/lit/ - Literature

Fucking finally, man.

<3

Sweeeeeet.

nice shit holmes

will submissions that were sent before this publication but were scheduled for next publication qualify for that 40 dollar prize of literary excellence?

>>2112313
Anything appearing in TAR 8 will be open for the award. For the record, anything prior to TAR 7 is also theoretically open to the award as well- although we have not currently reviewed these for pragmatic reasons (IE: Save money)

>>2112303
>>2112291
>>2112284
:3

What ya guys think?

>>2112325

think i'ma win me that scrilla

Will rank the poetry in a little bit.

what kinda monety we talkin here

I quite enjoyed "Journey" by Troy.

I sent this question in an e-mail, but I'll ask it here as well. Would TOR accept publishing a chapter to a book I'm working on? The genre is fantasy. It wasn't quite clear on your site if you do or not.

>>2112343

>genre is fantasy

get the fuck out

Please stop publishing stories by "Cullom McCormick" they're fucking terrible. I thought "Asking Son" would have made that obvious.

>>2112346
>stop liking what I don't like

Chill out. I'm asking Prole.

>>2112354
quotin this. dude fucking sucks.

>>2112354
Seriously. The exposition is horrid especially in TAR 6. The story about the bandits. God damn that was just horrible.

read the first two and found them pretty lacklustre...

>>2112343
I can't speak for all editors, but I do not believe TAR should. We can provide a hyperlink for readers to go to, but that would be about it. TAR is a publication designed to publish whole, relatively short works. Something like a 11 page novel excerpt that has no guarantee of being finished is just toying with the readers.

And for the record, we accept fantasy like any genre.

>>2112373
They're by the same author. Read on, anon.

Oh my God, this Ian Fitz thing is horrible. Did dude choose to write something this shitty as a stylistic choice or something? Fuck, man. The last couple lines are not entirely horrible, but the rest of it is just so lifeless.

>>2112354
Cullom clearly isn't a wizard at writing, but he shiws some promise. "The Alcoholic" really isn't a bad story.

If you can do better, submit.

>>2112376
Alright, thank you.

>>2112390
Both Ians did an embarrassing job.

>>2112346
I for one, would like more fantasy in my TOR. I don't care if it's shit. We need a broader range of things to read, and sometimes; fantasy can be enjoyable.

Bump

>>2112425
TAR can only publish from what is submitted, faggots. Stop whining for more sci fi and fantasy and go write some to submit.

You guys are acting like it's TAR's fault there is no range of content.

All those contributing to TAR, thank you.

I'm still amazed that something like this is surviving. Enjoyed this issue as always!

>>2112436
Well, if TAR is run by the typical faggots from /lit/, most sci-fi/fantasy would be scrutinized against.

I've just read the first story and I don't see what everyone's bitching about. I took it to be a treatise on some of the final stages of being a desperate person who tries to write. The guy's drunk, hopeless, searching out for some kind of promise or reminder about what he thinks he used to have (that innocence and being new to writing) which he sees in the kid. Then, after that night and how it failed him and he realizes how terrible a way he is really in - he gives up on finding it inside himself and converts to religion to be comforted and subdued. His embarrassment shows that he's not done with who he was; he can't accept it and take it into himself peaceably.

The ex-wife thing is overplayed and the setting isn't entirely believable, but I think it has a few other things going for it that make it all right.

I have a suggestion for TAR, if it's not too forward.

Why not add a forum to the main site to discuss each month's publications? A different section for each genre, or story? It'd be for the authors to have a way of getting organized criticism, in case they weren't always in these threads.

there are still some pearls at the bottom of the ocean.

I have two poems to send, just for me, I will send them to you.

thanks TAR.

>>2112461
>forum for discussing TAR

That's what these threads are for. They last for about a week, so the authors have plenty of time to get in here. TAR is not ready to separate itself from 4chan. The umbilical cord cannot yet be cut.

>>2112461
I like this idea.

>>2112456
I agree. It wasn't bad at all. It's a sad story and I think if /lit/ reads it as you have they willget mighty fucking depressed. The writing could have been more realized though. I think he should have scrapped the second story an just worked on the first.

Can we get some more opinions on individual stories? The authors and the community need feedback!

>>2112468
>imPlying you have the pearls.

>>2112485
I've liked the first. Should be fleshed out more. Second one is okay. Third isn't too good.

>>2112485
It's only been up for an hour, man. Chill out. Everyone's still reading/hasn't even started yet.

>>2112485
This is why >>2112461 would be a good idea.

>>2112485

need another drink but will opine my ass off afterward

The only worthwhile story was Nogales, which I actually thought was quite good. Understated but well-done, I thought, and certainly competent on basic levels of prose writing and story-telling.

Most of the others were pretty regrettable. In particular, the author of "The Good Doctor" did not seem to have command of his language. Taking an example sentence - "I was always an early riser, and as such was always fancy to take a job commencing at the crack of dawn, and as I would make my way to work each morning on foot I became privy to a unique insight into this self contained community." Now, a sentence like that can only be regarded as a mistake - it is overly long, incredibly meandering, far too weak. 'J' desperately needs more discipline, more thought, and better editing.

The poems, in general, I enjoyed more than the prose. Arnold Snarb's work was really very good, and 'On Art' is god damn dynamite. It's a crackerjack poem. Jessica Brown has a good command of language but maybe tends a bit too much to excess, with almost purple language. But there's potential there.

so that's my thoughts on this issue.

>>2112497
>implying that having a forum would mean that people would read super fast and post immediately their thoughts on every story

Stop being stupid. The only readers this thing gets are us, so moving it somewhere that isn't 4chan doesn't make sense for the purpose you're proposing. Less people would post about the stories because less of us would bother to go to another site just to read them.

>>2112500
>and 'On Art' is god damn dynamite

I am so pleased that you liked it.

>>2112500
Typically TAR has good and great short poetry. This is the first issue the longer poems were as good as well. I think it's probably the first time I've enjoyed the poetry more than the stories (as a whole).

I just read the second story. It's not terrible, but it's really thrown together. You can tell that he didn't take time to edit this properly. If you don't take pride in your work you can't expect others to enjoy it. It was much weaker than the first piece, which I think gets a worse rap just from association with this one.

>>2112500
Agreed about Nogales. It's probably my fav out of all of TAR so far.

why aren't any of you schmucks raving about Cake? I absolutely loved that one. Not to mention the play format is a bit of a novelty

>>2112543
All of TAR...

>Better than Jesus at the Airport.

you've got to be shitting me.

>>2112553
When it's a performance I'll watch it.

>>2112553
I haven't gotten to it yet

>>2112499

k here we go

wasn't so much a fan of "the alcoholic," primarily because of a bias against writers writing about writers, but also because id didn't really get any kind of a sense of what the incident meant for the kid

plus, like, the protag is all, "tell why it's unique," but i'm not getting a sense of place from this and the alcoholic writers ramblings are just boilerplate misogyny... i feel tehres the kernel of an interesting anecdote here but it needs work

>>2112566

"man at the bench" --

>I was quiet, reconsidering what I’d said. Did I accidentally hurt him?

come onnnnnn dude subtlety! like the kid in the alcoholic said. fuckin get on that objective correlative tip and represent those emotions instead of telling the reader outright

>>2112571
People cannot have thoughts in their writing now. I don't agree with this always show don't tell, because you can only show so much and maybe telling shows something about the authors character.

>>2112566
See this:
>>2112456

Let's talk about it. I would argue that the reason it doesn't get into what the incident meant for the kid is because it didn't mean anything to him outside of an awkward anecdote for the future. Despite the fact that the kid is the protagonist, the character we should be focusing on is the drunk guy. The kid is just a tool used by the author to allow us to understand more about the man.

And all the kid's suggestions aren't supposed to be taken at face value. They're just things he's saying because he doesn't have anything real to offer the man. The man is projecting onto the kid and looking for things in him that aren't there. The kid's responding to that by saying what he thinks the guy wants to hear.

The Alcoholic - 5/10
The Man at the Beach - 3/10
Young - 2/10
Cake - 4/10
The Good Doctor - Big Lebowski/10
Nogales - 9/10
Midsummer - 7/10
Journey - 10/10

Poetry will be rated later.

>>2112571

"young" --

ditch the first and last pages and the creepy boob stuff on p2, it reads like lolita without any of nabokov's wit or cleverness and that kind of misses the entire point doesnt it?

the middle -- all the dubstep musing etc -- is a p good slice of life ca. the twenty-teens and you should use it in a future piece

"Young" is a piece of crap. I see nothing of value in it. Moving on.

>>2112587
Easily the worst piece.

>>2112589
I don't know, man. I just read Cake and it was a pretty uninspired and hyperbolic rehashing of over-told historical events.

>>2112581

211256 here, i guess what id' have liked to have seen is the writer relate a specific anecdote about the ex-wife instead of general railing against

also localize it somehow, it could be any parking lot in any downtown in the world and thats not a setting that hooks me

>>2112606
It's mildly humorous at parts, however, so it retains a sliver of merit. Young has no merit whatsoever.

>>2112553
What is good about Cake? The story is none of the author's invention. I found it really dull and it was clearly way too easy to write. Pierre, the only creation of the author, is a dull character.

Why did you like it other than it was easy to read?

>>2112613
He wrote it.

>>2112613
It also has no ending. It just sort of stops.

>>2112609
I can't imagine how a story about the ex-wife could do anything that this story has done. The ex-wife isn't even important. I don't know why you keep clinging to these small things that don't matter and ignoring the main aspect of the story.

But, I mean, you can read it however you want. That's fine. I guess we're just on entirely different wavelengths. Which is cool, man.

>>2112624
Not that guy, but I can see his complaint. He sees it as the alcoholic's story rather than the narrator's, which really just means he is intrigued by the titular character and wants to know more. I see it as a good thing.

What the events mean to the narrator are a mystery, and I think that also is a good thing. But, I can see why someone would see this as a fault.

John Cheever has stories like this, where we don't know the impressions and views of the narrator.

>>2112583

"cake" --

a less heavy hand here would be good -- when louis and marie are generally oblivious it works very well, but there's these moments where they seem consciously cruel that take away from that, i'd try to keep them generally perplexed rather than actively trying to fuck their citizenry over

like the "bourgeois chuckle" in the stage directions -- have some faith in your audience dude

>The Good Doctor

First of all, the title doesn't even fit the story. The most important thing I have to say about it is that the author tries too hard. It's not horrendous, but I wouldn't read it for pleasure. The idea isn't bad. Even though decreasing mental capacity and plot twists like this aren't unfamiliar it could have been better if the author had adjusted and refined some things. Overall it was lacking and askew.

Hey tar, I'm writing a series of short stories about rebuilding life after an apocalypse (vampires, zombies, disease, aliens, robots, etc). Could we discuss a kind of monthly story progression thing, like old pulp magazines? If my writing is judged good enough, of course, I don't want to presume that.

>>2112641

"good doctor" --

oh god ditch the first page and a half please -- reportage is good but being all "i'm a writer and i'ma write about this" is kinda excruciating, just start writing about the place and the people without all that third wall junk and so forth

after that, i liked the black coffee and glazed donut, and the last two paragraphs

>>2112672
Just submit it to TAR through their email. Though there will likely be a public outcry about it due to the content and our elitism.

>>2112686
Yeah, i would figure /lit/ hates post-apocalyptic novels, but I do recognize how overdone the genre is and try to reflect that in the writing. The one I'm working on now is a world where a fungus has killed most all of the population, and left the corpses as wheezers, dead bodies that just lie there and make a weird noise. The entire thing is about the fear of loneliness and death that comes with a cataclysm like that. No mutants, no zombies, no gas masks, just a guy trying to deal with the aftermath.

>>2112689
>vampires, zombies, disease, aliens, robots, etc
>no mutants, no zombies

Pick a story and stick to it.

>>2112702
the no mutants, no zombies part was for that particular story, while the others were for separate stories
that's why I said 'series of short stories' in my first post.

I just read Nogales. It was... Eh. Probably the only thing close to be legitimately publishable in this TAR. But I thought it was a little predictable and snug on the rail of 'what works in these types of stories.' The basic plot structure was really recognizable. Guy and girl are both unfaithful but stay together, he drinks, tells an anecdote, intermission, tears, cuddling. But I'm measuring this on a different scale than all the other pieces, so it's better than them I suppose.

>>2112709
Yeah, I guess it's just late and I didn't bother reading carefully. But just submit to TAR, anyway. If you want to get in try to get in. There's nothing to be gained from posting here about it, I don't think.

>>2112716
That story wasn't that good. Probably not publishable.

>>2112680

"nogales" --

this is pretty dece actually, but shit, writing all of the woman's dialogue in dialect is really obnoxious -- keep the cadence and all but the apocopes and whatnot should be implied -- 'i'm sure "t'ey" and "ot'er" are meant to draw me into the story but they accomplish the exact opposite

also i'm going to sound like a broken record here but amp up the specificity -- what whiskey? what's the dude watching on tv? where you mention that mexican people tend to pronounce the c in tucson is great, give me more details like that

>>2112716
I found it trite "literary" shit. It's so affected and goes absolutely nowhere, I think. I mean, it's pretty obvious what it's about as soon as the narrator mentions girl. I thought it was going to have a little more depth, a more pressing problem than just some dumb latina broad fucking around with a guy that's stupid and drunk enough to stay with her.

Doesn't make sense, really.

Yea, I'm going to echo the thought that we need more fantasy submissions.

>>2112725
>>2112734
"Publishable" isn't really a measure of quality to me, so I stand by what I said. A lot of crap gets published.

But yeah, trite, affected shit. Sounds right to me. I think I'm tired and my mind's growing soft for criticism. I'll continue this shit tomorrow.

>that feel when every month you want to send something to TAR, but then you look at your writing and think it's horrible and feel embarrassed and never send it

>>2112752
I agree with you on the point that it's "publishable" because it reads exactly like most of the shit 30-something, Creative Writing majors lap up for their small market magazines.

I read TAR for a glimpse at /lit/'s community, not for the same affected, self-conscious, directionless bullshit I can find nearly everywhere else.

>>2112757
The writing in TAR is horrible. Send it in anyway. It's not like you can be that much worse than what we already have.

>>2112757
They published an awful throwaway story of mine about a guy getting mugged in a bathroom.
Just submit to them, they take anything.

>>2112757
You don't have to send it or have it published under your name, so there's really nothing on the line.

Either you get published, or you are politely declined and offered to please try again. Not sending your work is really just detrimental to /lit/. Who knows what we're missing out on?

>>2112757
I hope you realize that if you feel you can't submit to TAR that you won't be able to ever make it in actual publishing.

>>2112764
>>2112768
>>2112763
I don’t remember how I met the guy, really. I mean, one minute I was drinking Heineken on the bitch, complaining about the taste, talking down to Tyler, and the next people started packing up, leaving, and I stayed there. My ass formed a comfortable seat in the sand, and the waves were a kind of lullaby, one that kept you awake but wiped your mind clean. Helen left, without saying a word to me; Tyler gave a perfunctory goodbye, clapping me on the back as he went. I guess I haven’t really had a chance to sit down and just think since we broke up, but I was doing it now, and what I was thinking was nothing. Just nothing. I felt the heat on my back, I heard the waves, and I closed my eyes and just sat there in the orange nothingness, thinking nothing. It was a blessing. Soon enough, I felt the waves on my toes, and opened my eyes, and he’s walking down the beach towards me. Wearing what was probably once a three-piece suit, but one that had been run through the dryer with a couple buckets of sand and an aggravated opossum in the duration. He had a beard that reached down to his chest, uncombed and unwashed. For a moment after coming out of my ocean womb, I suspected he might be an angry beach prophet, come to warn me of my sins; but then I came to my senses, and realized it was a hobo. A hobo wearing a New York Apparel suit, true, but a hobo; nothing to be afraid of.

of that sample, good enough?

>>2112779
>implying i write for profit and not as a hobby
oh heavens no

>>2112781
Yikes.

>>2112781
Definitely up to the standards of TAR.

>>2112781
hey, fuck, i would read it
submit to tar

>>2112781
It's shitty. They'll take it.

God /lit/ is full of jackasses. I mean sure most of TAR stories suck, but there are a few decent ones and a few entertaining ones. What you are expecting and what you will get will never be on te same wavelength. Enjoy it for what it is. If TAR wants to publish better stuff they better advertise on the other boards. Or on other sites. /Lit/iznes are going to damage this zine. Fantasy, scifi, horror, any genre fiction wont be published because these fags won't send it in. Go to /x/ and at least some horror gets submitted. Honestly, the poetry isn't good either. If the best poem is "On Art" then just look how that one starts out.

>>2112798
>>2112798
>It's shitty. They'll take it.
ah, reassurance.
i don't mean this in a derogatory way (not trying to say I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU DO BETTER), but what was the name of the story of yours they accepted? i'm always willing to look at better writing and learn the tricks.

The Alcoholic and The Man on the Bench were ok. Young was fucking awful, Cake wasn't really funny, so I just gave up on the zine all together.

>>2112762
What do people mean when they say a writer is self-conscious? Like, what in the writing says that? I heard someone here say it about DFW, and I don't really get it.

>>2112805
Read "Journey" at least. I really liked that one.

>>2112802
Your response would be acceptable if anyone was mad about the quality of the writing, ITT. We're just going through and giving our opinions and having a relatively nice time reading/critiquing. It's what we do. You're the only one bitching in this thread.

>>2112805
Read the poems. The stories suck compared to them. And tour a fag for giving up after 4.

>>2112805
>The Alcoholic and The Man on the Bench were ok

You pick two stories with little to no plot, say they're 'ok', and dismiss the rest of the zine?

Ok, bro.

>>2112803
Pillage. I think it's the first story in Issue 5.

>>2112809
Overwrought diction.

>>2112809
For me it means that the story overreaches itself and tries hard to be "literary," so it falls into pedantry and contrivance.

See also, the 5th definition of "literary" on Dictionary.com

>>2112733

"midsummer" --

sorry, didn't enjoy this at all... i was pleased to see the update at the beginning about how tar wouldn't publish sex for sex's sake anymore but i had trouble seein ghow this was anything but, highfalutin diction notwithstanding

"cull my culminating phrase"... honestly

>>2112809
Basically pompous writing.

>>2112833

"journey" --

uggggghhhhh please post your trippin balls stories on erowid not in a lit magazine please

>>2112354
Okay then these posts don't mean anything.

>>2112390
>>2112409
>>2112582
>>2112587
>>2112763
>>2112814
I could have posted more too
Also my point is /lit/ will keep submitting similar /lit/ styled writing that's going to clearly fuck this zine. It's very bad to just have TAR advertise and fin its writers from /lit/.

>>2112843

"wave of want" is good

"nearness" would be so much warmer a word than "proximity" for that last line in stanza one

>>2112852

oops that's for "poem for r"

>>2112853

"seraph" --

i like "bring back sing" and "head of black" but seriously like almost all of this is pronouns and prepositions, needs nouns and verbs instead

>>2112845
Right, because saying something sucks is the same as being buttmad about it. besides, it's not like the guys running TAR aren't already expanding. They have a facebook now and everything. your suggestion is redundant

>>2112857

"song" --

again, "sing me a sing" is solid, but this is too much verbiage not enough imagery -- a poem should contain the ineluctable but not the word ineluctable, dig? plus is there any way to read this aloud without the enjambment of "perception" not sounding dumb as hell? i think not

Is the order of the pieces arbitrary? If not, why are they ordered as they are?

>>2112859
I called them jackasses, not buttmad. You seem to be buttmad and an idiot.

Expanding to Facebook.
Dumbass, people add pages when they already know about it not before.
>Implying not going to the greater 4chan community wouldn't get more submitters than a Facebook page.
>Implying you understood my post.

>>2112860

"and the streets" --

stanza 3 is ok, and the phrase "chocolate nicotine" is great to the point wher ei'd recommend it as the title of a new poem, but as a whole i'm kinda unmoved... is it a call to action? seems so but then again not really

>>2112867
my point was that they are already fucking expanding and know that they have to in order to survive -- if you bothered to read these fucking threads every month you would know that.

>>2112869

"rock sonnet" --

nice alliteration in line 2, and "an antique you wish to leave in the sand" is genuinely poignant, but "another name on the list" is cliche and the other alliterations lack the same force as the first... expand that 8th line as an image and lose some of the self-pitying ballast and you might be in business

>>2112873
Herp derp. I knew that, problem. They aren't expanding and getting better submitters. Keep it within the /lit/ community and you'll keep getting the same stories and the same styles. You be mad as hell and that's okay but I'm not going to respond to you, because you are full of implied implications and I think you are trying to troll.

Btw if they really want to expand just join duotrope. Did you think of that?

>>2112879

"daisies" and "praises" is a great slant rhyme -- like, great great -- and "my boundless friend" is wonderfully joyful, and i like the use of hyphens in stanza 1

the rest seems awfully drab in comparison i'm afraid

>>2112886

fuck fuck fuck that's "cycle"

>>2112886
The daisies/praises bit was the best (read: only good) part of that poem, in my opinion. Great great indeed.

>>2112869
Oh hey. Thanks for the criticism. I wrote this one. Truth be told it's just a story and the point was that in the end He may write something to change the world but it won't affect "the streets" in any way except for making them crack some more. In the end I just wrote a story and hadn't intended on it being a call to action. I have been lurking this thread and reading the issue. Not my favorite, I liked the last best I think, but I have enjoyed the poetry and a few stories in this one.

>>2112881
You're the fiftieth faggot in this thread who has whined about the sameness of content in TAR. Listen, queer, TAR is a collective effort. The editors just compile and proof the text. They don't make the text. People from /lit/ do that. If you want more sci fi, write some sci fi and submit. If you want more parrot porn, write some and submit.

If you want to sit on your fat ass and whine about shit without doing dick to rectify it, go do it somewhere else. This is a group effort.

>>2112887

"at land's end" --

shark bones on the tide would be an awesome image but the shark week viewer in me cries out, "don't sharks only have cartilage?"

"harsh-ended" is such a good coining that it pretty much physically pains me that "preeminent" comes immediately before it, what an unpoetic word

also dont' elide the e in wretched (trust me on this)

>>2112895

"you are in denial" --

sporadic brilliance. the first 5 lines are nicely sardonic but "from here it's all downhill" reads like a cop-out which i don't think was the intent but still

the colors of the complexion and "chanting" is an excellent verb choice for an alarm, plus "a chance to chip this" is just a really cool looking phrase... i like "all sales are not final" but squishing it into a terminal couplet like that seems really mf doom/lil b, so either get a clams casino beat to spit this over or be less rhymey

>>2112914

"the meaning of" --

good advice, and the haldeman quote made me smirk, but deliver it more colorfully if possible, the piece kinda smacks of wallpaper paste which is a shame because it's very astute

shit, just realized i skipped "on art," one sec

>>2112922

"on art" --

the first two stanzas are really good (esp the parenthetical tongue description), insidious anti-art message notwithstanding

get rid of the 3rd, though, i think i see what your'e going for but it's unnecessary

and that's tar 7, peace to the zulu nation *drops mic*

>>2112929
The essay though?

>>2112938
See
>>2112922

>>2112938
Never mind my bad.

>>2112582
You going to rate the poetry now?

>>2112977
nogales and journey are good

the rest is kinda boring

why do people like nogales? it is easily the worst piece

>>2113017
what is bad about it? it is more interesting than the rest

you really think Young is better? you a troll, boy

>>2113022

it's just retarded. i fucking hated both the characters, they were both unrealistic and spoke like retarded autistic robots. it came across as literature as attempted by Rammstein, not long after he directed some shitty horror film. after he had had a lobotomy. it had no point.

>>2113034
hmmm I think you have some weird personal bias

the dialog is pretty realistic to me

>>2113017

But that's not poetry.

What do you do when someone outside the United States wins a prize?

>>2113083
It gets donated to Tao Lin.

>>2113086
Batter not submit mine incase it gets published, then.

>>2113086
Tao Lin should submit. /lit/ would love it. Don't think we wouldn't.

>>2112489
ha ha faggot.

>implying that every statement made is self agrandisation.

comment was for some of the pieces I enjoyed in the release.

>>2113083
>Implying paypal doesn't do currency exchange.

>>2112914
I wrote that! I too felt like some parts were much stronger. It was originally written in just a moment and every time I attempted to revise it it felt like it lost something do I just sent in the first try. I'm glad you enjoyed it (parts).

>>2113124
do was supposed to be so.

>>2112280
I enjoyed 'The Streets' although the ending 'The streets will still suffer' was, for lack of a better, more educated word, meh.

Writer of Cake, here - thanks for the feedback Anons. It's pretty much an SNL skit piece reminiscent of Mel Brooks. Nothing too special and certainly devoid of literary importance, but I thought it was a solid comedic piece and thereby worthy of submission. Anybody have specific notes to give me for revision?

>>2113169
You could have an ending.

What're some favorites, so far?

I'm too lazy to slog through the shitty ones.

>>2113207
Nogales, Arnold Snarb's poetry, On Art. Maybe Jessica Brown's poetry as well. Everything else is pretty skippable IMO.

Nogales is kind of trite, tbqh. But set against the background of the rest of the short fiction in TAR is fucking sparkles. It's such a relief, after reading all those horrible pieces, to read someone who has some idea what they're doing and some command of basic language. Maybe he's overrated because of the surrounding circumstances but come on guys, that's inevitably going to happen and it's not like it isn't the best fiction in this issue.

Also just gonna call out that Alexander Black poem for being wayyyyy too obvious about his shit

Arnold Snarb is really good! Better than any of the stuff I've seen in the OC threads.

Also I'd like to thank all the editors of TAR, for putting their time and money into this project. I'm very grateful for your efforts and I envy your dedication!

>>2113212
Just read Nogales. I don't think it's trite. It's probably a bit familiar but what story isn't, nowadays. I enjoyed it a lot.

What is the word count limit for submissions?

>mfw whenever my piece is mentioned there is no hatred

>>2113335
Spill it. Which one?

I'm sure we can muster up some ire.

>>2113345
On Art, hence the trip.

The Alcoholic - 5.5/10 - the epilogue was totally unnecessary and ruined what was already a mediocre story

The man at the bench - 4.5/10 - who cares. these life vignettes or whatever that are supposed to have a message aren't as good as you think they are. try submitting something with more of an arch

Young - 1/10 - reads like bad emo Tao Lin with frequent errors and bad command of language

Midsummer - 4/10 - I'm a bit tired, but it didn't really hold me enough to read it with any attention. I don't even know what the party was or if there were like 3 parties or what happened. Nor do I care.

Cake - 2.5/10 - What was the point of this? Either I didn't get it or it wasn't funny. I don't know why I gave this a 2.5, my scoring is pretty arbitrary I guess

The Good Doctor - 7/10 - Probably my favorite. Needs revising, some bad and clumsy sentences fuck it up, but overall a relatively good set up and ending. Someone else in this thread mentioned that this is a really common sort of story, but I read kind of a lot and haven't read anything like this in awhile, but I don't really read much modern fiction nor do I look for this sort of thing so who knows.

Nogales - 7/10 - Good technically, but agree that writing the woman's speech in dialect was a mistake. The story also didn't really do anything for me, but I think this guy is a good author.

Journey - 5.5/10 - Almost a 6 but what pissed me off was the consistent second guessing of the descriptions. Stop telling me how bad you are at describing something and try to describe it better. Saying "Whoa dude, I can't even explain it" is not good writing. If anything, considering the subject matter, be MORE concrete instead of vague. I mean, shit if you believe in heaven/hell/limbo/whateverthefuck, that shit should be the realest motherfucking real out there, not some dreamy dream stuff.

I don't read poetry because I am a mental midget I guess. The essay at the end was ok. No ranking for it though.

>>2113353
If "The Good Doctor" is your favorite, you just lost all credibility to have any opinion on anything, including that which is outside the realm of TAR.

>the speed at which this thread boomed overnight
HORY Shucks

>>2112672
I see no problems with a monthly serial, we'd be happy to see science fiction and fantasy content making a more regular appearance in TAR. As mentioned elsewhere, email us and we can try to work something out (theaprilreader@gmail.com)

>>2112802
>they better advertise on the other boards
I agree, and will be doing so today

>>2112781
Eh, we might. Email it to us so we can see the whole thing

>>2112863
The order of all pieces in TAR is done alphabetically by the authors first name ignore that one error I'm seeing where Alexander black goes before Arnold Snarb in poetry, last minute change

Previously, it had been going by the title of the piece alphabetically, but we dropped it in favor of the "more professional" manner of grouping all stories by an author together.

>>2113083
We send'em the award like any other winner. There are theoretically no limits to where we can transfer award cash.

>>2113254
Usually we say around ~4,500 words- but as you can no doubt see by issue 7, this is a very rough rule at best. If the piece is worthwhile and we're not overcrowded, we'll do our best to print the whole thing. The alternative would be serialization

Poetry ratings!

Poem for R - 7/10
Seraph - 7/10
Song - 2/10
And the Streets - 8.5/10
Rock Sonnet - ?/10
Cycle - 9/10
At Land's End - 6/10
You are in Denial - 7.5/10
On Art - 9/10

I know I'm definitely not the harshest guy here, but these are just, like, my opinions.

bump

TAR, I want to see fantasy this month. I don't care how lengthy it is.

>>2113896
Or sci-fi for that matter. /lit/ only seems to write standard fiction, I'm a little disappointed actually

>>2114049

Sci-fi next month, fellow anon

>>2114049

I am editing two of my novels for publication. Once I finish I plan to work on a Scifi piece for TAR. I hope it gets accepted (I fear I may not put the effort into it because I am anxious to start my next novel).

>>2113896
>>2114049

What kind of fantasy?

I think stuff in TAR has to be all deep and edgy and of Literary Merit with Themes and Allegory and stuff like that, so I'm not sure it's really the place to write about dragons and wizards and shit.

I don't see how a fantasy story would work.

>>2114084
man this is bad stereotyping. LOTR has literary quality, gormenghast has social commentary, prince of nothing has philosophical examinations, shardik has religious investigations - as does his dark materials.

>I think stuff in TAR has to be all deep and edgy and of Literary Merit with Themes and Allegory and stuff like that
>I don't see how a fantasy story would work.
>deep and edgy
>assuming fantasy stories can't have literary merit
you are everything wrong with /lit/

>>2114088

You have to admit that sci-fi and fantasy aren't really "proper" literature, though.

>>2114089
No, that's bullshit. They're just as much literature as anything else. I'm sure someone could do something inventive enough that /lit/ would like it.

>>2114109

Do it

post pics

This is easily the best issue.

The poetry is 100% nice, and the prose has some great moments.

>>2114114
wait what

When is the deadline for submissions to the next issue of TAR?

>>2114109
This.

I'd love to see something made for entertainment in TAR, instead of all this bogus hipster lolsoedgy shit.

Fantasy is entertaining. Something TAR lacks. I'd love to see some fantasy universe that captures and intrigues someone-- maybe in a series of short, unconnected stories in the same universe.

>>2114134
Usually by the 24th of each month. We accept content right up to the 30th however

>>2114136
Okay, thank you. And thank you for your dedication to this project.

>>2114140
Agreeing with this. You guys at TAR are awesome for keeping this thing around.

You guys really ought to try a bit harder sometimes. Everything I read by the editors of TAR just reeks of amateurism. E.g:
> While TAR still encourages authors to write and
submit content in diverse subjects and genres, as a rule of thumb sexually graphic or otherwise explicit content must be used for artistic as opposed for self-gratuitous purposes. In case there is any confusion regarding the vague notion of “artistic”, TAR considers it to be “being used to further or deepen a submission’s plot.”

The obvious thing here is that you failed to properly punctuate one of the few paragraphs you wrote in the magazine. The next is that you've ovbiously failed horribly to define what 'artistic' means, and while that may be a sort of hard thing to do, especially within such small confines, maybe it's best to realize the difficulties instead of trying and butchering it. Thirdly, I don't know why you even have to say something like this. Have you ever seen any literary publication say something even remotely similar to this? I doubt it. Probably because they're counting on the writers submitting stories to read the publication first and figure out what kind of work they publish.

I know this sounds really nit-picky and negative. I don't mean to come off that way, and it's certainly admirable that you guys are doing something other than creating arguments on online message boards. I just think you could be doing a lot more if you just put in a bit of thought and editing. Like read some other magazines and journals or even books on the subject and see what the best way of going about this thing is.

>>2114153
Agreed. It feels like TAR caters to a certain group of writers, despite their claiming openness to any genre. It feels like a very niche group, with little crags for writers of other genres to be accepted.

>>2114155
>Hi, I'm anonymous and I just love dat fantasy genre

>>2114153
>literary publication
This is 4chan.

>>2114155
i think generally speaking the people who try to write fantasy just do it badly. i'm sure they wouldn't reject it if it was well written.

>>2114165
A literary publication is a publication which publishes literature. TAR easily falls under this definition. I'm getting the sense that you feel that what TAR publishes is "not literature" because it's not as good as something written by Dostoevsky or Hemingway or Joyce, in which case you are either: a) still in high school, or b) still acting and thinking as if you were still in high school. I'm sure you also believe hip hop is "not music." You are being silly and stupid.

>>2114168
I think you're only half right. I'm sure there are a lot of bad fantasy and science fiction writers (I'm sure there are also a few good ones, too), but I think we also have to take into account that here on /lit/ none of us really know as much about literature and what exactly constitutes "good literature" as we'd like to believe. We're all sort of clueless, I guess, because thinking about and talking about and criticizing and writing literature are not things which come easy. They take years and years of practice. Thus when confronted with a fantasy story, good or bad, I would assume the editors of TAR, (understandably) unable as they are to differentiate good literature from bad literature all that well, are only human and looking to confirm their bias that all fantasy writing is bad writing (which is, like I say, not necessarily a completely unfounded bias; it's just not the whole story).

>>2113419
Links o the other postings on the other boards? Is anyone interested?

>>2114206
I posted on /tg/ and /x/, and can't say there has been much of a response either way.

>>>/x/8742607
The /tg/ link expired. I suspect we're advertising too early in the day

Hey TAR.

Given that you and your editors are opposed to the idea of publishing any genre fiction (sci-fi, horror, fantasy, etc) how do you feel about the idea of starting a subsidiary publication that caters to those of us who do write pulpier, genre content?

I'm sure there are enough of us on the board who do enjoy that sort of thing to warrant it.

>>2114219
They should just publish sci-fi, fantasy, horror in TAR with the other publications. There's no reason to make an entirely different magazine for that. I really hope to see something from at least one of those genres in November.

>>2114219
>Given that you and your editors are opposed to the idea of publishing any genre fiction (sci-fi, horror, fantasy, etc)
I think you're misinterpreting us. We are open to material of virtually any genre and have published genre content before. /lit/ might tend to write "literary" fiction, but that does not mean TAR is restricted to such.

Personally, I don't see the point of splitting up an already relatively small pool of submissions into two publications. It only makes for more work and smaller issues

>>2114241
Is TAR on duotrope?

>>2114266
If you weren't a total lazy slob you'd see that duotrope is not accepting any more magazines.

>>2114269
And you are an ass. Just a question dickweed.

I believe TAR is getting a really bad rap from all the faggot neckbeards who get off on dragons and elves and shit.

1.) Perhaps Prole can tell us just how many sci fi or fantasy submissions TAR has had so far. You're all whining about this when really nobody is probably submitting anything in these genres.

2.) Why should TAR lower the quality of content just because you guys can't handle reality? If it is well written, let it be published. But don't publish wizards and shit for the sake of having wizards and shit.

>>2114290
>Waaaaah, people enjoy entertainment, they must have problems with reality!

You're coming off like an ass. People enjoy historical fiction, and that's not reality at all. I guess you'll criticize them next? We just want more diversity in our reading. Liking entertainment is not a flaw. It's a flaw to insult other people's taste, when it does absolutely no harm to you.

>>2114290

I agree with number 2, but...

Care to take a guess how many people will bitch if a well-written fantasy or scifi story makes it in TAR?

>>2114301
Anyone who would bitch about a well-written fantasy piece is not worth taking seriously.

Besides, if that does happen (and it probably will) kindly note all the posters in this thread so far who've bitched about every story. Even the best stories (Nogales and Journey) have had a slew of people griping about how bad they are.

That's the nature of this board. If you have a problem with whiners / critiques, you really shouldn't submit to TAR. After all, it bills itself as "the electronic monthly with the harshest critics."

>>2114301
A lot.

>>2114290
>mfw Prole is silent on the #1

Really though, how often does TAR get sci-fi/fantasy/horror submissions, Prole? Got any this month? Fill us in.

>>2114290
That's why I'm suggesting there be a separate 'trash fiction' publication. It wouldn't necessarily need to be run by TAR, given the time and resources that would be needed for it (though I'm more than happy to lend a hand in any way possible, as I'm pretty fond of the idea).

That way we wouldn't have 'neckbeards' complaining about being underrepresented, and literary purists won't have to put up with their whining or having to read fiction that wouldn't be of any interest to them.

>>2114313
If you mean the most anal retentive, calloused, bitter, whiney faggots that critize then yes they are the harshest. The problem is /lit/ reads great books and when the writers producer mediocre to decent stories they go "why isn't this like . . ."

And variety and gaining more submitters will not only change TAR for the better, it will get more readers interested in TAR. The stories may be lacking but they tend to only lack because: 1. They are similar 2. They aren't perfectly written (by /lit/s standards).

2 will always be the same, but we can change 1.

>>2114330
Why not start your own e-zine that publishes fantasy and Sci Fi and have it come out in the middle of the month?

That way, the two ezines won't clog up the board with too many threads at once (15 day intervals) and people can read it while they wait for the next TAR, and people can read TAR while they wait for the next (your zine name here)

>>2114330
Let's not have two crap zines please. Prole don't listen to this fag. Just expand and you'll get more variety.

>>2114290
>>2114322
give him some time to respond dude. in any case, i'm pretty sure TAR publishes almost everything they receive (i had something shitty published last month). if they were to receive even halfway decent fantasy/sci-fi, i'm sure it'd get published so i doubt they received any.

>>2114351
This.

TAR really isn't that picky. If they got some good fantasy or sci fi, it would be in the issue. I'd bet both balls on it.

They just didn't get any.

I don't write, so I can't help here. But really, if people would just man up and submit something in the fantasy genre, I'm sure TAR would publish it.

>>2114346
If there's sufficient interest I'll give it a shot. I'll start a thread later this evening to see what the consensus is.

Hell, if nothing else it'll be an end to the argument that TAR apparently doesn't publish enough fantasy, even if it flops abysmally.

- Just fucking submit fantasy and science fiction to TAR

- Don't start another fucking zine, you morons, that's a terrible idea that is doomed to failure. Seriously, why are you so obsessed with proving yourself a gang of fools?

>>2114373
how about you just submit some fantasy to TAR instead?

>>2114377
Because I don't write good fantasy. I just like reading/critiquing fiction and doing administrative work.

Why is there so much hostility about the idea? Like I said, even if nobody submits any content and this thing fails completely we'll at least be able to stop people from complaining about TAR.

Plus, you'll get to laugh at me.

>>2114380
Because two zines = less content = it's retarded and you're retarded.

>>2114373
No. Fucking don't. We have TAR and that's enough. TAR is just starting to get decent. People will submit as TAR expands. We don't need another zine. Dot fucking start a thread.

I'll submit a fantasy story. I'll have to write something first and it'll probably suck.

>>2114373
Don't start another zine. It'd be pointless, like >>2114375 said.

Look, I submitted some fantasy last night, and they said they might publish it. They aren't biased in the least. Just submit something.

>>2114380
Because it's a terrible idea, for one thing. But the reason there are stakes is because (imo) every new project of this kind leaches vitality and momentum from TAR, even if it fails. Best case scenario, your thing fails and people see another stupid internet project and get that much more disillusioned about TAR and there's that much more friction and that many more disgruntled people. Worst case scenario, it's successful and that many people are drawn away from TAR.

For God's sake, just send fantasy to fucking TAR, you numbskulls. And to you, person I'm quoting whose name is in Cyrillic - don't let your personal fucking desire to be important and to feel like a cool dude lead you to do something idiotic. You're being a chode. Jesus. There is literally no good reason to do this.

>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
>>2114385
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS SO MANY TIMES THIS

>>2114385
Okay then. I won't. Point taken.

Sorry to have made you all mad with my suggestion.

>>2114380
>>2114382
>>2114383
>>2114384
>>2114385
>>2114387

So moving on. What did you like about this issue? I enjoyed the poetry more than previous issues. I still like last issue for the stories though.

>>2114397
Yeah, I really liked the poetry in this issue. Snarb is real good, Alexander Black is okay, Jessica Brown has obvious talent and I enjoyed reading her poetry. And On Art is a great poem that has a wonderful first stanza, frankly, and is a god damn poem. I really like On Art, a bunch.

>>2114397
I've said it once already, but "Journey" was very good.

>>2114402
man, i really didn't think journey was all that good. what did you like about it specifically?

>>2114399
>that swelling in my pants

"Journey" was good after the author stopped the "I can't describe this shit very well" and "using the term loosely" bullshit.

Protip for writers: When you admit that you can't describe shit well or accurately, the reader wants to stop reading your shit. It's like a sushi chef coming up to your table and going, "you might get inferior food tonight, but we'll see what happens!"

yaaaaaaa TAR!!!!

I will save tar from all its shitty authors. I am the hero it deserves.

>>2114567
i think the authors this issue aren't shitty at all

most of them seem to be good at writing

>>2114655
Black batman though.

Which did you enjoy anon? Why did you enjoy them?

>>2114672
journey - very descriptive and just generally nice to read. a bit like sixth sense so there is payoff

the alcoholic - i felt sorry for the characters, even the dad and the gay guy that is alluded to near the end. it is just sad to think of all the wannabe writers sitting around and drinking wine and the guy getting drunk...and the kid is the best writer (i guess) of them all.. and the kid is with his dad...i don't know, the whole thing was depressing, in a good way. there is so much hope among failure, in it

nogales - felt real, and didn't try to make things what they weren't. i like the scorpion imagery, and the end makes me feel like maybe the two characters will stop trying to harm each other like they do

I am not good at judging poetry, but liked reading all them

:3

Great work, everyone, on this issue.

bump

bamp

If your out there Prole.
I was wondering how would you pick a piece of literary excellence? Maybe I missed a previous thread about this, but I still would like to know. Will the TAR editors judge this and pick the piece for the $40 or will /lit/ be involved. If the latter is so then how do you combat samefagging from money hungry authors? Could you define literary excellence by posting a few previous entries that you may have considered? Is there a plan for a best of issue still?

I have enjoyed reading this issue as I have enjoyed reading all of TAR's previous issues. I am glad to see this working out well. Best of luck. Continue on and try to pick the very best when you can.

>>2116429
"Literary excellence" on TAR is like finding the clod of shit that smells the least in a sty.

>>2116445
And you are the winner of the $40.
Such a great line. Such depth. Such wit.

>>2116429
Recipients for the award would be picked solely by our editorial staff, prior to release of TAR and hence without consulting our readers. Because we have no way of really preventing distortion of public opinion by money-hungry authors, this method is the only practical means of doing so in my mind. Since the money raised for this award is going to be coming directly from TAR editors, it seems justifiable to me that they should be involved in selection of winners. Editors will be exempt from being nominated for the award, for obvious reasons.

In terms of defining literary excellence, I'll admit I'm at a bit of a loss. If any of the editors involved in TAR find a piece excellent by whatever standards they choose to judge, they may nominate it for the award and then bring the process of collective voting. What makes a piece "excellent" is completely arbitrary to the editor involved- all I can say is that having a majority vote means some level of collective agreement on quality can be reached. I'm not going to pretend TAR is representing some objective ideal of what makes good literature, because the definition of such a thing is far to vague to be practically applied.

>>2116505
Because we're not going to want to shell out money 24/7, the quality of work required to receive this award is going to have to be higher than most of what we receive. At the very least, it should stand a very good chance of getting published in a non-internet publication. If you want a example of something I'd consider awarding the prize for, Nogales this issue would stand a good chance.

However, we're creating this award with the intent of actually awarding it- so I wouldn't put it out of the question that we might award it to a few rougher authors the first few time just to show we're serious and it isn't out of reach. Don't be held back by self-consciousness and fear that you can't possibly get it, we understand the capabilities of our writers and are not going to set impossible standards none of them could possibly achieve. Relax, we're not excessively professional and the reward is fairly modest

Hope this answers your question

>>2116507
Yes. Yes it did. Thanks.

>>2116505
>Editors will be exempt from being nominated for the award, for obvious reasons.

are the editors writing under pseudonyms or what?

>>2116526
Not that I'm aware of. The reason I say this about editors is the guy who wrote Nogales is actually going to join as an editor for TAR 8 (hence the $40 instead of $30).

>>2116536
How does one becomes editor?

>>2116544
They ask

To be completely honest, the only reason we'd need more editors at this point would be to draw more cash from their pockets. 4 if already kind of pushing the limit to be honest. Larger organizations are harder control through a council format because it hinges on a majority of people being engaged- in my experience editors just start taking up unnecessary voting spaces while doing basically nothing when we get too large.

But if you REALLY want to apply to be a TAR editor and REALLY are motivated, email us at theaprilreader@gmail.com

for the record, this applies to everyone else in this thread as well

>>2116559
make 6 more people editors so we can get that 100 dollars, mang

itt

>>2116643
Fantasy is pretty bad, though. I mean, on the whole.

>>2116749
>Every genre is pretty bad, though. I mean, on the whole.
fix'd

how long does a peice have to be in order to go into TAR?

>>2116749
But Sometimes It's Good

i mean, yeah, a lot of fantasy is shit. good job figuring that one out lil buddy

Bump. Read some /lit/.

>>2117228
Why do I get the impression that the authors in this issue are all bumping the fuck out of this thread?

>>2117232
I've bumped twice and I'm not an author. I think this thread's actually doing pretty well in terms of feedback, so the authors shouldn't feel neglected. Every piece has been talked about more than once, though the poetry lacks in-depth criticism at this point.

Let's talk about who's submitted what so far.

Anyone submit any sci fi? How about fantasy? How well was it done?

>>2118245
Or is anyone working on a piece to submit?

I'm working on a short story for it; it's not fantasy nor sci fi, though.

Or do you all just plan to not do anything and then whine when the next issue comes out?

>>2118325
Obviously everyone doesn't just whine or there would be no content at all. I'm thinking about submitting a poem, maybe. Prose if I can write anything. We'll see.

>>2118325

i've submitted two pieces for the next issue, both pretty short prose, not fantasy/sci-fi

i'll leave judging up to the folks who read the magazine, but i shot for something decent in both

>>2118245

I may write a short sci-fi piece, but not sure yet. It probably won't be ready until the issue after next (December).

If everyone really does have a huge achin' hard-on for some sci-fi/fantasy, I'll push my friend to submit - he has dozens of short stories in both genres.

>>2118325

>semi colon

lol good luck

>>2119348
>implying it was used incorrectly

How many submissions does TAR typically get from month to month? Any of it unprintable? Do you print most of it?

>>2119567
TAR is eerily quiet about # if submissions / # rejected, as these questions have been asked before to no response.

I think they're too embarrassed to answer that they publish just about everything submitted. I can imagine no other reason to skirt the question.

>>2119599
i don't think they're all that quiet. in the issue 6 thread, prole had said he released everything other than a couple really terrible pieces with straight up obvious errors

i don't think there has ever been any pretense about that, but i do think that the quality is improving as more people are encouraged to submit

>>2119599
the earlier one was linked to a question "WHY SHUD FATASSY BE IN UR ZINE" which seemed like trollbait for which the other question would have only been a led-in. Hence, I ignored it.

>>2119567
I'll admit to have not done any number-crunching recently, but on average I would say TAR has gotten ~14 submissions each issue. This is a pretty fluctuating number

Issue 2: 9 submission emails
Issue 3: 12 submission emails
Issue 4: 16 submission emails
Issue 5: 12 submission emails
Issue 6: 12 submission emails
Issue 7: 18 submission emails
Issue 8: 16 submission emails (so far)

I'm not checking if we received several poems in one email, so these are just rough indicators of our submission counts. Issue 8 is building up submissions at a massive rate, and I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with 20 by the end of the month.

In terms of rejection counts, it is true we have been accepting pretty much everything. We rejected a small number of work up till now, somewhere around ~3 submissions (We don't have a specific label in the email so I'm not going to dig around for specifics).

However,we do seem to be getting more aggressive right now- Issue 7 rejected 2 poems: one because it was absolute shit, and the other because it was graphic in the vein of Parrot porn all over again. Last issue was also the first time TAR seriously tried to convene a meeting on what to include or omit due to the high number of submissions, a sign of what I suspect will be a step in the direction of increasing standards for TAR.

However more or less, what >>2119608 said has been our general policy. We're not pretending to be anything but a small zine

>>2119908
I wouldn't be surpised if you get thirty this time around. Someone has to be thinking "I can do good enough to make $40."

The money is going to be your first way to reel some people in. Problem is you basically have to keep up this prize thing for awhile or anons will collectively flip shit. You'll get better content this way though. If it's not too much info - could I ask if you are getting more site visitors and downloads recently. Has it steadily rose?

>>2119908
Also, do you think quality has gone up?

>>2120395
> Someone has to be thinking "I can do good enough to make $40."
I'm in agreement, and this has been one of the reasons I've advocated the incorporation of money into TAR right from the beginning. Previously, there has been very little reason why anyone would seriously want to submit to TAR other than sense of excitement or feeling of ownership associated with the board. This tie was stable, but very fragile and would never transform us into a prestigious zine. With the implementation of awards, we will have a stable material bond to authors which can physically provide them with returns that TAR could never give them before. This may very well be the beginning of something massive. Because we're only asking for $10 a month from editors essencially, it shouldn't be too big a financial burden to bear and pressures editors to be more productive or leave the organization (editor stagnation has always been an issue with this kind of thing).

In terms of downloads, I can't really say because I'm not typically in charge of that. Two days ago, the mediafire link was reading ~70 hits. I'd warrent at the very least we have 80 now. Wildweasal had been giving us figures as large as 120 for some issues, but I suspect this is simply because he is accounting for all downloads over an extended period of time as opposed to the immediate release schedule. 70 sounds like a more reasonable number for TAR readership, and I have no doubts that it has risen and will continue to rise- the size of this thread is literally double the normal TAR release, and readily attests to this.

>>2120403
Significantly. Compare Issue 2 with issue 8 and you'll see a massive jump in relative quality. The more people submitting, the greater the quality will inevitably be. Judging by the seeming increase in interest, quality will most likely follow hand-in-hand with awards as an incentive

And for the record, I fully plan on trying to give this award out for the next issue. This is almost a given now that we're introducing it

Official Website updated.

Is the $40 a one man prize or will it be split depending on how many high quality submissions you get?

Hi; I'm the new editor.

>>2121150
I'm not sure if it's ever been addressed, but the matter is entirely mandated by legalities. We can't actually have a "contest," because contests are subject to taxes--giving not only TAR some obligations (end of fiscal year forms and the like) but also giving the recipients the obligation of listing it on their taxes.

This is why we've switched the concept over to prize money that's awarded to submissions of literary quality. Such things are explicitly exempted in tax laws. Awarding more than one person per month for literary excellence would be too much like a contest with a "second place" winner (who isn't called a "second place winner" wink, wink.)

This is a decision all the editors made in an effort to cover our asses.

In other TAR news, a .mobi and a .epub of (the latest) Issue 7 is available for download at http://theaprilreader.org/october2011.html, and please note the social networking buttons, if you've not added TAR yet.

Happy writing and reading, everyone.

No Parrot Fuck? No thank you.

>>2121550
www.parrotcocksmonthly.com

>>2121564
my favorite periodical.

The link is up. Bump for those who may have not read the new issue. :) great job TAR.

Bumping for absolutely no reason

>>2123298
Well, talk about it. What content do you like of TAR? Why?

Are you submitting anything for next issue? Have you submitted anything for past issues?

Has there been any horror or sci fi stories included in these collections yet?

Bumping.

I don't get the fantasy bitching, Journey was pretty standard fantasy stuff and it's right fucking there...

>>2123643
There's been fantasy shit in past issues, too. I only know because I skipped over them when I realized what they were.

TAR was he best story

So, I'm thinking of submitting a story. Problem is: I'm pretty shit at writing in my opinion. Should I attempt anyway? It's not going to be a pretentious "2deep4u" narrative but just a simple story. No real moral or anything, just prose and plot. I'll try to make it something the il/lit/irati would read though.

>>2124388
do it

>>2124388
>LSD dream generator
>not pretentious
but in all seriousness, just submit it. From what I've seen so far, /lit/ seems to have a surprisingly large batch of talented writers

>>2124490
>LSD dream generator
>generator

The creator pretty much said the game is supposed to make absolutely no sense, like dreams do. I like it because exploring the dreamscape is pretty fun.

Anyway, I'll go for it. What's the deadline for submissions so I can know how long I can procrastinate?

>>2124527
Send before the 24th should be good.

>>2123437

Can someone answer this please. I can't acces the IRC to ask and I'm not really interested in other genres.

>>2124943
Hi, I'm one of TAR's editors.

The guy/gal who said the 24th is semi-right. This is about the date we begin to compile the issue.

However, we consider all available submissions up until the release date of the 1st. Obviously, if you submit a tome on the 31st, we won't have the requisite time to go through it, but if it is a short work or a short poem, and it is good, we will find a way to include it.

It is my personal belief (and I am sure the other editors will agree) that the more time alloted to writers means the more chances for quality submissions. We want you guys to spend time and effort on your creations, so we try to be as accomodating as possible, however possible.

Happy writing!

>>2124943
So far we have received a handful of science fiction and a few fantasy submissions for TAR. I'll admit that I usually don't look at pieces in full until we start compiling , but I can assure you we do have submissions other than fiction for a change.TAR does not have any horror pieces currently.

Also, we've reached the 20th-submission threshold for TAR 8. This is great! My sincerest thanks to all authors planning on submitting and those who have submitted so far

My God, /lit/, I might submit something if what got in last time will get in again. I actually feel encouraged to write now.

>>2125580
Okay. This issue is what prompted you to write something?

This issue wasn't that bad.

Bump because TAR deserves more than 30 submissions.

So is stuff submitted round about now going in the November or December issue?

>>2127531
Well, since there are so many submissions they'll probably have to either increase the size of the zine (good idea), push some to the Dec issue (okay idea) or get harsher with what gets in and what doesn't (good idea).

I imagine they'll get more selective and push a few things into the December issue. But if the December issue gets the same amount of submissions they'll have to increase the size of the zine.