Narrative Magazine now takes submissions for what they call 'iStories,' stories of 150 words or less meant for reading on an iPad, iPod, or iTouch. Here's one I'm planning to submit - tell me what you think of it! *************** Can you slow down time? he asked her. She did that thing, that tying-her-hair-into-a-knot-near-the-top-of-her-head thing. … Continue reading Really really short stories
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Recalibrating
Just finished a "short" story I started writing last fall. It's a lot different than my usual writing voice, a bit on the dark side, and one of the longer stories I've written. Here's a short excerpt that seems to resonate with current world events. My editor friend suggests, quite gently, that there is no point … Continue reading Recalibrating
On the Mountaintop
The second of two stories I submitted to the Richard Hugo House winter new works contest is posted here. She lay there on the mountaintop, staring at the stars. Okay, it wasn’t exactly a mountaintop. It was a pretty big hill, though; one covered in scrub and stones, and she had climbed to the top … Continue reading On the Mountaintop
The Archive Project
There's a new excerpt from the novel - click on The Book page to read the whole thing. This is how the excerpt starts; it is the beginning of the novel; or so it seems... Chapter One: The Archive Project The night everything changed for Louise Armstrong Holliday, her mind was filled with one thought: This … Continue reading The Archive Project
Roughing it up
Have I mentioned before that Richard Hugo House is the best place for writers in Seattle, probably in the U.S., and possibly in the world? I took another great writing workshop there, Very Short Tales taught by Angela Fountas, a chance to use some of the conventions of fairy tales to play around with our … Continue reading Roughing it up
Morning in America
This is one of two short stories I submitted to the Richard Hugo House winter new works contest. The other is currently on the Stories page. Morning in America I’m a real American, the kind who was born here. Fought for my country in ‘Nam. Came back to rejection and scorn. Hit the bottle. Hit … Continue reading Morning in America
Grace and faith
It's a new year, and time to get back to working on The Book. I've posted a new excerpt (read it on The Book page), one that seems especially appropriate for the spirit of renewal that takes over (we hope) this time of year. It's about grace. Grace can find us at the oddest times, … Continue reading Grace and faith
A bell in a dream
Here's a piece I wrote at Sierra Nelson's workshop at the December Write-O-Rama at Hugo House, Seattle: Where can you find a bell that will ring in your dreams? - Pablo Neruda See, that’s funny, because it happened to me just the other night. I was dreaming about winter, snow and cold and trying to … Continue reading A bell in a dream
Fables Are Fiction
I'm working on writing a longer fable about vulnerable sheep, greedy wolves, a trickster goat, and a greek chorus of cats. Meanwhile here is a short fable inspired by the last two weeks. And remember, fables are fiction. Once upon a time there was a dog who lived among wolves. He protected his flock of … Continue reading Fables Are Fiction
New excerpt on The Book page
There's a new excerpt from the book up - click here or go to The Book page link in the top right corner to read it. It introduces Gil, who plays an important role in the battle to save or destroy the world. Here's the beginning of it. In his natural form, Gil would remind … Continue reading New excerpt on The Book page
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 