Latest from Storyletter XPress Publishing
The indie experiment continues, anthology update, and more!
There is no enjoying the possession of anything valuable unless one has someone to share it with. ~ Seneca
So much has happened, not just in my personal life but here on Substack, from publishing my first short story collection, winning the Lunar Awards, fracturing my ankle, judging a season of the Lunar Awards, volunteering at The Quills conference, getting published in an anthology, to moving to a new house. It’s been a summer to remember! In this newsletter, I explore the purpose of SXP, highlight key objectives, and share exciting things from the community.
What’s this all about?
The Storyletter was created to showcase the work of independent writers. It’s been an interesting 2 years, and I’m still adapting to what works and what doesn’t. I feel like a broken record when I say that iterative development has been the key for me on this platform and in my creative writing journey.
Building a community-focused Substack has brought on its own set of challenges. With my personal Substack, Tales of Havek, I’m comfortable with the trajectory since it’s dedicated to my own fiction, but SXP has perplexed me for months at a time. Some fundamental questions cause me to rethink my objectives on a semi-recurring basis. Questions like:
What am I choosing to publish and why?
Is there a model where I pay writers what they deserve and not lose money?
If everyone has a Substack, does it make sense to publish someone else’s work and not hold the rights for a set amount of time?
How do I not inadvertently recreate traditional publishing methods?
Am I capable of maintaining this project over many years?
Do I know what I’m doing?!
The truth is, I can’t predict what the future holds for SXP. All I can do is strive to make it better than it was yesterday while ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved. Your participation has been the critical component of this wildly fun project. So, thank you for sticking around. And if you’re new here, welcome aboard!
I want this newsletter to be informative, motivating, encouraging, and supportive. I’m proud to say it’s been just that for me, and I hope it is for you, too. To showcase what I mean, here are a few posts from this year that exemplify those ideals:
Latest from Substack
Throughout September, On Substack published articles on what makes it a great place for writers and creatives. If you’re looking for a reason to jump on board and create your own Substack, now is the time.
Latest from the community
Adam Sidwell is launching a game and invites you to download the Beta.
The Library now has over 100 indie books to read!
Fictionistas September meetup is available for those who missed it (like me).
Simon K Jones wrote about the power of the ‘Like’ button.
The Timber Ghost Press Kickstarter “The Big Book of Things That Go Bump in the Night” has launched! ( Middle-Grade Horror)
Shaina Read started a new podcast called The Kindling Horror Show.
S.E. Reid publishes announcements, prompts, and updates consistently over on Talestack News. I highly recommend subscribing to stay in the loop concerning everything fiction-related on Substack.
Adrian P. Conway of Adrian's Fiction launched a new novella, The Pelican Crossing.
Latest from Storyletter XPress Publishing
The submission window for The Storyletter Anthology Volume One remains open for paid subscribers through October 11, 2023. We have accepted 10 original short fiction pieces so far, leaving 20 slots to be filled. The book is expected to be published in late 2024.
Stories featuring the following themes will have a greater chance of being accepted:
Travel (local or abroad)
Transformation/Transcendence
Vacation/Holiday
Escape
Exploration
Unexpected Outcomes
We accept speculative short fiction and poetry. We currently pay .01 cents per word for short fiction up to 6500 words (or $65) and a flat rate of $10 for works under 1000 words, including poetry.
In order to submit, you’ll need to be an XPress member (paying subscriber). After upgrading to a paid subscription, you’ll receive a Welcome email with the necessary information to access the portal. You’ll also receive a complimentary link to download The Weight of the World, my first short story collection. For more information, refer to the guidelines in the anthology post.
Thanks for being a subscriber! Keep an eye out for more posts coming soon. ~ WM
All looks very helpful 👍👍
Hey there, so glad things are going well. Missed you.