The right side of the grass

When a writer chooses a title for their story, they need to consider the theme, the plot, the characters, etc., and just how much of those the title will reveal. And having a “hook” is a good idea as well, so that the potential reader will be intrigued enough to plunge in. For an example, see the title of this blog post. *grin* 

A title is typically only a few words and often needs to be severely shortened from the writer’s first thoughts. It’s a difficult process and many writers agonize over the decision. So when Air and Nothingness Press announced a submission call for their latest anthology, Moving Across The Landscape In Search Of An Idea, that allowed for “an obnoxiously long title”, it was really fun to write something for it that broke the usual rules. Here’s the call:

We are seeking stories for a unique anthology to be titled Moving Across the Landscape in Search of an Idea which will collect stories with verbose titles, concise narratives and copious notes. To be published in mid-summer of 2024 by the Air and Nothingness Press.
All stories to be 1500 words.
Theme:
We are looking for stories with 1500 words divided as follows: long titles (minimum 250 words [though we know this might be difficult so, as long as it is an obnoxiously long title, we’ll be
ok]), concise narratives (minimum 250 words, maximum 800 words) and copious footnotes, endnotes, marginalia, indices and glossaries (minimum 250 words, maximum 800 words).

The result is a just-released 130-page numbered and limited edition perfect-bound anthology with french flaps. It contains many stories from multiple genres, including my story, “What You Need to Know When… ” 

You can purchase Moving Across The Landscape In Search Of An Idea directly from the publisher HERE  and then you’ll be able to find out just what it is you need to know! 

I’m deliquent in posting the release of Divergent Realms. This anthology includes my story, “Trip of a Lifetime”, and showcases the wide spectrum of neurodiversity through the worlds of speculative fiction. These stories express a new side of Autism, OCD, ADHD, and more.

You can buy it at HERE.

Plus I have two upcoming stories featuring neurodiverse characters:

• You can preorder The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters, a diverse, hopeful anthology of empowering neurodiverse sci-fi stories, poetry, and art by and for neurodivergent folks. as an ebook from the sources given at books2read, and in print directly from the publisher at Thinking Ink Press
• And preorders are also open at Air and Nothingness Press for a limited edition hardcover of Moving Across The Landscape In Search Of An Idea, which includes my story with a 250-word title!

On Spec is one of Canada’s top speculative fiction magazines and has been for 35 years, so having a story in the December, 2023 issue (#126) certainly fills in a square in my writerly bingo card.

“The Grammar of Jespersen-b” is about finding a path forward when your world is constantly being turned upsidedown. It’s about real world struggles to adapt to new situations and new realities. I hope that, after you read it, it will resonate for a while in your mind, like the lingering note of a meditation gong.

You can find On Spec at local bookstores or purchase single issues and subscriptions at onspec.ca.

My story, “Maximum Efficiency”, which appeared in the Nov/Dec 2022 issue of Analog magazine was solicited for Infinivox’s The Year’s Top Robot and AI Stories: Fourth Annual Collection. With a surname starting with “S”, I’m unfamiliar with being front and centre in alphabetized lists, but this time it worked out quite well. And, of course, I’m chuffed to be in the company of Michael Swanwick, Ray Naley, Marie Vibbert, Lavie Tidvar, and others.

Here are links to the US print and ebook, and the Canadian print and ebook. Enjoy!