When I put together the first Short Storyathon (TM) I didn’t realize how amazing this event would be. The inspiration came after talking to an employee at a coworking space, FatPipe ABQ. She said to me, “I’d really like to write a short story, but I need support and I wouldn’t know what to do with it afterward.”

The event was also inspired by Startup Weekends – they are hard working weekends where a startup finds support and by the end of the weekend can be a full fledged company. I had attended two and loved the hard work and having a goal for the weekend.

But, I wondered, would anyone be interested in writing all weekend on a short story? And publish that story to Amazon? Plus, it wouldn’t just be writing, I wanted everyone to have a great story so it would have to include reviewing each others work, help from a professional editor, a lot of editing, and maybe even cover artists.

The first time I put on the Short Storyathon, I had seventeen people sign up! As a beta test, it went well. All but one person published their story. Since then I’ve changed up the schedule a bit, as well as making it a completely virtual event.

Wins from the Event

Maria Gomez wrote her first short story – Gramita’s Tortillas, that then became an award-winning children’s book!

Jim Tritten wrote, My Permenant Record which has been published in two journals.

Katy Hammel made 3rd place in the National Federation of Press Women for her story, Walk Right.

My short story, The Glass Stilettos became a best selling Amazon story and my story The Glass Mountain hit the top ten in Amazon Adventure stories!

Darold Ross hit number 5 in the top 100 stories in LGBT Short Reads for his story Ripper in Red!

And the list goes on.

Michelle Tennant says she loves the event because of the access to an editor, and Katy Hammel has attended every single Short Storyathon as a way to keep her writing game going.

And, it’s not just the possibility of all these things, just hitting the publish button is exciting!

I’m proud of where this event has gone and how it’s helped hundred of writers learn the publishing process, feel the thrill of publishing, and go on to even greater things!

If you ever want to attend a Short Storyathon, check events at the Women’s Thriller Writers Association website, and I hope to ‘see’ you there!