Are you a fan of short stories?
For those of you that are, I wanted to let you know about the short story work of Emma Newman, who writes at Post Apocalyptic Publishing.
She runs a Short Story Club – basically you get a free, original short story sent to your inbox once a month. (Short stories can make a nice break from the other gunk you get by email, don’t you think? And are easily readable on a machine, on a coffee break.) The short stories are of the dark and sinister variety.
One of the twists (beyond those in the stories) is that the prompts – including opening lines – come from members of the club (and blog readers).
Much to my delight and astonishment, my suggested opening line ‘There was still a drop of blood on his shoe’ featured in Emma’s most recent #flashfriday work: Her Fall. (Seeing words and interwoven like this is, for me, one of the wonders of the web.)
You can read more about how the prompts work, and how to sign up for the short stories, at the sign up page here.
(Disclaimer: Em is trying to boost the numbers of the club to 300 by August, and has asked for help spreading the word, which I am glad to do. In return I get a short story. Seems like a fair deal 
)
Even if you’re not a fan of short stories, I’d encourage you to visit Em’s blog for an insight into the world of a writer working with and through the web to develop her material.
One of her (myriad of) projects is the split worlds series. The pieces started off as flash fiction but are now appearing week by week, gripping her readers (this is a world that definitely works its way inside your head) and also exploring the Split Worlds, the setting for what will be her second trilogy. You can read more about the Split Worlds and dip into the back stories here: Tales from the Split Worlds.
When she’s not sharing fiction, Emma is sharing a lot about the process of getting published, of finding time to write given real world imperatives, of getting support through blogging and Twitter networks, in effect, of being a fiction writer in the modern world.
That’s the end of my plug as no doubt she’ll be blushing furiously by now.
I hope you find her work as intriguing as I do.
PS You can also find her on twitter @emapocalyptic
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Todd Rutherford, Joanna Paterson. Joanna Paterson said: Short Stories with a Twist: Are you a fan of short stories? For those of you that are, I wanted to let you… http://bit.ly/d3y2JB [...]
Sweet! I love reading about creative approaches to turning this craft into a small business opportunity. Robin Sloan has done something similar, selling some stories via amazon kindle and other sites. After so many years of being the red-headed stepchild of the writing world, could short stories be seeing a re-birth?
.-= ami´s last blog ..What the Heck Do I Do With My Word? 5 Easy Steps to Boost Your Word’s Magic =-.
Not only am I blushing most furiously, I’m all teary-eyed too! What a strange experience to read all about what I get up to in my little nook of the web…
And glad to hear that the Split Worlds series is working its way into your head. It has at least fifty percent of mine now. Thanks for such an amazing introduction, I am honoured. xx
.-= Emma Newman´s last blog ..Friday Flash Fiction: Her Fall =-.
As a member of Em’s short story club I can say it is a wonderful addition to your inbox. She is a phenomenally talented writer who just grips you with her word. I’m so glad Joanna that you have shared her talents here, and delighted at the collaboration of two great storytellers. Shall I point out that your one line contribution continues to validate you as a bona fide storyteller (on your terms of course).
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..Will Your Story Be Written? =-.
So, it was YOU who inspired that gruesome little twister? Emma’s improv is wildly creative. I have enjoyed every single story. Talk about confident writing, Emma is one heckuva confident writer! And she looks so innocent…
I do so love a short story especially with lunch or a magazine article…short and to the point and wrangles up the thinking and ideas. Revs the engines!
Thank you for the intro to this site. and for the suggestions
ami I’m sure you’ll enjoy these. I think short stories certainly suit readers on the web. Whether that will help anyone make any money from them is another question though…
Emma it was my pleasure, totally.
Karen thanks for chipping in with the extra thumbs up
And thank you so much for that little line about my own storytelling, you are my storytelling writing coach!
Diana her work is amazing isn’t it? Not to mention her site leads to interesting connections like you writing to me here, and a love nest mosaic sitting above me on my mantelpiece as I type these words.
Patricia I think you’ll enjoy them and like you say, short stories with a twist or in this case even twisted short stories can rev up the brains. Plus Emma is a seriously nice person, and worth getting to know.
Joanna, thank you for mentioning Love Nest because it really matters to me that you like my work. It’s so nice to think of it now at your home.
.-= Diana´s last blog ..Partly cloudy with a chance of pain =-.