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”)
The Ottawa Public Library's Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest is open for entries! Young writers of the nation's capital, we want to read your stories, poems, and comics. Send them in before midnight on February 28th for a chance to win prizes and publication. The Awesome Authors contest is open to Ottawa youth writing in… Continue reading Awesome Authors 2026 is on!
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”
I'm pleased to have a new story freshly published in this season's filling Station. Cover Art by Var(mit) Mayors Since 1993, filling Station has been publishing innovative and experimental prose, poetry, literary journalism, and visual art. It's a gorgeous print magazine published three times a year out of Calgary, Alberta. This is my first piece in… Continue reading New Short Fiction: “Lighting fires in memoir class”
December Update: Time's up on this year's Quist submissions, but there's a new contest for Montreal-area college students writing in English: check out Blue Met's "My Planet, My Love 2026" contest page for details. Deadline January 4th. Good luck! Back the original post... There are a few days left for young writers in Quebec to… Continue reading Young Writers in Quebec
Catherine Austen 