iction writers are taught to show, not tell. In each Short Fiction Lab, award-winning short fiction writer Peter M. Ball presents an original story and an accompanying essay showcasing a particular aspect of the craft or business of writing inspired by the creative work.

The Story: Winged, With Sharp Teeth

There have always been lands not mapped out in an atlas, and those lands have always needed heroes. Once, Steve had that chance to visit another world, but he stayed and grow older, finding contentment in his friends and his job as council librarian. In Winged, With Sharp Teeth, Steve learns his new boyfriend had a similar opportunity… and the winged crocodile determined to tempt Duke into becoming a hero hasn’t abandoned the quest just because Duke’s an adult.

The Essay: Two Hundred Copies or Bust

In Two Hundred Copies or Bust, Peter M. Ball asks what success really looks like for a writer, whether they’re traditionally published, self-published, or just starting out. From the expectations of other people to the secret ambitions that drive the writer, Ball explores the tensions that wear on a writer’s ambitions and shift our perceptions of whether a story is good, great, or disastrous.