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Hayley's Substack

@crafting_first_chapters

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Craft essays. Author interviews. Subscribe to my Substack: First Chapters.
@superhayleykaystuff personal

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41 authors to read to celebrate America 250. You've probably not heard of some of them! I hadn't. Pull out this list at the party and show everyone how smart you are.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/your-america-250-reading-list

This list focuses on authors writing during the 20th century. And I hope you find several new to you authors to read. These authors write across genres and styles. There is something for everyone here.

And don't forget to look for these books on Libby, Bookshop.org, or Thrift Books. Support small, independent book stores.

#america250 #bookrecommendations #firstchapters #lgbtqbooks #womenauthors by @crafting_first_chapters

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3 months ago

It's here! Interview with @aniking_author discussing Family Night, their flash fiction collection. Listen or read the interview with Ani King & preorder! They give so many tips for writers as well as book and lit mags to check out, all linked in the post. Your summer reading guru provided.

1. Image for the article featuring the cover of Ani's book, Family Night
2. Ani King's author photo
3. Ani discusses gender
4. Horse Girl discussion excerpt
5. Image for "feels like rain" written by Ani King and art by Kelly Emmrich published in @paranoidxtree
6. Ani's framed copy of "feels like rain"
7. Ani tells us about being a submissions editor at @smokelongq
8. Ani's cats, which they described as "glorified couch pillows who occasionally scream for food" in our interview.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/interview-with-ani-king-about-their

#flashfiction #firstchapters #authorinterview #fiction #familynight by @crafting_first_chapters

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4 months ago

I'm baaacckkk! You can now submit your first chapter or a short story for feedback from moi.

Quick Deets
$50 for 5000 words
4 weeks response time (average)

Full details on my Substack or website!

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/feedback-is-live

https://hayleyshucker.com/feedback/

Don't you want writing notes from this crazed individual? I would if I were you. @superhayleykaystuff

#writingtips #writingfeedback #firstchapters #shortstory #novel by @crafting_first_chapters

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6 months ago

Read Lit Mags and Make Your Own Pocket Zine in my Substack post this week. There is a list of digital and print publications for you to check out. By no means comprehensive.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/lit-mag-week

The template is free on my website. It shows what the font looks like in size 9 and size 10 font. It tells you about how many words fit per page or how many lines for poems. Once you get the hang of folding it, it's easy.

Plus here are some issues of print lit mags I've purchased over the years, styled in front of my boas from the Lily Allen concert.

Happy zine making

#firstchapters #literarymagazine #zinemaking #readinglist #writingcommunity by @crafting_first_chapters

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8 days ago

The monthly round up also has book and film reviews. Find your next read and your next watch!

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/september-2026-round-up

By the way, Amy Hemel is the guest judge for Craft's flash fiction contest this year. I think a good idea for people wanting to submit to a contest is to be familiar with what the guest judge writes. And wow oh wow, does Sing to It have a gorgeous style.

Otherwise, enjoyed cuddles with cats, brownies for breakfast, watching an old movie new to me and being delighted by some of the twists, and starting a new book of short stories where one is in the pov of a lamp post (it works) and another is about a land war between the bees and the wasps.

#firstchapters #tbr #moviereview #bookrecommendations #speculativefiction by @crafting_first_chapters

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16 days ago

It's the end of the month! Time for Shout Outs! Links to read or purchase in post. Plus there are new book releases, book reviews, and movie reviews. Had to shout out the whole issue of Rawhead because they have some freaking powerhouses in number 3.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/september-2026-round-up

@slevy43 @christielauryn @kmbaysal @manifest_gothic @a_june__oh @cynthia.atkins1 @nothing.collapses @kuhus_library @bethanydatuin @christinaltudor @turneytalks @afb1987

#firstchapters #fiction #poetry #literarymagazine #writingcommunity by @crafting_first_chapters

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17 days ago

Part 2! Interviews with The Speculative Detective Agency anthology authors. Available from @diversionbooks
And edited by @mattgoodwin6 and @rnz1000

Interviews with authors below. Give them a follow and order your copy! It's perfect for lovers of crime fiction. 🔎

@rnz1000
@endorphinique
@therealalexgrecian
Bsky @lenka-sen.bsky.social

#thespeculativedetectiveagency #fiction #firstchapters #shortstory #speculativefiction by @crafting_first_chapters

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21 days ago

Authors from the upcoming The Speculative Detective Agency anthology give writing advice in a special 2 part interview. Part 1 is available to read now with interviews from @theninagalaxy @dvdeanda and @speculativescribbler

The collection edited by @rnz1000 and @mattgoodwin6 and is available from @diversionbooks

Read the interviews on my Substack (part 2 coming tomorrow), give them a follow, & pre order the book! Link in post.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/interviews-with-the-speculative-detective

#thespeculativedetectiveagency #firstchapters #interview #speculativefiction #shortstory by @crafting_first_chapters

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22 days ago

Free writing prompts using some iconic films from Dolly and Tim! (Bonus examples and prompts for paid subscribers!) These films get so much right about character and you can use them for your writing too!

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/working-9-to-5-while-shivering-with

Plus Orion was being lovey. @superhayleykaystuff

#writingprompt #firstchapters #dollyparton #timcurry #writingtips by @crafting_first_chapters

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a month ago

September is National Translation Month where we celebrate literature in translation. I've covered several translated novels over on my Substack. A wide variety and really something for everyone. I've also spotlighted other books by these authors, most of which I've also read.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/happy-national-translations-month

We really need translators! Some of these books waited years before being translated to English, which is tragic. If you speak and read multiple languages please consider a career in translation!

Check out the list of what I've covered and find your next read. Or share what authors in translation you've read and enjoyed!

#writingcommunity #firstchapters #literature #literatureintranslation #fiction by @crafting_first_chapters

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a month ago

Some recent, current, and future reads.

Sing to it by Amy hemel
I don't belong to you by Kiki Palmer
Dead Girls don't dream by Nino Cipri
My husband's wife by Alice Feeney
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki (One Story)

#firstchapters #fiction #memoir #shortstories #flashfiction by @crafting_first_chapters

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a month ago

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman craft analysis is up on my Substack. See how Hoffman enchants the reader from the very first line.

https://hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/practical-magic-by-alice-hoffman

And let me work my magic on your writing. I give feedback on opening pages or short stories. More info on my website haykeyshucker.com

#practicalmagic #fiction #firstchapters #practicalmagic2 #craftanalysis

@superhayleykaystuff by @crafting_first_chapters

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a month ago