''storySouth'' is an

online In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed as "on lin ...

quarterly A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

literary magazine that publishes

fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying character (arts), individuals, events, or setting (narrative), places that are imagination, imaginary or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent ...

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

criticism Criticism is the construction of a judgement about the negative or positive qualities of someone or something. Criticism can range from impromptu comments to a written detailed response. , ''the act of giving your opinion or judgment about the ...

essays An essay ( ) is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a Letter (message), letter, a term paper, paper, an article (publishing), article, a pamphlet, and a s ...

, and visual artwork, with a focus on the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is List of regions of the United States, census regions defined by the United States Cens ...

. The journal also runs the annual Million Writers Award to select the best

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

published each year in online magazines or journals. The journal is one of the most prominent online literary journals and has been the subject of feature profiles in books such as '' Novel & Short Story Writer's Market''. Works published in ''storySouth'' have been reprinted in a number of anthologies including ''Best American Poetry'' and ''Best of the Web''. The headquarters is in

Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the List of municipalitie ...

History and mission

''storySouth'' was founded in the autumn of 2001 by fiction writer

Jason Sanford Jason Sanford is an American science fiction author whose 2022 novel ''Plague Birds'' was a finalist for the Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards.

and poet

Jake Adam York Jake Adam York (August 10, 1972December 16, 2012) was an American poet. He published three books of poetry before his death: ''Murder Ballads'', which won the 2005 Elixir Prize in Poetry; ''A Murmuration of Starlings'', which won the 2008 Colora ...

. While ''storySouth'' focuses on the traditional genre of

southern literature Southern United States literature consists of American literature written about the Southern United States or by writers from the region. Literature written about the American South first began during the colonial era, and developed significan ...

, 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.storySouth "About Us" page
Retrieved Feb. 20, 2010. The journal has published pieces on such prominent authors such as Forrest Gander and Charles Wright, historical figures like

George Wallace George Corley Wallace Jr. (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998) was an American politician who was the 45th and longest-serving governor of Alabama (1963–1967; 1971–1979; 1983–1987), and the List of longest-serving governors of U.S. s ...

, and topics ranging from the trivial to the sociological. Works published in ''storySouth'' have been reprinted in anthologies such as ''Best American Poetry'', multiple editions of ''Best of the Web'', 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 The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published 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 ...

and is among the American literary journals listed in Best American Short Stories. ''StorySouth'' reaches on average a 1,000 individual readers every day. The journal has been included in lists of prominent literary journals.

Million Writers Award

''storySouth'' runs the annual Million Writers Award, started in 2003, which honors the best online

of the year. Past winners have included Adam-Troy Castro, Jenny Williams, Matt Bell, Catherynne M. Valente,

Richard Bowes Richard Dirrane Bowes (January 8, 1944 – December 24, 2023) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy. Biography Richard Dirrane Bowes was born January 8, 1944, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended school both in Boston and on L ...

and Randa Jarrar. The award structure is egalitarian; it allows for anyone to nominate a short story, prize money is donated by readers and writers, and the winners are selected by public vote from a short list of entries selected by judges.2012 Million Writers Award Rules
, Jason Sanford.com In 2012 Spotlight Publishing released two anthologies of stories from the Million Writers Award, with one focused on literary stories and the other on science fiction and fantasy stories.

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 A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.) is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admi ...

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 is the representation of another person's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work.From the 1995 ''Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary'': use or close ...

of Southern author

Brad Vice Brad Vice (born November 14, 1973) is an English language and composition professor at the University of West Bohemia. He grew up in Alabama. His short story collection, ''The Bear Bryant Funeral Train'', won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Shor ...

. 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

is one of the critics whose epigraph was published in the reprint of Vice's book.

Notable contributors

Jacob M. Appel Jacob M. Appel (born February 21, 1973) is an American polymath, author, bioethicist, physician, lawyer, and social critic.Nagamatsu, Sequoia "A Few Words with the Ubiquitous Jacob M. Appel" ''Prince Mincer'' Journal http://primemincer.com/ con ...

* Kate Daniels * Greg Downs * Forrest Gander *

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (born 1967) is an American poet and novelist, and a professor of English at the University of Oklahoma. She has published five collections of poetry and a novel. Her 2020 collection ''The Age of Phillis'' reexamines the l ...

* George Singleton * Maryanne Stahl * Lynn Strongin *

Natasha Trethewey Natasha Trethewey (born April 26, 1966) is an American poet who served as United States Poet Laureate from 2012 to 2014. She won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her 2006 collection ''Native Guard'', and is a former Poet Laureate of Missi ...

* Daniel Wallace * Charles Wright

References

{{Reflist

External links