The_blog_of_the_fictionaut3

Tara L. Masih is editor of The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction (a ForeWord Book of the Year), The Chalk Circle: Intercultural Prizewinning Essays, and author of Where the Dog Star Never Glows: Stories (a National Best Books Award finalist). She has published fiction, poetry, and essays in numerous anthologies and literary magazines (including Confrontation, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Natural Bridge, The Pedestal, Night Train, and The Caribbean Writer) and several limited edition illustrated chapbooks featuring her flash fiction have been published by The Feral Press. Awards for her work include first place in The Ledge Magazine’s fiction contest and Pushcart Prize, Best New American Voices, and Best of the Web nominations.

Thanks for the opportunity to read everyone’s work. I avoided nominating people I know (sorry, trying to be fair here), and favored writers whose work impressed me more than once. Some entries disappeared, so I had to nominate a few writers who wrote one or more pieces that caught my eye, based on the writing that remained posted.

Sheldon Lee Compton, “Perishable”

Loved the blending of taste and smells, the images of bugs trapped in ice, and the eventual, subtle, sad journey the writer takes us on.

Jane Flett, “Please, tell me the smell of the moon” 

Wildly poetic, inventive images, and an undercurrent of deep emotions.

Christopher Bowen, “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You, The Wind Ever at Your Back” 

Refreshing sentence structure and phrasing, strong imagery, and a highly perceptive exploration of male/female roles, with lines like: “I . . . shoveled love onto banks of ice and shrapnel and wars and woe.”

Stephen Hastings-King, for both “Dunes”  and “Book of Days” 

I enjoyed watching this writer’s mind work its magic in prose.

Bill Yarrow, “Joan of Dark

Masterful.

Katie Moore, “People Called Our Windows Art” 

And this flash story has many artistic moments—Moore takes a theme that’s been done before and gives it new life, using strong characterization and poetic perception.

Jane Hammons, “1053” 

In this simple flash story, Hammons captures her character’s mental confusion with just a few sparse lines, draws us into the picture, and then finishes with a killer line. Great paired with the photo.

Matt Dennison, for “Failure” 

I liked this writer’s careful precision and originality, even with subjects that have been explored many times before.

Kat Moore, “Migraine on a Sunday Afternoon”

I have never had a migraine, but I think I know how one feels now … thanks to Moore’s skillful dissection.

Michael Dickes, for “Like Dancing Alone” 

This writer is on the road to finding a special, unique voice.

John Olson, for “Nocturnal Bypass” 

Olson does plenty of “gnawing on deep philosophical subjects,” with rhythm, satire, and surprising twists and turns. Loved the ghost who snuck in…

Editor’s Eye is a new blog series that aims to highlight noteworthy work that might have slipped through the cracks of Fictionaut’s automated list of recommendations. Every two weeks, a distinguished visiting editor scours the site for lost treasures and picks outstanding stories.

 
 
 


  1. David James

    Tara, I really like your choices for this edition. Good eye.

  2. stephen hastings-king

    Thanks much for selecting two of my stories and saying such lovely things about them. I’ve enjoyed reading the other selections as well–nice job.

  3. Chris Bowen

    Thanks for the kind words and recognition, Tara.

  4. Jane Flett

    Thanks so much for your kind words, Tara. To be featured alongside these other pieces is a huge compliment and an utter delight!

  5. Jane Flett

    Thanks so much for the kind words and inclusion, Tara! To be among these other pieces is an honour and an utter delight.

  6. Meg Pokrass

    So good, this selection. Thank you Tara for being such a terrific editor’s eye..

  7. Meg Pokrass

    forgot to mention this: it is amazing to see writer’s stories here that would not have been read, that deserve a wider readership. I’ve noticed that something is bringing many wonderful writers back into the fold, it is all so good and exciting for the community to know and to never feel discouraged if not many reads or favorites occur. An editor’s eye may be reading and loving your good work even though it seems unnoticed… It keeps us writing our best and not worrying as much about being one of the popular kids. Thank you, Jurgen for bringing this feature here to Fictionaut.

  8. Bill Yarrow

    What a surprise to be picked! Thanks, Tara!

  9. Bill Yarrow

    Yikes! Can’t type!

  10. Tara Masih

    It was such a pleasure, everyone, and thanks also for the time you took to write me personally. I’ll remember these works for a long time.

Leave a Comment