StorySouth
Encyclopedia
storySouth is an online
quarterly literary magazine
that publishes fiction
, poetry
, criticism
, essays, and visual artwork, with a focus on the Southern United States
. The journal also runs the annual Million Writers Award to select the best short stories
published each year in online magazines or journals. The journal has been named a "hot site" by USA Today
and profiled in books such as Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
. Works published in storySouth have been reprinted in anthologies such as Best American Poetry and Best of the Web.
and poet Jake Adam York
. While storySouth focuses on the traditional genre of southern literature
, the journal generally attempts to expose the newest generation of writers from the American South. Sanford and York turned over publication of storySouth to Spring Garden Press in 2009 and now serve as Editor Emeritus for the journal, but no longer handle day-to-day editorial responsibilities.
The journal has published pieces on such prominent authors such as Forrest Gander
and Charles Wright
, historical figures like George Wallace
, and topics ranging from the trivial to the sociological. Works published in storySouth have been reprinted in anthologies such as Best American Poetry 2008, Best of the Web 2008, and e2ink: The Best of the Online Journals, and have won a number of awards and honors.
The journal is listed as a contributing press by the Pushcart Prize
and is among the American literary journals listed in Best American Short Stories
. StorySouth reaches on average a 1,000 individual readers every day.
of the year. The award has become one of the premier online literary awards and was named a Hot Site by USA Today
. The award was also profiled in a six-page feature interview with editor Jason Sanford in the 2005 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and mentioned in The 100 Best Trends, 2006: Emerging Developments You Can't Afford to Ignore as an example of the emerging online literary movement.
Part of the growing influence of storySouth has been the sometimes combative nature of its editors. An essay of Sanford's called "Who Wears Short Shorts? Micro Stories and MFA Disgust" sent repercussions through the online literary community, as it ripped into the claimed incestuous nature of Master of Fine Arts
programs and creative writing workshops. The essay prompted a large amount of online discussion on the merits of Sanford's claims.
In addition, the journal's editors were heavily involved in the debate around the alleged plagiarism
of Southern author Brad Vice
. Both of storySouths editors defended Vice's action and their essays on the affair were mentioned in the subsequent press coverage and on numerous blogs. StorySouth editor Jake Adam York is one of the critics whose epigraph will be published in the upcoming reprint of Vice's book.
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
quarterly literary magazine
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
that publishes fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, criticism
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
, essays, and visual artwork, with a focus on the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. The journal also runs the annual Million Writers Award to select the best short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
published each year in online magazines or journals. The journal has been named a "hot site" by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and profiled in books such as Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market is an annual resource guide for fiction writers that compiles hundreds of listings for book publishers, magazines literary agents, writing contests, and conferences...
. Works published in storySouth have been reprinted in anthologies such as Best American Poetry and Best of the Web.
History and mission
storySouth was founded in the autumn of 2001 by fiction writer Jason SanfordJason Sanford
Jason Sanford is an American science fiction author best known for his short story writing. His fiction has been published in Interzone, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Year's Best SF 14, and other magazines and anthologies...
and poet Jake Adam York
Jake Adam York
Jake Adam York is an American poet. He has published three books of poetry: Murder Ballads, which won the 2005 Elixir Prize in Poetry; A Murmuration of Starlings, which won the 2008 Colorado Book Award in Poetry; and Persons Unknown, an editor's selection in the Crab Orchard Series in...
. While storySouth focuses on the traditional genre of southern literature
Southern literature
Southern literature is defined as American literature about the Southern United States or by writers from this region...
, the journal generally attempts to expose the newest generation of writers from the American South. Sanford and York turned over publication of storySouth to Spring Garden Press in 2009 and now serve as Editor Emeritus for the journal, but no longer handle day-to-day editorial responsibilities.
The journal has published pieces on such prominent authors such as Forrest Gander
Forrest Gander
Forrest Gander is an American poet, essayist, novelist, critic, and translator.Born in the Mojave Desert, he was raised in Virginia where he attended The College of William and Mary, majoring in geology, a subject referenced frequently in both his poems and essays. He received an M.A...
and Charles Wright
Charles Wright (poet)
Charles Wright is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award (19830 for...
, historical figures like George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
, and topics ranging from the trivial to the sociological. Works published in storySouth have been reprinted in anthologies such as Best American Poetry 2008, Best of the Web 2008, and e2ink: The Best of the Online Journals, and have won a number of awards and honors.
The journal is listed as a contributing press by the Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
and is among the American literary journals listed in Best American Short Stories
Best American Short Stories
The Best American Short Stories yearly anthology is a part of The Best American Series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Since 1915, the BASS anthology has striven to contain the best short stories by some of the best-known writers in contemporary American literature.-Edward O'Brien:The...
. StorySouth reaches on average a 1,000 individual readers every day.
Million Writers Award
storySouth also runs the annual Million Writers Award, started in 2003, which honors the best online short storiesShort Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
of the year. The award has become one of the premier online literary awards and was named a Hot Site by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. The award was also profiled in a six-page feature interview with editor Jason Sanford in the 2005 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and mentioned in The 100 Best Trends, 2006: Emerging Developments You Can't Afford to Ignore as an example of the emerging online literary movement.
Influence
storySouth was one of the early journals of the online literature movement. Early on, storySouths influence in the publishing world was evidenced by a feature interview with Jason Sanford in the 2005 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market in which the role of the Internet and the influence of the Million Writers Award was featured.Part of the growing influence of storySouth has been the sometimes combative nature of its editors. An essay of Sanford's called "Who Wears Short Shorts? Micro Stories and MFA Disgust" sent repercussions through the online literary community, as it ripped into the claimed incestuous nature of Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
programs and creative writing workshops. The essay prompted a large amount of online discussion on the merits of Sanford's claims.
In addition, the journal's editors were heavily involved in the debate around the alleged plagiarism
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
of Southern author Brad Vice
Brad Vice
Brad Vice is a fiction writer whose short story collection, The Bear Bryant Funeral Train, won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction from the University of Georgia Press...
. Both of storySouths editors defended Vice's action and their essays on the affair were mentioned in the subsequent press coverage and on numerous blogs. StorySouth editor Jake Adam York is one of the critics whose epigraph will be published in the upcoming reprint of Vice's book.
Notable contributors
- Jacob M. AppelJacob M. AppelJacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
- Greg DownsGreg DownsFor information about the former footballer, see Greg Downs Greg Downs is the author of the Flannery O'Connor Award-winning short story collection, Spit Baths published in 2006 by the University of Georgia Press and of the history book published in 2011 by the University of North Carolina Press...
- Forrest GanderForrest GanderForrest Gander is an American poet, essayist, novelist, critic, and translator.Born in the Mojave Desert, he was raised in Virginia where he attended The College of William and Mary, majoring in geology, a subject referenced frequently in both his poems and essays. He received an M.A...
- Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
- Maryanne Stahl
- Natasha TretheweyNatasha TretheweyNatasha Trethewey is an American poet who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for her 2006 collection, Native Guard.Trethewey was born in Gulfport, Mississippi. She earned the A.B. in English from the University of Georgia, an M.A. in poetry from Hollins University, and an M.F.A. in poetry from...
- Charles WrightCharles Wright (poet)Charles Wright is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award (19830 for...