September 2024 Issue 1

In this issue: A (belated) round-up of the August stories and podcast episodes, news about my book, and what's coming up next issue.

THE TREK THROUGH SEPTEMBER

I didn't manage to send out a poll about the September stories, so I went ahead and picked a theme on my own. We are currently in Trektember. And the podcast theme for this month's stories is treasure.

💡🧠🌩️☠️🦖🦀🐉

Speaking of treks, in my other newsletter, I guided intrepid explorers of fiction-writing on a trek through my non-fiction book, Fictioneer's Field Guide. I'm gathering those missives up for anyone who wants to relive the journey (or missed it the first time around). When it's ready, I'll let you know. And you won't have to subscribe to my other newsletter to join in the fun.

I've got stories to tell you.

August celebrated Drawings 🎨 and Creatures 🐯 (and sometimes drawings OF creatures)

The short story theme for the month was Draw-gust (I drew the image first, and wrote the story based on the drawing). The podcast episode theme was Creatures.

Short Stories

The links below lead directly to the story post.

​Keeper of the Lampshade​

​The Red-Eyed Red Flag​

​The Case of the Strange Singing Map​

​The Arcane Translocator​

Podcast Episodes

The links below lead directly to the episode page, hosted at Libsyn.

​OPOSSUMILLO 📔

Ah, the curious ways in which the wonders of our childhood manifest when we are older.

​WHAT THE TIGER REMEMBERED 🐅

While authorities search for a tiger that escaped from the local zoo, a group of people take shelter in a diner, not really worried about their safety, until a stranger appears who seems to have been attacked.

​PANOFUS 🪄

In a desperate moment, a mage casts an unpracticed spell to save himself, but may have doomed himself instead...

​THE CELESTIAL GOBBLER 📦

The seemingly empty cardboard box that a student uses for a school project still contains something. Something unexpected…and unnerving.

​BARON RAVEN'S MAGNIFICENT GIFT 🐦‍⬛

When Baron Raven discovers a rare gem in his mines, he performs his duty by making a gift of the gem to his liege, King Monkey.

Parting words🪶

This issue is coming out later than I wanted. So I'll send the second September issue next week. And I'll have a special little bonus for you. (I'm not telling. You'll just have to see for yourself.)
​

If you've got feedback about this issue, please feel free to reply and let me know.

​Till next time, have a magnificent week.
—Nila

P.S. Got a fiction writer in your life? Are you the fiction writer in your life? Treat yourself and others to my fun and practical how-to book on writing short stories, using the very method I've used to write hundreds of my own stories.

Makes a wonderful birthday gift. And also a great un-birthday gift. 😉

Get your copy: Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories​