* June 2021 - Science Fiction Microstory Contest (comments only)

[J.F.]

Theme: a sense of wonder.
Elements: A phenomenon; a lie.

[Greg]

Got it! First time as the First One in!

[Jot]

It's a wonder! For the website version of the contest (when I actually have time to create it), I would avoid ties by giving the push to the write who posts first (without editing).

[Kalifer]

Mine's up! Early this time to make up for being a day late and, as always, a dollar short. Oddities of quantum mechanics and "theories of everything" seem to indicate we are in a simulation and that seemed an appropriate fit for this month's theme.
Jot, you are right in my case about editing. I rewrote and edited the story that didn't make it in in time. Hoist by my own petard.

[Justin]

Great stories Greg and Kalifer! I enjoyed them both!

[J.F.]

I had planned to critique everyone's story this month but can't be sure as tomorrow I will be dealing with a vision problem. My own story is a little sketchy but I wanted to get it in while I could. Hopefully more will be posted and critiqued.

[Jot]

Have to come up with something for this theme. Mostly I've been busy with my language, which I should be publishing with a couple months.

Question: If you copyright something under a pen name, does it offer the same protections as with your full, real name?

[J.F.]

That's a good question that I don't know the answer to. There's a local radio show that periodically takes calls with IP questions. Here's the link to the latest one, from June 16. Usually a lot of questions on copyright protections.
https://www.wamc.org/post/copyright-f...

[Justin]

I'm going to try and get one in by the 9 p.m. PST deadline tomorrow. On vacation with the kiddos. Moving six of them around is a feat of logistics and patience that exceeds my pain tolerance threshold. :)

Belated Father's Day to all of our group's fathers!!

[Jot]

Mine's up. Bit of a rework from 7 years back, but have been strapped for time these days.

[Justin]

Cut it a bit closer than I would have liked, but, done!

[Justin]

Anyone going to try publishing their short stories episodically through the new Kindle Vella? I'm thinking about it.

[J.F.]

Justin wrote: "Anyone going to try publishing their short stories episodically through the new Kindle Vella? I'm thinking about it."
Please tell us more about the ins and outs of it when you get the chance. I'm interested.

[Kalifer]

Chris, During the cold war there was a news story that a 'radio astronomer' in the USSR received a message from space from a newly Atomic age civilization that was on the brink of self-annihilation and was asking for help. The message ended abruptly.