Inner Workings: A Calendar of Fools Anthology

Read these stories for enjoyment, then explore their Inner Workings to discover what makes them tick.

A young girl who can communicate with the creatures of the forest faces hunting season in her hometown; a stranded explorer in a high-tech skinsuit fights for survival on a treacherous world; two soul-devouring possessor spirits find themselves locked in a mystic battle between bodies; and trouble erupts on a world where everyone will live forever—except you! These are just a few of the stories in this diverse collection of sixteen science fiction and fantasy tales from sixteen award-winning authors. Their accompanying essays draw back the curtain to reveal the hidden techniques that produced these compelling stories.

Along with twelve original short stories and essays by recent Writers of the Future contest winners are four reprinted stories and essays from acclaimed authors Martin L. Shoemaker, Kary English, Eric James Stone, and Wulf Moon. In addition, Kevin J. Anderson and James A. Owen have contributed bonus essays on writing.

Contributors include:

• Zack Be, Anthology Editor and preface author
• Kevin J. Anderson, author of craft essay “Building Bonfires”
• Eric James Stone, author of “A Special Extra Christmas” with his author comments
• Martin L. Shoemaker, author of “A Hamal in Hollywood” and craft essay “Panning for Gold”
• Kary English, author of “Poseidon’s Eyes” and craft essay “Using Observation to Create Realism in Fiction”
• Wulf Moon, author of “Shaken, Not Stirred” along with a behind-the-scenes look at creating the story
• James A. Owen, author of craft essay “The Work”
• A. X. Ander, author of “Ash Fall” and craft essay “Rewiring the World: The Transformation Story”
• Zack Be, author of “The Bygone” and craft essay “Asking After Death”
• F. J. Bergmann, author of “In the Cards” and craft essay “You, Too, Can Disguise a Lack of Expertise by Making Shit Up!”
• John M. Campbell, author of “Uncross the Stars” and his essay describing the process of writing the story
• Andy Dibble, author of “Pro-Vote” and “Storytelling Promises in ‘Knight’s Blood’”
• David A. Elsensohn, author of “Skin” and craft essay “Creating Plot Via Themes and Research in Speculative Fiction”
• Storm Humbert, author of “Teach Them to Yearn” and craft essay “Wonder: Chasing the Dragon”
• Erik Lynd, author of “Flavorless” and craft essay “How to Write a Story in 24 Hours”
• M. Elizabeth Ticknor, author of “Old Man Coyote Meets Mother Torment” and craft essay “Show and Tell: Bring Your Characters to Life with Dialogue and Emotional Beats”
• Rebecca E. Treasure, author of “Deer Dancer” and craft essay “Hypnotizing Your Reader”
• Luke Wildman, author of “Knight’s Blood” and craft essay “Action and Reaction in Andy Dibble’s ‘Pro-Vote’”
• C. Winspear, author of “Turtlespear” and craft essay “A New Mythic”