Just Say Neigh

The Drowning Machine’s Naomi Johnson has assembled a contingent of 19 well-known contenders for the third annual Watery Grave Invitational Short Story Contest. Among them are Patti Abbott, Eric Beetner, Nigel Bird, and Sandra Seamans.

The next step is for all 19 of those writers to create an original, high-quality short story of 3,500 words or fewer. Oh, one more hurdle: the stories all have to somehow incorporate a horse. “I don’t care what your story is about, find a way to get a horse in there,” Johnson instructs. “From stories built around horses to a passing reference to Secretariat (or another equine star); or even so slight a reference as a character drinking a Colt .45 or selling heroin. Pony rides at the fair, a Ford Mustang, Little Joe Cartwright’s big brother, it all counts.”

The finished tales are due by Sunday, June 5.