Saturday, December 31, 2011

Sign up! The 2012 Short Story Challenge

Want to read something outside your comfort zone?
Want to try lots of new authors without reading a mountain of books?
Want to read some of the very best literature ever written?

Yes? I thought so! Then sign up for the...


This year, I've decided to dedicate more time to a wonderful way of telling tales: the short story. To do this, I thought "oh, I should sign up to a challenge" but alas, the only short story challenge I've found counts stories by anthologies (click here to sign-up for that challenge). So, I've decided to run one myself!

What is a short story?
Short stories are works of fiction, often written in prose. They tend to be more pointed, focused, and contained than novels.

Why do short stories matter?
The short story is one of the most exciting and important literary forms, and that it can, and should, reach the widest possible readership.

Where can I find short stories?
Anywhere and everywhere. Anthologies, magazines, newspapers, and even on-line.

Still interested? Then take a look at the must-read details:
  • The 2012 Short Story Challenge runs January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2012.
  • You can sign up at any time.
  • You do NOT need a blog to sign up - just somewhere online to monitor your progress (personal blog, goodreads, facebook, twitter, etc.) But please post something that shows you are participating in the challenge - it doesn't have to be a full post, a link/tweet/sidebar listing is enough!
  • You need to read at least 12 short stories. Ain't that easy? Easy peasy. That's one short story a month. Of course, you can choose to read more than 12. Why would you want to? Well, because short stories are brilliant.
  • There will a giveaways! I'll be giving away two anthologies over the course of the year for challenge participants.
Still interested? Then sign up below!

17 comments:

  1. Just signed up. I love short stories, so I am on board. Awesome challenge, thank you :)

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  2. I have been wanting to read a few short stories so here it the opportunity to do so.
    http://sidnereviewz.blogspot.com

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  3. My goal this year is to read at least 52 short stories, so it's great go find a challenge that pushes me at least part of the way.
    Thanks.

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  4. Hi Kay,
    Thanks for plugging in my Short Story Challenge as well. Much appreciated!

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  5. I love short stories; hopefully I'll find the time to read twelve this year!

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  6. Thanks for hosting this challenge! Part of my reading resolutions is to read more short stories so this challenge will really help. Good luck to everyone!

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  7. Cool idea! I'm trying to get back into writing short stories, so this can also serve as research. :)

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  8. I'm trying to read more short stories as well and I'm hoping this challenge will hold me accountable...as well as giving me a few ideas of what to try. Look forward to joining in!

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  9. ...count me in!

    http://theymaysaythatimadreamer.blogspot.com/

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  10. I've signed up earlier, as no. 7 on the linky list, but have changed blog-adress and blog-name since then.
    Actually, I just finished the challenge today. But, I've decided to read at least 52 short stories this year, so I still have a lot of reading to do this year.

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  11. @Eva - No problem, will change the linky once I've worked out how to do that! Well done you on going for 52 stories!

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  12. ok, sorry, but i've changed my url also. i just re-joined. question: how many pages is considered a short story when reading novels. 150 less. 100 pages less. less than 75. whats a short story for a fiction read. or am i missing the point here. eeekk.
    http://sidnereading.blogspot.com/p/short-story-challenge.html

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    Replies
    1. Hey Sidne!

      OK, so I've changed you link on the linky (thanks for letting me know!) Re: short story length... I'd say that 50 pages would be pushing into the novella area. What makes short stories so extraordinary is the fact that they are, well, short!

      Hope that helped. :)

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  14. Year-end Wrap-Up
    http://www.exurbanis.com/archives/8219

    ReplyDelete

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