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Clarity: Queer Sci Fi's 9th Annual Flash Fiction Contest
Clarity (noun)
Four definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:
1) Coherent and intelligible
2) Transparent or pure
3) Attaining certainty about something
4) Easy to see or hear
Clarity features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
Four definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:
1) Coherent and intelligible
2) Transparent or pure
3) Attaining certainty about something
4) Easy to see or hear
Clarity features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2022
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Coatsworth
90 books189 followersScott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Want to read
February 25, 2023I'm delighted to say that I have a paranormal lesbian story in this anthology, titled "Verity"!
October 17, 2022
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. It feels disingenuous to give this a star rating since I have a story in it – but mine is only one of well over a hundred, so…
And just to show you how subjective reviews and even awards are, my top ten list includes just two of the stories that received a judge's choice award and none of the top three winning entries. In reading order, my favourites were as follows.
• The Vampire and the Werewolf Priest by Darrell Z. Grizzle
• Franklin by Jordan Ulibarri (judge's choice - B.A. Brock)
• Clearing the Heir by Gina Storm Grant
• Death by Siren by Alex Blanc
• Translucent by Steve Fuson
• The Cursed Princess by Jamie Lackey
• The Sitter R.L. Merrill
• Magic mirror by Lori Alden Holuta (judge's choice - J.M. Dabnev)
• The Unicorn Handler by Beáta Fülöp
• As Foretold by Marie Robertson
And just to show you how subjective reviews and even awards are, my top ten list includes just two of the stories that received a judge's choice award and none of the top three winning entries. In reading order, my favourites were as follows.
• The Vampire and the Werewolf Priest by Darrell Z. Grizzle
• Franklin by Jordan Ulibarri (judge's choice - B.A. Brock)
• Clearing the Heir by Gina Storm Grant
• Death by Siren by Alex Blanc
• Translucent by Steve Fuson
• The Cursed Princess by Jamie Lackey
• The Sitter R.L. Merrill
• Magic mirror by Lori Alden Holuta (judge's choice - J.M. Dabnev)
• The Unicorn Handler by Beáta Fülöp
• As Foretold by Marie Robertson
October 8, 2022
I'll never understand how authors can pack so much emotion and imagery into 300 words or less. It absolutely blows my mind! I enjoyed every story in it, and I while I can't say I have a favorite per se, 077 Appetite by Andrew Vaillancourt (300 words) really stuck with me. It had a satisfying ending and, without giving too much away, reminded me of a certain person who is very much in the public eye in today's world. Cannot recommend this anthology enough!
October 1, 2022
Writing prompt:
Clarity (noun):
1. Coherent and intelligible
2. Transparent or pure
3. Attaining certainty about something
4. Easy to see or hear (back cover)
Contest rules:
Maximum: 300 words, a complete story, Clarity-themed, "sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, or horror, with LGBTQ+ characters (Coatsworth, Foreword, Clarity, ix).
The result? A richness of tales, 120 to be exact, with "interpretations ranging from an 'Aha moment' to bubbling laughter at the water cooler, to various versions of what can and cannot be seen in a mirror, ghosts, and ...
You won't be disappointed. Recommended.
For full disclosure, this anthology includes a story I wrote.
Clarity (noun):
1. Coherent and intelligible
2. Transparent or pure
3. Attaining certainty about something
4. Easy to see or hear (back cover)
Contest rules:
Maximum: 300 words, a complete story, Clarity-themed, "sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, or horror, with LGBTQ+ characters (Coatsworth, Foreword, Clarity, ix).
The result? A richness of tales, 120 to be exact, with "interpretations ranging from an 'Aha moment' to bubbling laughter at the water cooler, to various versions of what can and cannot be seen in a mirror, ghosts, and ...
You won't be disappointed. Recommended.
For full disclosure, this anthology includes a story I wrote.
October 16, 2022
How much story can possibly be told in only 300 words? Quite a lot, actually. It's no small feat to take a story concept and distill it down to its essence. There's no room for filler words, grand exposition, backstory, scenery-chewing descriptions... there's just that tasty bit of nutmeat hiding inside the thick shell. Crack that shell and inside it there's Clarity.
The anthology contains 312 stories, each one a well-tuned nibble that even the busiest person can find time to read. I kept the book out where it could be easily grabbed whenever I had a few moments between activities or just needed to take a break. After reading a story, I'd return to the task at hand with a fresh concept for my mind to mull over. It's a good way to keep your mind sharp!
Full Disclosure Time: I have a story in Clarity - and I am proud and honored to be amongst such amazing company. I will be searching out many of these writers other works.
The anthology contains 312 stories, each one a well-tuned nibble that even the busiest person can find time to read. I kept the book out where it could be easily grabbed whenever I had a few moments between activities or just needed to take a break. After reading a story, I'd return to the task at hand with a fresh concept for my mind to mull over. It's a good way to keep your mind sharp!
Full Disclosure Time: I have a story in Clarity - and I am proud and honored to be amongst such amazing company. I will be searching out many of these writers other works.
January 20, 2026
As with any anthology, there are stories I liked and stories that weren't for me, but as a whole, this was a fun collection to read slowly and savor.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews