Why do writers abbreviate their names? I know S.E. Hinton abbreviated hers cause the publishers thought she’d sell more books if they could convince readers the roughneck characters from The Outsiders and Rumblefish were written by a hardscrabble dude and not a 16-year-old girl. I’m sure some other lady authors have pulled that trick in the past too. People do it now because they want their names to sound fancier than they are, and thus more credible maybe? If you’re name’s Jane Smith then J.R.R. Tolkiensmith is definitely got more panache to it. The worst is when they only abbreviate one name, like S. Steven Stevenson. Like that first name is of national security.

Personally it’s an immediate red flag whenever I see it in the submissions inbox or on the book table, sends a message that someone’s trying to be a fancy boy, or girl. We know this is why people imitate it, but why did authors originally do it? Anyone know?

Rule #32 of the internet: if there aren’t pics, it didn’t happen. These days, our actions aren’t validated without documentation. You can plan for a party all you want, but if you forget your camera, it may as well be happening in the Arctic Circle. Thankfully the long arm of Electric Literature can always be counted on to pick up the slack.

Personal Observations:

– When there’s Draper and Schwartzman to be watched on a Sunday night in a warm apartment, people will instead come in droves to a tiny bar in Brooklyn to watch poets read. This is a shocking.

– The crowd loves Sasha Fletcher. They respond to his calls. They do what he tells them to do.

– When Ben Mirov gives people a choice between Sadness and Confusion, people will choose Confusion.

– Melissa Broder is a delightful co-host.

– Lauren Ireland wears amazing tights.

– Krystal Languell would like to destroy Florida. This is upsetting.

– While the poets get sad and ruminative, Paul Kwiatkowski does drugs with an ex-con, ex-girlfriend.

– Despite their drummer falling asleep in the van, Adam Robinson‘s band, Sweatpants, is a cathartic exercise in garage rock.

– John Madera can play guitar and drums.

– Jesse Hlebo is much taller in person than in photos.

– David Peak is a tireless supporter of the scene.

– Dylan Suher takes his name being misspelled in print in stride.

– Rose Wind Jerome cheers on her friends even in the face of death.

– Greg Gerke and John Dermot Woods are going to get their asses handed to them this Friday at the Monkey Bicycle Reading.

– Friends who don’t normally come to readings should be thanked profusely. Thank you Anna, Emily, David, Cara, Brent, Sandra, Kristen and Margaret.

– A digital camera is usually hiding in a forgotten corner of a messenger bag. This will be revealed the day after the event requiring documentation.

There is a party this Sunday. The purpose is to celebrate beautiful words and images that have been made here. Many people are very excited about this. So much so that they have been designing posters of their very own. The count is up to three.

Melissa Broder‘s design:

And Adam Robinson‘s entry:

I am going to be there having a good time. If you would like to be there and have a good time as well, come join.

Congratulations to our nominees for Dzanc’s Best of the Web 2011 Anthology. We’ve published some damn good stories here on the site this year, but these are three that will leave a mark on you…

What She Had by Alice Benson

Sea Monster by Ben Loory

Sofianne by Nick Antosca

Thanks to Alice, Ben and Nick for trusting Annalemma with their work and thanks to Dzanc for devoting time and resources to online writing.

Recent contributing illustrators Ana Mouyis and Zachary Zezima have been lending their talents to Why Not Peace?, an initiative combining the creative work of artists with the voices of those closest to the war. Check out these short films animating the words of soldiers in Iraq.

Also check out the afiliated Peace Soldier project:

Technical problems be damned. We’re having a party in Billy-burg this weekend. If I don’t see you there I am coming to your apartment and I am going to stand in front of the TV until you put on some jeans and come hang out with us. If you are intimidated by this flyer, here is one that Melissa made that is much more pleasing to the girly eye:

Advance copies of the Annalemma Issue Seven: Endurance arrived and it looks so good it’s tear worthy. Here’s some Glamour Shots. Really proud of this one. I know I say this every time but it really is the best issue yet.

Got an email from the printer representative this morning, a lovely gentleman by the name Marteinn Jónasson, saying that 50 copies of Annalemma Issue Seven: Endurance have been express shipped from the plant and should be here tomorrow. A few of these copies will go to staff members and press outlets but the majority of them will be available Oct. 17th at Bruar Falls when Lapetitezine.org and us throw our dual release party, Enduring Freaks. The bulk of the shipment should arrive by boat sometime at the end of the month. Yeah, by boat. Why? Because it’s coming from Iceland.

Why Iceland? Because that’s where Oddi Printing calls home. Reykjavík, to be precise. Love saying that word, Reykjavík. (It means Bay of Smoke. How cool is that?) Why Oddi? Because they are able to offer high quality printing at extremely competitive prices. Iceland felt the crush of the global financial crisis of 2008 greater than most countries, but things are looking promising.

Issue Seven ships November 1st to stores and the intelligent, attractive people who have pre-ordered online. Are you intelligent and attractive? Of course you are. Pre-order here.

PANK, Mud Luscious and Annalemma are combing powers dark and light this February at AWP. Come join us for Divination in DC, a gathering of writers reading work that will change your future.

Congrats to Annalemma Issue #5 contributors Anne Elizabeth Moore and Dan Moreau for receiving notable mentions in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2010.

Anne’s essay “Reimagining the National Border Patrol Museum” and Dan’s story “The King of the Jews” were both selected by the series editor as outstanding pieces. I love this series and I’m very proud to have been able to publish both of these fantastic works. Well done, Anne and Dan!

I just ordered my copy like a proud papa (sniff).