Reading 5X5 x3: Changes

by B. Morris Allen (Editor), Pauline Yates, Wade Dargin

How do stories move from 'maybe' to published?

What's needed to take a story from interesting to publishable? What changes during the editorial process?

Reading 5X5 x3 presents 15 case studies of stories published in Metaphorosis magazine. For each story, the anthology
- Final version - the published version of the story
- Revision notes - the editor's initial feedback on the submitted version; the author's intent for the piece; and notes from both author and editor about the editorial what surprised, pleased, or disappointed them about the process and the result.
- Original version - the version of the story originally submitted.

There's also an extensive list of common writing flaws, suggestions on how to address them, and examples of stories from the anthology that faced those issues.

Reading 5X5 x3 offers not only a selection of great science fiction and fantasy stories, but a terrific learning tool for writers.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to get a story published, here's the answer for 15 stories from Metaphorosis.

534 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

B. Morris Allen is a biochemist turned activist turned lawyer turned foreign aid consultant, and frequently wonders whether it's time for a new career. He's been traveling since birth, and has lived on five continents. When he can, he makes his home on the Oregon coast. In between journeys, he edits Metaphorosis magazine, and works on his own speculative stories of love and disaster. His dark fantasy novel Susurrus came out in 2017.