SOZD*!

Today is 'Support Our 'Zines Day'!  Something I was informed of upon waking this morning, by an incredibly exuberant Eimhin.  He, not the procrastinator that I am, has already posted a wonderful and comprehensive list of 'zines-of-amazingness on his own blog, which I recommend that you peruse.  But there really is no possible way to over emphasize the importance of literary magazines, both in purveying excellent literature (and visual art, comics, and poetry...) and in promoting artists, burgeoning and established alike.  So take a spin about these bizarre and marvelous publications, and if you can afford it, show them some love.

GUD Magazine
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet
Crossed Genres
McSweeney's 
Weird Tales
Leading Edge
Brain Harvest
Electric Velocipede
Sybil's Garage
Tin House
Flash Fiction Online
The Cafe Irreal
Fantasy Magazine
Strange Horizons
ClarkesWorld
Shimmer
Steampunk Magazine

If there are any others I have missed, or simply have not heard of, please tell me about them in the comments!  There are few things as satisfying as discovering a good new source of fiction.

I listen to not nearly so many Podcasts as Evan, but I am a generally huge fan of the readings over at Telltale Weekly.  Alex Wilson's voice and inflection are perfect for these readings, and his content selection is excellent.  It was through Telltale that I first found out about Kelly Link, actually (you must listen to 'The Girl Detective' as read on the site) which has, of course, led to all sorts of  fascinating developments in my life.

*SOZD still sounds to me like a state of drunkenness.
Somewhere between dameschwipschen and completely toasted.  Probably not the ideal state for reading, but to each one's own.  Go for it.

Free short fiction on the web

I recently stumbled across a very interesting publication called McSweeney's. Now, I'm probably the last person in the world to hear about it. I'm sure. But I was pleasantly enchanted by it, and even submitted a short story to their web edition (the one entitled 'changeling' on this blog, from back in 2004.) We'll see how that goes.
But check it out, take a read.
Also, I really want their circus journal and their 4-issue bundle. Much willpower is going into the fact that I haven't already spent money on them. Willpower! Yaaarrgh.

I also just found out about Ficlets from Joe Scalzi's blog.
It's a collaborative story engine, essentially. Much like telling a story around a camp fire.
You write a little story fragment, and someone picks it up and appends a sequel or prequel, then someone else... then someone else....
Or you do the prequel/sequeling.
It looks like a great deal of fun, and the community seems very open.
I haven't submitted anything yet, but I'm definitely of a mind to.