I tag-lined this blog (for twelve months, at least) with the claim that my ever-growing blog, this what you are reading now, bradgarten is “where 2008 is the year of the short story.” And while many of you have been keenly keeping up with the more non-fiction content posted, I’m never certain whether anyone is in fact reading the other crap. It’s not required. In fact, I’m fairly certain (with a few exceptions) the type of folks who claim they have been reading the fiction are the same people who would claim to read Playboy for the articles — bored, female, or liars. Still, standing at the glowing edge of a micro-media empire, with a recorded readership that tops a three digit daily average, one can hardly blame me for hawking my other experimental content to an audience, no matter how lukewarm the reception. Thus, the wafts of short story and meandering fiction you have all been kind enough to endure…

For those who are paying attention (and considering the odd events of yesterday, explained later in “Story 3″) I thought I’d summarize my progress (towards the original goal of FOUR completed pieces) on the writing front in this “the year of the short story.”

Story 1 Also known as ‘that thing you’ve yet to see’, this story is something I’ve been tinkering with in the background, working out plot details. It’s coming along — though if you recall its that piece that got me thinking in terms of graphic novel/short. In other words, I’ve been distracted.

Story 2 Also known as “Building Three”, someday to be a fifty-thousand word novella in one hundred parts. I’ve written and posted the first dozen (give or take) and there are five more episodes fully sketched out waiting for spit-and-polish. I don’t know if this will be done-done by the end the year, but if I get to the mid-40s in the episodes by end of December I’ll be happy.

Story 2.5 Also known as “Ibts and Epices”, this is a series of twenty-five drabbles that will one day, when completed, by strung together as if pearls on a necklace and the whole of it will make sense. It’s also considered a “point five” story, because it’s really a companion to Story 2.

Story 3 Yesterday morning I woke up in a cold sweat around 530 AM and had the entire plot (complete with opening lines and sub-themes) to a story bouncing around in my head. Call it inspiration or whatever. By late afternoon (after an extended lunch break) I’d written the entire first draft of a piece who’s working title is simply “Grandfather.” Untouched it is this respectable bit of literature. A few minor revisions from now, it should be gold. It’s in editing now, and my brain is mush because its probably one of the better things I’ve ever written — and it spilled out of my head in a few manic hours, walking, talking, and playing cards. I’ll figure out someday soon where that will ultimately end up.

Story 4 To be determined. And I’ve still got months… so there!