So you remember me posting this video on Wednesday? Well, my story "Multiplicity" is featured today at Every Day Fiction. It's a quirky little tale that used to have a title similar to this blog post but which was improved upon greatly based on a suggestion made by the one and only Roxane Gay. Next week I'll talk more about the inspiration, but right now I'll let the story run its course. I always get a kick out of the comments readers leave at EDF, and I'm sure this story is going to get a pummeling. Have a great weekend.
The Cigarette Tree
I didn't get a chance to post this because of the Hint Fiction announcement (which, if you haven't heard, I'm hosting another contest), but yesterday my story "The Cigarette Tree" was published at Staccato Fiction. It's probably one of my quieter stories. Plus, it's based on true events (well, as a boy I did go and stay with my grandmother for a week or two during the summers, and she did, at one time, smoke a lot, so let's just say it's somewhat based on true events).
In other news, the table of contents has been posted for the edition of the Postscripts anthology I somehow managed to sneak my way into. I still can't believe that happened. And I just got an e-mail from the editor letting us (the contributors) know that the signature sheets are starting to make the rounds. Boy, now I really feel like a real writer! I just hope that when they arrive and I start signing them I don't get so nervous that I throw up all over them. Now that would be a major faux pas, no?
Seven Items
My story "Seven Items In Jason Reynolds’ Jacket Pocket, Two Days After His Suicide, As Found By His Eight-Year-Old Brother, Grady" appears in the April issue of PANK. It was a finalist in PANK's very first 1,001 Awesome Words Contest. It's also a very special story for me in that it's the kind of story I've always really liked but could never place. So big thanks to everyone at PANK for giving this little story a home. I hope you all enjoy it, and when you're done, make sure to read the rest of the issue too.
Gimme Your Penultimate Paragraphs
Next week is Hint Fiction's birthday, so it makes some weird sense that my most recent publications are hint pieces (well, one is a hint piece, the other is slightly longer). "Terms and Conditions" (25 words) appears in issue 7 of The Los Angeles Review, alongside work by Benjamin Percy, Rick Bass, and a slew of other great writers. (My deepest thanks to Stefanie Freele for being kind enough to accept the story in the first place.)
"NSFW" (34 words) appears in the premiere issue of Sententia, alongside work by Roxane Gay, Adam Robinson, and a slew of other great writers. (My deepest thanks to Ryan W. Bradley for accepting the story in the first place.)
I'm thrilled to be included in both publications, and to show just how thrilled I am, I'm having another giveaway/contest, this one in honor of Holden McGroin.
You see, because Narrative didn't seem to want to hire Holden as an intern (I can't imagine why not), his Penultimate Paragraph Contest idea has not seen fruition. So I figured I'd help him out and host the very first Penultimate Paragraph Contest!
What do you need to do to enter? In the comments section simply post the penultimate paragraph of one of your short stories. The stories don't have to be published, but if they are published online, please provide a link so we can check out the rest of your story (note that if you do provide a link, my site might think it's spam and hold it for moderation, so if that does happen, don't fret, it will appear shortly).
Deadline is Friday midnight eastern time, with winners announced at some point during the weekend. This giveaway/contest will have two winners: one person whose penultimate paragraph I'll pick as my favorite, and another person selected randomly. (Note that if you're reading this on Facebook and want to enter, please do so at the main website.)
Come on, people, this will be fun. Get crack-a-lackin!
Summer of '84
If March has been a great month, it's because Laura Ellen Scott was the guest editor at Everyday Genius (and if you don't think March has been a great month, blame the Octomom). Every story and poem published there, they were because of her (Laura, not the Octomom). Like today, my story "Summer of '84" appears there. It's a flash told in hints (each section is no more than 25 words). LES and I are happy with the result. We hope you are too.