Many literary gatekeepers want the folktale to be retold by a person who
represents the culture that is depicted. I retold a Cherokee folktale, First Fire. For years, I had been
searching for such a story to pay tribute to my great-great grandmother, who
was of Cherokee heritage.
Editors want the retelling vetted by an authority in the subject. With First Fire, the publisher asked a
representative of the Cherokee Nation to vet the story.
My goal was to stay true to the original story, but retelling is a
balancing act. The folklorist in me wanted to retain the flavor of the culture
and accurately represent it. At the same time, the author in me wanted to add
my voice to the rhythm of the words. Together, the folklorist and author sides
partnered to retell a story that is customized to today’s reader. Folktales are
meant to be retold and recreated by the next storyteller who passes it along
and keeps the story alive.
Call
for submissions for Adult Writers
Flash Fiction Online. We publish stories from 500 to 1,000 words in length. They’re very short, but they are still stories. That means the best ones have strong, interesting characters, plots, and (to some extent, at least) settings.
We welcome submissions from
writers of every race, religion, nationality, gender, and sexual orientation.
Regarding
Content
We’re not that concerned
about genre. Many of us have a fondness for science fiction and fantasy, but we
also like literary fiction; and in any case, great flash stories aren’t always
easily classified. If you wrote it, and you love it, then submit it.
Submission guidelines at http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines/
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