For the last several months, I've posted a Fiction Friday guide with an eye toward increasing the readership of some very writers here on OS. Nick Carraway and Femme Forte took over the reigns on a couple of occasions when I was otherwise engaged and both did a superb job in their own right. My thanks, once more, to both of them.
This week, I've decided to do something a little different. Instead of supplying links to individual stories, I'm giving you a list of the geniuses behind the stories you've been reading week after week. I encourage you to check out each of these remarkable writers, as they are all immensely talented. Open Salon is home to some of the finest talent anywhere. When I first began posting the Fiction Friday columns, it was a hit or miss proposal to find and read items of fiction on OS. With recent changes implemented in the search function, it is now possible (and even, dare I say, easy) to plug in the newly-added "fiction" criteria and come up with a workable list of the most recent fiction posts - assuming, of course, that the writer has tagged his or her post as fiction. (Thank you, Judy Berman)
With these improvements in place, I have decided to bow out and leave the searching to each of you. Yes, this is my swan song. But, I'm leaving you with a list of links to all (okay, well, most - I'm not perfect and I may miss some) of your current and future favorite fiction writers. With any luck, I may even get around to posting that link at the side of my blog with a list of all past Fiction Friday p0sts and the swan song list of writers.
Happy reading, happy posting and happy searching! Here's the list, in no particular order:
I hope all these links work because I'm not up to checking them at the moment. My eyes are literally crossed. I may never see straight again. See? That's how truly selfless I am. I gave up my eyesight for you people. Hard to believe, isn't it?
So, go. Read. You can thank me later.
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just phyllis for now
Robin Robinson
cheshyre grin
gremadcha
divorcedpauline
Darla Carmichael
Salon.com
Comments
Thanks for being the nexus of fiction.
http://open.salon.com/blog/micalpeace
Thanks for this great service. I will try some day but I'm scared!!
Saving this.
Rated.
Take a BREAK!!!!!
Nick
having subbed only that one time, i can attest to how much work this is, and you've been doing it all, kiddo. and if you hadn't decided on your own to do it, about half the people on the above list would not have made my list to watch and i'd be much the sadder for it. and i know i'm not alone. it matters that you did this for us, friend.
so i'm offering my great thanks. and a kleenex. and my reading glasses. ;
trilogy - Of course! How could I have forgotten Mical? Thank you a million times over for reminding me. List amended. And as for you, my friend - just jump in the pool. The water's great!
ClarkK - I'm down to only seeing quadruple now, so maybe I will eventually recover. :-)
Spudman - Thank you, thank you. I really believe there's at least more awareness of the quality fiction here on OS now. The fact that the editors added 'fiction' and 'poetry' to the search criteria speaks volumes, if you ask me. And it's impossible to deny the validity and relevance of fiction when you see that great long list of hugely talented writers. Even a small sampling of the pieces by any single one of the writers on the list should be proof positive that fiction has an important place here. I'm not finished promoting fiction in this venue, not by a long shot. Just changing direction, a bit.
Thank you for your comment regarding my last post. I value your opinion.
T.S. - bartering Toyotas - way to think outside of the box!
(by way of explanation - T.S. is responding to a comment in my previous post - which you should all read, BTW, if only for the comments, which are priceless!)
readwillett - why, my dear, I'm adding you as we speak. Where have you been and how have I missed you? :-)
Nick - I believe I will do just that, my friend. Thanks!
Owl - a finer compilation of fiction writers you won't find anywhere
:-)
femme - what a wonderful thing to say! Thank you very much. I benefited greatly from this little venture, too. My favorites list grew by leaps and bounds (and is still growing.) As I said to Spudman earlier, I'm not finished promoting fiction on OS. Just taking a different direction...
That said, could you send those reading glasses along straightaway? :-D
Well, thanks for giving us your eyes...I normally favor being spoonfed but I'll try to grow up now and find my own stuff.
Rated.
DensieW - surely
readwillett - you're welcome. :-)
LL2 - And I'm so glad you did, because you are very good at it.
Ablonde - absolutely right! Done.
Gail - you crack me up!
Pilgrim - thank you kindly for your kind words. I'm happy that you don't mind that I won't be minding the store now. I'll leave the rest to you while I rest restfully.
Bonnie - very clever you are!
Scylla - thank you. It was my pleasure. Now you'll have a list of all the great authors in one place and can refer to it anytime you'd like. ...well, as soon as I get the link up, you can. Soon, very soon. :-)
R
Thank you for supporting writers.
Placebostudman - never doubt for a minute that your name belongs right in there with the rest of them. don't sell yourself short!
Daniel E Walsh - You know, it was my good friend, Torman, who was the inspiration for Fiction Fridays. He came up with the idea originally and lamented to me one day that no one was really joining in. Being the take-charge, oldest-child, type-A personality that I am, I thought, "well, let's just see what we can do to fix that." And so the Fiction Friday posts were born. I would say it's been a rousing success. Now, we keep it going... :-D
Patricia - thank you so much!
Ronnie - I'm a firm believer in fighting for what you believe in. The reason I fell in love with OS right from the start was the caliber of writers on this site. I think fiction has a good foot in the door on OS and it's up to all of us to kick that door wide open. Thank you for your very kind comments - I truly appreciate it!
Will - I would be honored to read "The Senator's Gay Speech." Please PM me when it's ready. Thank you!
v. seijo - my pleasure
Studman - Personally, I think it all boils down to relationships. People on OS are really good about reciprocation. When I post something that doesn't seem to be getting the reads I think it should, I start commenting like crazy on everyone else's post. That Law of Reciprocity kicks right in. And I hear you about having to hold back on posting something new to give ample time for the first piece to get wider recognition - I have a hard time with that one, too. It's all a balancing act, isn't it?
Also, studman, I'm not above shameless self-promotion. ;-)
donna - you're very welcome!
I always include "fiction" in my tags when I write fiction. I sometimes wonder if people realize that is some of what tagging is for, and that it is a very nice assistant to the search engine.
Of course, having a "fiction corner" on the cover would be nice too. ;-D
Many thanks to all the other fiction writers here. If I haven't been by to read your work, rest assured that (thanks to Kim here) I will be by eventually.
http://open.salon.com/blog/sandra_no_longer_miller
Never mind. :-D
Since I haven't been here more than a few weeks, I know few of you. However, we're opening submissions again in May. Our preferences for publication are non-fiction, sci-fi, true-life adventure. No short story collections...they just don't sell anymore.
To unbreakable: lot of work gathering all those names and links. Kudos to you.
Have you found more links now that people have to do their own search on your blog instead of when you were choosing the stories?