11-03-2024 | 1:00 pm ET via ZOOM

Opening Statement

Welcome to DreamCasters, a DreamForge discussion group devoted to helping our members improve their writing and storytelling through discussion and sharing expertise.

DreamForge News

DreamCaster Dates for 2024

Here are the dates and guests for the next three months.

• November 3, Sunday – Jessica Carver, editor of 2025’s Triangulation “Dark Hearts”
• December 7, Saturday – TBD.
• January 5, 2025 (Sunday) – David Hankins (SF & Fantasy Author – on Branding & Social Media)

Member & Author Accomplishments

DreamForge Magazine Celebrates WSFA Award Win for Kai Holmwood’s Inspiring Story

DreamForge Magazine is proud to announce that “A Bowl of Soup on the 87th Floor,” a powerful and heartwarming story by author Kai Holmwood, has won the prestigious 2024 WSFA Small Press Award for best short fiction published by a small press. The Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA) presented the award at Capclave on September 28, recognizing Holmwood’s debut story, which was featured in DreamForge Magazine’s Issue 12 (March 2023).

The WSFA Small Press Award celebrates the best original short fiction published by small presses, and “A Bowl of Soup on the 87th Floor” stood out among finalists for its vision of hope and the impact of small actions in creating a better future. The story, set in the near future, follows the efforts of two women, one young and one old, whose cooperative culinary adventure results in a soup that saves a part of the natural world, proving that even the smallest gesture can ignite meaningful change.

Author Kai Holmwood expressed her gratitude: “Sometimes it feels like the world is doing its best to insist that things are hopeless and that the future is inevitably bleak and dark. While I’ll never claim there are easy solutions, I believe any chance for a better future depends on hope—not only hope for the big picture but also hope that even our small actions can matter. I’m honored beyond measure that my story about a bowl of soup making a tangible difference in a solarpunk future won this award, not only because I’m personally delighted—and of course I am!—but because it means that vision of hope resonated with others.”

“A Bowl of Soup on the 87th Floor” is free online at: https://zurl.co/6XSM.

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The full DreamCaster gallery of published stories is online at Airtable.

Let us know about any new publications, awards, or accomplishments you might have. If you get news to me at Scot.Noel@DreamForgeMagazine.com, I’ll make sure to mention it.

Our Program – Jessica Carver

Our original scheduled guest for November was author, screenwriter, and game developer Chris Pasetto. Some family matters will keep Chris away from us in November, but we’ll be rescheduling him in the months ahead.

In November, our guest will be Jessica Carver, editor of 2025’s Triangulation “Dark Hearts.” This is the 22^nd iteration of the anthology. Submissions open November 1^st and close January 31^st.  Up  to 5,000 words, with a sweet spot of 3,000. Dark Hearts is a women-centered theme for which anyone can submit stories. The anthology will feature speculative stories and poems about women who are anti-heroes.

Send us your stories about shady ladies: women and female-presenting characters breaking the rules, defying social norms, and getting up to no good! Genre: We accept science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and enjoy intelligent blends of the three. Stories and poetry outside these main genres’ will not be considered. Editor loves: supportive female friendships. Women with a mastery of weapons or powers. Women in STEM or in disguise. Cyborgs. Hackers. Heists. Underdogs. Romance! Sex, violence and swearing are fine, but execute thoughtfully. We love creative interpretations of our themes, but require stories and poems to be a solid fit.

Eligibility: All writers; including those who are known or related to the editorial staff, may submit to Triangulation. New as well as established authors are welcome to submit.

Learn more at: https://parsec-sff.org/triangulation/

Giveaway This Month!

This month one of our attending DreamCasters will win a copy of the “Fireside Quarterly” anthology from Autumn 2020. This copy is still in shrink wrap. It is edited by Maurice Broaddus, who has published fiction across a number of genres including young adult, horror, fantasy and science fiction. With a dozen novels and nearly 100 short stories in print, his gaming work includes writing for the Marvel Super-Heroes, Leverage, and Firefly role-playing games.

In December

In December, we will either have a guest (we’re seeing if Chris Pasetto can reschedule his appearance that soon), or we’ll have a webinar on story structures and scene writing.

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Story Prompts

Science Fiction— “A Taste of the Past.” In a future where time travel exists but is strictly regulated, an underground network offers the ultra-wealthy the ultimate luxury: dining experiences in different historical eras. The further back in time, the more exclusive and expensive the meal. Time travel is supposed to be solely under the jurisdiction of the Time Guardian Corps, an organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of the timeline and preventing unauthorized temporal activities.

An ambitious epicurean named Alexander, a billionaire bored with contemporary luxuries, seeks the thrill of historical dining. Taking more and more risks, his appetite endangers the timeline and ultimately his own existence.

Fantasy— In a fantasy world where magic is woven into the very fabric of existence, individuals channel magical abilities through the clothes they wear. The potency and nature of one’s magic are directly influenced by the intricate embroidery crafted by master embroiderers. These artisans are revered, their stitches binding not just thread but also the elemental forces of magic. One such embroiderer, Elara, is renowned for her unparalleled skill. However, she begins to face complaints from dissatisfied customers. Unbeknownst to them, Elara’s eyesight is failing, causing mistakes in her work that disrupt the magical balance for those who wear her garments.

Disclaimer: These ideas may or may not be original, convergent ideas are common. DreamForge makes no copyright or monetary claim on these story prompts. Have fun.