Steve Moss
Encyclopedia
Stephen Donnellan Moss (1948–2005) was an editor and publisher who founded two major weekly newspapers in California’s Central Coast and created the 55 Fiction
short story contest.
Moss founded the San Luis Obispo New Times with Beverly Johnson and Alex Zuniga in 1986. He financed it with a few thousand dollars raised by cashing in his IRA account and borrowing from his aunt, Professor Mary Josephine Moss of San Jose State University
. By 2005, the paper had a circulation of over 20,000 and revenues exceeding $1,000,000. per year.
and Brooks Institute of Fine Art, and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara
, with a degree in fine art in 1975. He said he discovered his talent as a writer and editor in a class taught by Barry Farrell
, west coast editor of Harper’s Magazine.
Moss attended graduate school at Syracuse University
, but left to become the editor in chief
of the Syracuse New Times
. When his marriage to his college sweetheart Sharon Bywater ended in 1986, he returned to his native California. Given a choice between a job in the advertising department of a large international winery in Modesto
, or one as editor of a senior citizen newspaper in San Luis Obispo, he chose the latter despite the lower pay. Before long he realized that there was no entertainment weekly in the college town, and planned the successful launch of New Times.
short story contest for New Times readers. The submissions had to meet strict criteria, not the least of which was that “something has to happen.”
A literary work is considered 55 Fiction if it has:
The contest was successful and popular from the beginning with New Times readers, and remains an annual event. Two anthologies of 55 Fiction have been published, 55 Fiction, The World's Shortest Stories: Murder, Love, Horror, Suspense, All This and Much More in the Most Amazing Short Stories Ever Written, Each One Just 55 Words Long and 55 Fiction, The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death .
, and Elizabeth Ann Donnellan Moss, a psychiatric social worker, both World War II
veterans. He died of complications of epilepsy
in his garden in San Luis Obispo on April 24, 2005.
The Steve Moss Memorial Scholarship in Journalism was founded by his family and friends to support journalism students at California Polytechnic University
, San Luis Obispo. Its endowment is managed by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation.
55 Fiction
55 Fiction is a form of microfiction that refers to the works of fiction that are either limited to a maximum of fifty-five words or have a requirement of exactly 55 words .-Origin:...
short story contest.
Moss founded the San Luis Obispo New Times with Beverly Johnson and Alex Zuniga in 1986. He financed it with a few thousand dollars raised by cashing in his IRA account and borrowing from his aunt, Professor Mary Josephine Moss of San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. By 2005, the paper had a circulation of over 20,000 and revenues exceeding $1,000,000. per year.
Education and Career
Moss attended Ventura CollegeVentura College
Ventura College is a California-state funded community college located in Ventura, California, USA. Established in 1925, the college has a campus with an enrollment of 14,456 students. The college is part of the Ventura County Community College District....
and Brooks Institute of Fine Art, and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, with a degree in fine art in 1975. He said he discovered his talent as a writer and editor in a class taught by Barry Farrell
Barry Farrell (journalist)
Barry Farrell was an American journalist and editor who wrote for numerous magazines. He worked for Time, Life and Harper's Magazines in the 1960s and 1970s. He also wrote a book about Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal entitled Pat and Roald.-Early life:Farrell was a native of Seattle, Washington...
, west coast editor of Harper’s Magazine.
Moss attended graduate school at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, but left to become the editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the Syracuse New Times
Syracuse New Times
Syracuse New Times is a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York by William Brod and distributed throughout the central New York region. It is owned by All Times Publishing LLC. The publication is released every Wednesday, printing 46,000 copies and distributed to approximately...
. When his marriage to his college sweetheart Sharon Bywater ended in 1986, he returned to his native California. Given a choice between a job in the advertising department of a large international winery in Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, or one as editor of a senior citizen newspaper in San Luis Obispo, he chose the latter despite the lower pay. Before long he realized that there was no entertainment weekly in the college town, and planned the successful launch of New Times.
55 Fiction
By 1987 he launched the 55 Fiction55 Fiction
55 Fiction is a form of microfiction that refers to the works of fiction that are either limited to a maximum of fifty-five words or have a requirement of exactly 55 words .-Origin:...
short story contest for New Times readers. The submissions had to meet strict criteria, not the least of which was that “something has to happen.”
A literary work is considered 55 Fiction if it has:
- Fifty-five words or less (A non-negotiable rule);
- A setting;
- One or more characters;
- Some conflict; and
- A resolution.
The contest was successful and popular from the beginning with New Times readers, and remains an annual event. Two anthologies of 55 Fiction have been published, 55 Fiction, The World's Shortest Stories: Murder, Love, Horror, Suspense, All This and Much More in the Most Amazing Short Stories Ever Written, Each One Just 55 Words Long and 55 Fiction, The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death .
Books Edited
- 55 Fiction, The World's Shortest Stories (editor, 1995)
- 55 Fiction, The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death, (editor, 2000)
- Groaners: The Dictionary Webster Hopes To Suppress (editor, with Brandy Brandon, 1994)
Personal life
Moss was born in Riverside, Calif. September 18, 1948, to Harry Walter Moss, an attorneyAttorney
Attorney may refer to:*Attorney at law, a lawyer in some countries*Attorney general, the principal legal adviser to a government*Attorney-in-fact, a person authorised to act on someone else's behalf in a legal or business matter by a power of attorney...
, and Elizabeth Ann Donnellan Moss, a psychiatric social worker, both World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans. He died of complications of epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
in his garden in San Luis Obispo on April 24, 2005.
The Steve Moss Memorial Scholarship in Journalism was founded by his family and friends to support journalism students at California Polytechnic University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
, San Luis Obispo. Its endowment is managed by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation.