Are writing prompts really useful -- or just pleasant procrastination? My short story "Get Away," freshly published in DarkWinter Literary Magazine, opens with a first-line prompt from my Tarot Prompts for Writers page: "The road lay behind him in the darkness...." I would never have come up with the story without that prompted first line.… Continue reading Writing with Prompts (New short fiction: “Get Away”)
I have mixed feelings announcing my latest short story, "Victim Impact Statement, freshly published in On Spec. I'm super pleased with the story and the excellent home it found, but I'm deeply saddened by the closing of this unique independent magazine. Cover art by Janice Blaine This is the final issue for On Spec, which… Continue reading New Short Fiction: “Victim Impact Statement”
Last weekend I attended the launch of Pot-pourri 2025, a gorgeous collection of the winning works of this year's Ottawa Public Library Awesome Authors contest. The book showcases eighteen contest winners, with poems, comics, and short stories in English and French from authors aged 9-12 and 13-18. There was a great turnout at this year's… Continue reading Pot-pourri 2025 launch: new works by Awesome Authors
I just updated my list of Short Fiction Markets, so it's only fitting to add a post on where you can submit your stories this summer. There's a lot of opportunity out there! The following Canadian litmags are open for submissions in July and August. This first batch is time-sensitive, with just a few days… Continue reading Litmag Love: Summer Markets
I'm pleased to have a new story freshly published in the latest issue of DarkWinter Literary Magazine. DarkWinter Literary Magazine publishes fiction and poetry online, with new works every week. My story, "Everything Goes Wrong," came out on Monday, and it's my second story in their digital pages. (My story, "Social Animals" was featured last… Continue reading New Short Fiction: “Everything Goes Wrong”
Catherine Austen 