C. Long | May 06, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Audio Stories;Read or Listen Thank you...
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www.storybus.net
Posted by: Raskolnikov | May 08, 2009 at 06:24 AM
Hi guys. We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe.
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Thanks for the help ;-), Claudia.
Posted by: Claudia | September 05, 2009 at 06:24 AM