So raise your hand if you're tuckered out from all the reading this month. It's okay if you don't want to, because circus music has been coming from inside my walls all night, and that's a more pressing concern for me at the moment.
But if you've been playing along with our awesome Arrest Us! crime contest, then you have likely spent July reading through and reviewing the many great stories that were submitted. Seriously, the showing for this contest was amazing, and if there hasn't already been a contest update as of the time this column gets posted, then expect some news very soon. You guys did a fantastic job all around, and I'm excited to see how everything pans out. Good luck to everyone, and may the cods be clever in your flavor.
Oooh boy, this circus music needs to stop.
In the Forums
Book Club: A Swollen Red Sun by Matthew McBride
Have you checked out the LitReactor book club yet? Every month, we start discussion on a new book, often by authors and publishers that have some affiliation with LitReactor. Starting today, we're beginning discussion on A Swollen Red Sun, by Matthew McBride. If you don't think you'll be able to make it this time around, don't worry. We typically post each discussion thread a month in advance, so you'll have plenty of time to prepare for the next one. Check it out! The book club is a great place to get to know our members, and since we have so many new people here from the contest, this is a great chance to get involved in the community.
[amazon 1480485756 inline]
Authors that Never Let You Down
We all have our favorite authors, but even the biggest names have written something a little outside of our wheelhouse. Many fans of Stephen King's horror novels are a bit turned off by The Dark Tower series, and even a typecast author like J.K. Rowling couldn't be content to stay in the children's section where she belongs. But what about the authors who, while perhaps not among your favorites, have never failed to entertain you? In this thread, we're discussing the solid performers in the writing world who may not have received the recognition they deserve.
Antiheroes
What is it about the antihero that is so attractive in today's stories? We see them everywhere, and while not a completely modern phenomenon, the loveable bad guy and hated good guy are becoming more and more prominent. LitReactor has covered antiheroes in columns and even hosted classes on the subject, but you can also add your thoughts here. What is the definition of an antihero? Who are some notable examples? Assert, challenge, discuss.
Advice for a Writer Just Starting Out
LitReactor is a great place for getting answers to specific questions, but every now and then, it's pretty cool to just ping the community for general advice and see what comes out. When a newcomer asked what everyone thought would be some good advice for a brand new writer, the community created a column-worthy thread all on its own, and it's worth a read. It was started in January, but was resurrected this month, and it definitely warrants some discussion. Check it out.
Community Spotlight
Every month, I will compile a list of those who sent me their accomplishments through the form submission page and post the results. If you want in, then do something amazing and tell me about it. You get the free publicity, and I get to brag about how awesome our community members are. The order of the list is decided by which submissions I get first, so get on it!
Burnt Tongues, edited by Chuck Palahniuk, Richard Thomas, and Dennis Widmyer
Burnt Tongues has been on the LitReactor news radar for a while now, considering that editors Chuck Palahniuk, Richard Thomas, and Dennis Widmyer are all high-profile contributors to LitReactor. Dennis is one of the co-founders, while Chuck and Richard have both provided numerous craft essays that have served as some of the heavier anchors for LitReactor's status as a premier writing site. So when they combined their talents to produce Burnt Tongues, an anthology of transgressive fiction where nothing is off-limits, you knew it would be impressive. It's out on August 12th, and yes, you can absolutely order it now from Amazon using the link below.
See any names you recognize?
Live This Down by Neil Krolicki
Charlie by Chris Lewis Carter
Paper by Gayle Towell
Mating Calls by Tony Liebhard
Melody by Michael De Vito, Jr.
F For Fake by Tyler Jones
Mind and Soldier by Phil Jourdan
Ingredients by Richard Lemmer
The Line Forms on the Right by Amanda Gowin
A Vodka Kind of Girl by Matt Egan
Gasoline by Fred Venturini
Dietary by Brandon Tietz
Invisible Graffiti by Adam Skorupskas
Bike by Bryan Howie
Heavier Petting by Brien Piechos
Engines, O-Rings, and Astronauts by Jason M. Fylan
Lemming by Terence James Eeles
The Routine by Keith Buie
Survived by Gus Moreno
Zombie Whorehouse by Daniel W. Broallt
[amazon 1605427349 inline]
A Look Toward August
Now that the participation portion of Arrest Us! is over, we're cooking up ideas to keep the momentum going. Feel free to drop any ideas in the comments or in the Community Feedback thread. Of course, if you're still feeling competitive and want to beat up on some fellow writers, Beyond Thunderdome is always looking for new blood. Otherwise, this should be a pretty exciting month for many of our community members who are looking forward to the results of the Arrest Us! contest. Stay tuned for further updates, and I'll see you next month.
About the author
Nathan Scalia earned a BA degree in psychology and considered medical school long enough to realize that he missed reading real books. He then went on to earn a Master's in Library Science and is currently working in a school library. He has written several new articles and columns for LitReactor, served for a time as the site's Community Manager, and can be found in the Writer's Workshop with some frequency.
