Category — Short Stories

While just getting something published – even in a non-paying market – can be fun and rewarding, neither you nor I are going to turn down some cold, hard cash for our writing.

While something like Writer’s Market is an invaluable resource for breaking into paying markets, it’s also intimidating. There are plenty of smaller, friendlier-feeling, new-writer-welcoming markets out there far too numerous to make it into Writer’s Market. Keeping up with these opportunities requires a personal touch and a passion for helping all writers succeed.

That’s where C. Hope Clark’s FundsforWriters.com comes in. Every two weeks, Hope sends out a newsletter that lists grant opportunities and well-paying markets and contests only. At a ridiculously cheap $12/year, you can’t beat it.

I heard her in an interview a while back and love her spirit and commitment to her work and to writers everywhere. She has a ton of material on her site, so go have a look.

Connie, Maybe easily is one of the best short stories I’ve heard in a long time. It was featured eons ago on Escape Pod, which is currently one of my favorite podcasts for short stories.

Connie, Maybe by Paul Martens is a story about a man from a rural town claiming to have been kidnapped by aliens, though no one in town believes him. The fear of an alien conspiracy rises as people in town start becoming ‘different’. But which is easier to accept as the reason for these changes – aliens, or that even in small towns people can change just because they want to?

Wichita Rutherford reads the story and gives a beyond-brilliant performance. You have to hear it to believe it. I heard he does an occasional podcast of his own. That’s worth looking up!

Even though there are still 11 or so shopping months until next Christmas/Hanukkah, I figured I’d get a jump on it by releasing the print version of my holiday short story That Day in the Manger (PDF, in a new window), which was broadcast on The Writing Show last month. (Direct link to that show)

I wanted to point people solely to Paula’s site for a while since she was gracious enough to have me on the show. Please do spread a little site traffic love and visit The Writing Show’s web site. Every writer should subscribe to her podcast. I was a long-time listener even before I was on the show, so no bias here!

Great news! I recently had my first story published! The audio production of my holiday short story “That Day in the Manger” was released this past Sunday by The Writing Show podcast and is now available online for free!

I actually read and recorded the story myself, which was an entirely new experience for me. I plan to blog more on the experience of writing the story, submitting it to The Writing Show, reading and recording the story myself, being interviewed for the show, and more.

In the interest of getting this out there while the holidays are still going on, here’s a synopsis that will hopefully pique your interest.

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Well, it ain’t your typical Christmas. Then again, nothing with us ever is. We thought we had seen it all after Aunt Eugenia got hurt in that brawl three Christmases ago. Her complete recovery at age 90 was a testament to the unshakable spirit of our family. But even in a family where anything can and will happen, no one will ever forget that day in the manger.

This story has it all! There are pigs in pits and pecan pie; beer in washing machines, barbecue on plates, and bilingual adventures; large pickup trucks and large relatives driving them; big hair and boob jobs; patriotism, parole, and powder muskets; guns galore and the Great Elmo Heist gone wrong; and, of course, muumuus, Mama, and miracles.

“That Day in the Manger” is a hilarious, roller-coaster ride through the holidays in a small, Southern town, as told by a native-son-turned-outsider. He goes back every year with his wife and son to remember his tangled roots and reconnect with how this town full of crazy characters formed him into the person he is today. He searches for what it all means and finds it in the most unexpected of places.

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After the story, Paula and I have a conversation about it. Hopefully you’ll see it as an added bonus and not the ramblings of a newly-published writer!

The host of The Writing Show, Paula B, is an absolute joy to work with. The Writing Show is a must-have for any serious writer. Her free, weekly podcasts cover an incredible array of topics and genres. You’ll always learn something. I feel honored and privileged that she selected my story and invited me on the show.

This podcast is also featured on the links page of my main site along with a few others I recommend.

My story was one of two she selected. While you’re there, don’t forget to listen to Eric Pliner’s “Santa Baby” as well!