Apex Magazine is excited to present SNAP JUDGMENT Episode 8 (Halloween special!) of our rapid-fire, live-streaming critique series.
Every quarter, industry professionals Lesley Conner, Rebecca E Treasure, and a special guest offer live feedback on the first page (up to 250 words) of genre short stories or novels. These first pages are read aloud by our talented host and narrator, Aly Grauer.
We are pleased to announce that our special guest editor for this event is author and editor Richard Thomas!
Richard Thomas is the award-winning author of nine books: four novels—Incarnate (Podium), Breaker and Disintegration (Penguin Random House Alibi), and Transubstantiate; four short story collections—Spontaneous Human Combustion (Turner Publishing—Bram Stoker finalist), Tribulations (Cemetery Dance), Staring Into the Abyss, and Herniated Roots; as well as one novella of The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books). His over 175 stories in print include The Best Horror of the Year (Volume Eleven), Cemetery Dance (twice), Behold!: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders (Bram Stoker Award winner), The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors (Shirley Jackson Award winner), Lightspeed, PANK, storySouth, Gargoyle, Weird Fiction Review, Midwestern Gothic, Shallow Creek, The Seven Deadliest, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Qualia Nous, Chiral Mad (numbers 2-4), PRISMS, Pantheon, and Shivers VI.
He was also the editor of four anthologies: The New Black and Exigencies (Dark House Press), The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press) and Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker (twice), Shirley Jackson, Thriller, and Audie awards. In his spare time he is a columnist at Lit Reactor. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Gamut and also ran Dark House Press. For more information visit www.whatdoesnotkillme.com or contact Paula Munier at Talcott Notch.
Snap Judgment #8 will be livestreamed on Tuesday Oct 24 at 11 a.m. ET (8 am PT / 10 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. UTC).
HOW IT WORKS
Our host reads the title, genre, and text of the submission aloud without identifying the author. If at any point our panelists feel they would stop reading and reject the piece from their slush pile, they raise their hand. If all three hands are raised, our narrator stops reading.
Each panelist then gives their feedback on the opening: what works for them, what doesn’t, and what could be done to improve it. Don’t expect our panelists to be a mean group, but do expect them to be honest when it comes to assessing the work.
HOW TO WATCH THE EVENT
The event is available for anyone to watch. We’ll be streaming it live via two outlets:
- Apex Magazine Patreon (Note: The link will be live on the day of the event and afterward. Prior to that, it will take you to a 404.)
- Apex Magazine YouTube
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR STORIES
Submissions are limited to our backers (Patreon supporters, magazine subscribers, and Kickstarter backers) until the final week before close. It should be only the first 250 words (approximately) of your novel or short story. We are especially looking for dark, horror or spooky stories for our Halloween event.
- Please make the subject of your email “Snap Judgment Episode 8” and the title of your story.
- In the body of your email, include the title of your story again, the genre, and whether it’s a short story, novella, or novel, etc.
- Copy-paste your first 250 words directly below that.
- Please include either your backer/subscriber email address or receipt of your subscription/support (not required if submitting in the last week open period)
- Send your submission to ApexSnapJudgment@gmail.com.
In case of a final sentence taking your submission over 250 words, please cut the last line. All entries will be read anonymously and our panelists will not be given any identifying information before, during, or after the event.
Submissions are open to supporters (subscribers, patrons, Kickstarter backers, and Reach Your Apex students) from Monday Sep 11 - Sep 17, and to the general public from Sep 18 - midnight Oct 09 .
Host & Narrator – Alyson Grauer
Alyson Grauer is an author, actor, and podcaster based out of Chicago. Her first novel, On the Isle of Sound and Wonder, is a steampunk Shakespeare retelling and her short fiction has appeared in Apparition Lit, Cast of Wonders, and several indie anthologies. Her audio production work can be heard on such podcasts as Skyjacks: Courier’s Call, The Write Mindset, Warda, and the One Shot Podcast Secret Archive. She’s also known for performing at renaissance faires and world-class theme parks. Find her at dreamstobecome.com or on Twitter & Instagram @dreamstobecome.
