Tin House Magazine, the magazine and book publishers that aim to publish the “compelling and authentic narratives of our time,” are currently accepting submissions on the subject of class in America for their upcoming Fall issue.

Specifically, they’re looking for submissions in the form of fiction, essays, and poetry on the subject that come from a unique perspective. Whether you’ve made the move from lower to upper class or vice versa, consider yourself classless, or are a recent immigrant from a country with a different attitude towards class…Tin House wants to hear from you. Submissions will be accepted until May 1 and should be no longer than ten-thousand words.

Turning 30 is a terrifying thing for a lot of people. As such, year 29 carries quite a bit of weight. So why not do something special to remember your life before the transition into 30dom?

That is exactly what artist Nicole Kenney has done with her personal story project, diary29. That magical number, 29, also happens to be her golden birthday. To honor that year, she started documenting her life on July 29, 2009. Each day Nicole takes a photo of the happenings in her life. Read more »

If you’re new around here, maybe finding us via NPR, welcome to SMITH, a community for storytellers.

We’re best known for the Six-Word Memoir project, which we started a few years ago and has taken off in ways which we could never have imagined. Dubbed “American Haiku,” Six-Word Memoirs have become a global phenomenon, found in classroom and
churches, used for speed dating and as Facebook status updates. (Follow us on Twitter for a six-word memoir each day). We hope you’ll contribute your own six words over at the Six-Word Memoir project. Shameless plug alert: Our new book, It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure, is packed with six-word stories from Malcolm Gladwell, Wally Lamb, Junot Diaz, James Frey, Sarah Silverman, Molly Ringwald, Margaret Cho, Tony Kushner, and hundreds of people simply found SMITH. It’s, um, the perfect little gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, your kid’s teacher, or for the host of an upcoming party.

There are lots of other story projects, writerly playgrounds where you can pen many more than six words. “My Life So Far” is a place your memoir-in-progress, or simply a personal essay. Brushes With Fame are short essays about encounters with famous folks, in strange places and odd circumstances. My Ex is your very subjective take on just that.

We also publish webcomics, from both famous and emerging artists and storytellers. Currently we’re featuring the work if autobio comics pioneer Harvey Pekar. His original webcomic series for SMITH, The Pekar Project, is a trip. The latest installment, “No Reservations,” is a painterly tour-de-force, illustrated by Tara Seibel, about Pekar’s appearance on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” show.

Above all, we want SMITH to be a conversation among readers, writers and editors—more backyard BBQ than velvet rope cocktail party. We believe the storytelling playing field should be a level one. And above all, we believe this: Everyone has a story. What’s yours?

Our partner in the “Six-Words on the Digital Life” challenge, FRONTLINE/Digital Nation, is airing a new doc, Digital Nation, on PBS on February 2, 9pm, created by Rachel Dretzin and friend o’ SMITH, Douglas Rushkoff. Based on years of reporting in the field, as well as submissions to PBS’ Digital Nation project from everyday people, the show looks at how technology has changd, messed with, improved, or upended our lives as wired creatures on planet earth.

Here’s the rub: the show’s premier is the same time as the season premier of Lost. So join us in our grassroots efforts to win over some eyeballs and on Tuesday update your Facebook status and Twitter feed—or just yell: TiVo “Lost”—Watch “Digital Nation” on FRONTLINE, 9pm tonight, and support PBS! Read more »

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I don’t write nearly as many thank you notes as I should. For whatever reason, the practice of taking the time to craft a handwritten letter of appreciation seems to have fallen out of practice for most people.

Maybe we should all take a lesson from blogger Leah Dieterich’s latest project, THXTHXTHX, where she takes a little bit of time every day to write a thank you note for whatever comes to mind. The notes, which are addressed to everything from vague concepts to inanimate objects, are short and a consistently hilarious addition to my daily blog reading routine. In fact, I might flip the script on Leah and send her a note to say thanks for the quality reading material.

Regular readers of the Editor’s Blog might remember our Six-Word Story contest for Significant Objects: the online project that pairs cheap thrift store finds with notable writers who then create a fictional back story to be posted alongside that item in an eBay charity auction.

Well Significant Objects is back with another round of objects and writers with the proceeds this time around going to 826 National, the nonprofit that aims to assist young people with an interest in creative and expository writing. They’re about halfway through the current round of auctions, with lots of great new stories (including Rabbit Candle by the great Neil LaBute) and tons of great writers still to contribute. So why not head over and see what stories and objects are up for grabs? In addition to winning a one of a kind prize, as an added bonus you’ll also be supporting a really great cause and helping the storytellers of tomorrow.

Are you a fiction writer looking for a productive way to kick off the new year? Well you should head over to NYC Midnight, the website that looks to give aspiring writers and filmmakers an outlet for their creativity through challenges and contests, where they are currently looking for competitors for their 4th annual Short Story Challenge.

For both rounds of the competition, writers will be assigned a subject and given 8 days to complete an original short story. January 13th is the final date to sign up and there is a $49 entry fee, but keep in mind that there are large cash prizes being handed out to the winners of the second round with additional prizes soon to be announced.

A lot can happen in the course of a year. And with today being the day we usually spend in a state of (possibly hungover) reflection, thinking of all the little and big moments that made up the previous year, it seems appropriate to introduce a project that aims to capture all these moments for the coming year.

Enter the3six5, a project by Len Kendall and Daniel Honigman that aims to document all 365 days of 2010 with each day being assigned to a different guest blogger. The result should be a completely unique document of this year that covers everything –from the big events that affect us all to personal moments experienced only by the author. It looks like there are still lots of days up for grabs, so if you’d like to get involved just take a moment to read the author guidelines before contacting them with a few options for dates and a little bit about yourself. I’m personally really looking forward to my date (May 15th), and also to reading my way through a year’s worth of unique perspectives as the project develops.

When it comes to decorating your home for the holidays, people tend to go overboard. And while it starts out innocently enough with some lights and a wreath, it usually doesn’t take long for things to escalate into a Clark Griswald-esque situation.

If you or someone you know is in the process of creating a spectacular holiday display for your community, and you happen to be an aspiring filmmaker, you should consider documenting the experience and submitting it to Mega Joy: A Collaborative Film Project on the subject of Christmas light enthusiasts. The winning submissions will be edited into in a feature-length documentary on the subject and their directors will receive a contract for the national distribution of their work. Submission guidelines, suggestions for possible themes, and all other necessary info can be found on the official application form.

Are you a woman who has lead a uniquely interesting life? Did your actions break gender boundaries or defy the conventions of the time or place you lived in? If so, you should head over to the website of frequent NPR contributors, The Kitchen Sisters, and pitch your story for their upcoming radio and online series that explores the lives of “Girls and the women they become.”

Submissions are being accepted via Twitter, email, photo and audio uploads. You can also call their Story Hotline directly at 202-408-9576 and record your story.