Editors’ Blog

Call for Submissions: All Things Considered’s Three-Minute Fiction Contest

February 23rd, 2010 by Chris Teja

Because the first few rounds resulted in such amazing stories, NPR’s All Things Considered is returning with another round of their Three-Minute Fiction contest.

The premise remains the same: Compose an original story of 600 words or fewer that tells the story of the selected photograph on NPR’s website. Your entries must be received by February 28th before midnight and the winning story will be read on-air. However, this time around the winner will also receive an autographed copy of All Things Considered book critic Alan Cheuse’s book, To Catch the Lightning: A Novel of American Dreaming and one of his short stories that was also inspired by a photograph. (Cheuse, as it happens, also contributed a short, short story to SMITH Mag’s new Six-Word Memoir book: “Reading led to writing, days, years.”) And if that’s not enough motivation for you, maybe you should take a look outside. This is a perfect example of prime writing weather.

Most Specific Call for Submissions Ever: The David Gallagher Project

February 18th, 2010 by Chris Teja

If your name isn’t David Gallagher, then unfortunately this one isn’t for you. If you are still reading this however, and your name is David Gallagher, then you have the opportunity to be involved in giving one woman a very unique, very awesome birthday surprise.

David Gallagher’s wife, Fiona, has a birthday coming up in early April and David would like her to receive not just one birthday card from him, but thousands from as many David Gallaghers as possible. You can send any card of your choosing, as long as you remember to say “Happy Birthday” somewhere in your personal message (additionally, David asks that you mail your card by March 20th to ensure that it arrives in time and that the messages don’t get “too weird”). Read more »

“Writing From Experience”: A Stephen Elliott Class

February 17th, 2010 by Larry Smith

If you’re working on a memoir, or thinking about it—and you know we all are—two hours learning about the craft with writer Stephen Elliott are a very good idea. Elliott is the founder of The online magazine, The Rumpus, and author of seven books including the recently published, The Adderall Diaries—and the embodiment of what it means to be a working writer (read his much-discussed essay about his DIY book tour for The New York Times).

A friend of SMITH and sometimes partner-in-events, Elliott is doing his “Writing From Experience” lecture on March 11 in NYC. Here’s what he says about it: Read more »

Don’t I Know That Voice?

February 15th, 2010 by Patrick Wong

When I describe someone, I typically explain the usuals: he’s short, has brown eyes, a round belly, and has balding and graying black hair. Anyone who knows him would know that I’m describing my dad. I probably wouldn’t say that he has a voice akin to a rough and tumble Santa or that his sneezes sound like a walrus’ cough, but if you’re the creator of Whose Voice is That?, that is exactly what you would say to describe my dad.

Whosevoice.org is a new site centered all around the voice. The unnamed creator of WViT says that his special gift is voice recognition. Think that’s Jamie Lee Curtis in those Boniva commercials? Of course not, it’s Nancy Giles! That’s what WViT is there for, to shed some light on those voiceovers you’re so sure you recognize but can’t quite place. Read more »

Call for Submissions: Tin House Magazine: Class in America

February 4th, 2010 by Chris Teja

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.

Never Trust Anyone Over 30: The diary29 Project

February 4th, 2010 by Patrick Wong

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 »

Welcome to SMITH

February 3rd, 2010 by Larry Smith

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?

“Digital Life” Airs on Feb. 2 (TiVo Lost….Turn on FRONTLINE!)

February 1st, 2010 by Larry Smith

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 »

Sites We Love: THXTHXTHX

January 28th, 2010 by Chris Teja

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.

Significant Objects Volume 2: Proceeds to Benefit 826 National

January 14th, 2010 by Chris Teja

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.

 
SMITH Magazine

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We believe everyone has a story, and everyone
should have a place to tell it.
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