Dear Reader, Issue 1, Volume 1

Snuggle up by the fire and relax with me... not that close.

Dear Reader:

How odd, a Sunday post from me. Whatever happened to Wednesdays? Don’t worry, they’re not going anywhere. As a matter of fact, this Wednesday you’ll be getting another short story! Dear Reader, is a new series I’m writing that will provide you with the occasional update on my progression as a writer. It’s basically a letter to you, my readers. Not a love letter, though. That would be weird, and my wife would not appreciate it.

I don’t plan on sending this more than one or two times a month, mostly because my life is not all that exciting, and how much writing can a guy do with a fulltime job? What you can expect with these brief, casual encounters are akin to a fireside chat. Here I’ll share thoughts about what I’m writing, where I’ve sent submissions, what sorts of rejections I receive, and hopefully you’ll comment with some thoughts of your own.

Newsletter Updates

I have hit 100 subscribers!  My most recent subscribers have been very engaged, several of them Substack writers themselves. Finding a community of writers that share a similar penchant for speculative fiction was a primary goal. While I do follow other writers that are exploring non-fiction as well, there’s something special about shared interests — both in life and in hobbies.

Submissions

I went a little overboard this month with three submissions as well as my regular Wednesday cadence. The first is a zine collaboration with Raphy of Co-Create and Three Things Weekly, which you can find here:

The inaugural zine being produced has a theme, which is “elements”, as in earth, wind, water and fire. Given what I’ve seen so far regarding the strength of the creative community, it will be a beautiful production.  I chose wind, and the fantasy story I wrote is one that is sure to delight you all. When it’s launched, I’ll provide more details.

Another submission went to Uncharted (unchartedmag.com), under the Sci-Fi + Fantasy category. You might remember last month I submitted my short story The Inheritance under the Horror + Thriller category, which was declined. As a result, it graced the digital pages of Future Thief.

The Inheritance

The message back from the editor was very kind, encouraging me to submit again in the future. They prefer a month passes between submissions, which gave me a chance to regroup. It’s a wonderful publication that runs contests and has a growing archive of short stories.

Last, but definitely not least, is my submission to the monthly contest run by Elegant Literature. This is almost too good to be true, yet Editor-in-Chief Creag Munroe, is building a publication that does exactly what it says. The focus is around undiscovered writers, all genres are acceptable, he pays competitive rates, runs contests and the magazine is free to read. If you’re a new writer looking to be published, this should be your first stop.

Branching out, I also hope to submit an audio script to The NoSleep Podcast. Horror is not a genre I want to focus on exclusively (and not on this Substack). However, if there is a thrilling speculative slant that includes otherworldly beings, aliens and monsters, then I can get excited.

Finding a Voice

Artists have a style. Writers have a voice. I’m starting to find my voice, slowly building confidence here at Future Thief. If you’re a subscriber, then you already know I stick to speculative fiction with slice-of-life essays sprinkled throughout. Over time you’ll begin to appreciate what I’m after, what doesn’t interest me and the types of stories I really enjoy writing and reading.

Dare I say when it comes to modern science fiction and fantasy, it isn’t for me. Vast tombs of high fantasy with names I can’t pronounce or science fiction that’s full of political factions infighting, just doesn’t tickle my fancy. I prefer low fantasy, the kind with magic realism, hints of folklore, odd creatures or portals to new dimensions. For science fiction I enjoy a touch of the technological instead of space operas.

Conflict is important in a great story. That doesn’t mean it has to be overtly serious and preachy. I prefer to add a dash of humor into it all, the way life surprises us with laughter out of nowhere, stopping shy of campy. That’s right, I’m writing the quick read, also known as the beach read. It’s primarily entertaining. Rarely world changing. Is that so wrong? Will it be successful? I’ll keep writing and you tell me.

Your Faithful Wordsmith Extraordinaire,

Brian Reindel