The October Edit: UFO Hoaxes, How to Avoid Interruptions & Revisiting Hiroshima
We've got flying saucers, survivors of the bomb, tricks and tips to increase writing productivity and more. Here are three of our favorites from this month that we want to make sure you don't miss.
Happy Halloween, to all who celebrate! We’re big fans of spooky season in my house, with our 4-year-old leading the charge, always pointing out “scary” decorations and asking to hear spooky stories. Which means I’m attempting to dress up this year… as a witch! I like to keep it classic. 😉
Aside from Halloween, something else I’m excited about right now, of course, is our Memoir Prize, which we announced earlier this week! I love our prizes because it always feels like a fun challenge to discover new voices and stories among so many great submissions. I’m also thrilled to have New York Times bestselling author and memoirist Jami Attenberg as our guest judge this year. Her prolificness is so impressive, as is her book 1,000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, which I’m currently rereading and, well, it sure is resonating! (Not me tearing up at “How do we reclaim our connection to our work? Honey, don’t worry, you got this. All you have to do is find your place at the beginning.”)
Without further ado, I’d like to bring you three favorites from this month in case you missed them the first time around: a feature about a UFO hoax that has twists and turns you will not see coming!; a StoryCraft piece about how exactly to avoid being interrupted by daily life (and when it’s OK or even beneficial); and in honor of Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors, winning the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a revisit to an important Narratively Classic about Hiroshima from a few years back. Plus a word from our sponsors and partners. Enjoy!
1. The Great British UFO Hoax
How a band of enterprising engineering students convinced the police, Army, Air Force and the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence that England was being invaded by flying saucers.
Story by Paul Brown
2. Writers: How to Avoid Constantly Being Interrupted—And When to Embrace It
Disruptions, from phone alerts to sick days, can derail our writing. Four authors talk about how they manage to (mostly) maintain the flow, with the help of timers, candles and compartmentalizing.
Story by Cameron Walker
Sponsor Shout-Out: Write Your Own Extraordinary Story at the University of New Hampshire
Our MFA program is small and emphasizes individual attention within a supportive community where cross-genre exploration is encouraged. The stunning campus is surrounded by nature and culture.
P.S. Interested in advertising with Narratively? To find out more about our offerings and rates, please get in touch at hello@narratively.com.
3. Narratively Classic: Daughters of the Bomb: A Story of Hiroshima, Racism and Human Rights
On the 75th anniversary of the A-bomb, a Japanese-American writer speaks to one of the last living survivors—and traces connections from Malcolm X to the fight to end nuclear war.
Story by Erika Hayasaki
Partner Shout-Out: Arcadia Publishing Presents Creative Nonfiction: The Final Issue
The collection of 32 essays brings together the finest work from the magazine’s 78 issues and will be released November 5, 2024. Preorder from Arcadia Publishing between now and November 4, and receive a 30 percent discount, plus free shipping, on your order. Discount code: CNF2024.
