Short Fuse is Brighton’s only night devoted to the short story and to promoting the work of both local and national short fiction writers.

We host a regular night at Komedia’s Studio Bar, with a line-up of four great short tales each month. Short Fuse is a relaxed and accessible event, presented in a cabaret style. Between readings there is music and a bar.

COMING EVENTS

Short Fuse Presents:

SLINGS and ARROWS

Smarting from the wounds of Daily Existence?
Fed up with the whims of Outrageous Fortune?
Come hear our World Class Ranters, Ravers and Crowd Pleasers
Read bitter tales of open sores and cold dished revenge...

A glittering line-up of local and national literary talent, and presenting
our headlining writer, one of the UK's foremost up and coming short story
writers, Vanessa Gebbie. Short Fuse, Brighton's only short fiction showcase,
is proud to welcome her back. She has read at our events on several previous
occasions, each time leaving the audience spellbound with tasters from her
eclectic collection of moving and finely crafted short stories, 'Words from
a Glass Bubble' (Salt Publishing, 2008).

This time she'll be reading 'Dodie's Gift', winner of the Willesden Short
Story Competition, which judge Zadie Smith called,
'a beautiful piece... a real achievement.'

Praise for 'Words From A Glass Bubble':

Original, compassionate and illuminated by humour, these stories by a
prodigiously gifted new writer dare to mine the fault-line between rage and love.
~ Maggie Gee, (Chair, The Royal Society of Literature, 2004-2008)

These narratives unfold before us with the deftness and assurance of the
truly gifted writer. A remarkable book.
~ Jacob Ross, FRSL

A strikingly fresh voice, sharp, shocking and original, a natural, gifted
writer.~ Peter James

Where: Studio Bar, Komedia
When: Thursday July 17th, Doors Open 8.30,
How much: Tickets £4 on the door

BACKGROUND

Short Fuse was set up and is run by writers Tara Gould and Polly Tuckett. (right)

“We were both keen to read our short stories to an audience were disappointed to find that, aside from open mic nights, there was a real shortage of events where this was possible. We decided to create a monthly literary night where writers of short fiction could showcase their work regardless of publication history or performance experience. Here, the only criteria would be a good short tale and the courage to get up on stage and read it out. “

In dreaming up Short Fuse Polly and Tara wanted to promote the work of local talent, provide an evening of quality writing to an audience, and by extension create a community of writers and readers – or listeners in this case.

A year on this vision has been realised. Short Fuse has grown into a very popular live lit night attracting an established group of regulars, a growing community of writers and listeners, encompassing people with a special interest in fiction, as well as people who enjoy the simple pleasure of being read a good story in good company.

Short Fuse also supports a group of developing writers who are encouraged to read regularly at Short Fuse events.

As well as the new, the young and the talented ‘unestablished’ writers, Short Fuse has seen a number of award winning local names reading some superb short fiction on Komedia’s Studio Bar stage - Ros Barber( Material) , Alison MacLeod (Fifteen Modern Tales of Attraction), Vanessa Gebbie (Words from a Glass Bubble), Bethan Roberts (The Pools), Naomi Foyle, Tony Spears, Nathaniel Matthews and more.

Themed events have included – Fairy Tales, Local Colour, A Midsummer’s Night, Gender Wars, Ghost Stories, Day of the Dead, Pearls Before Swine.

Thursday 21st February saw the first Short Fuse story slam to celebrate our anniversary and was a sell out. It was a wild night, the audience was irrepressibly enthusiastic and there were over thirty entrants, and of the fourteen stories picked from the hat the quality was very high. The event was judged by renowned local writers, including Nathaniel Matthews, Vanessa Gebbie, Ros Barber, and The South’s own John Davies. The top three winners went home with a selection of great prizes, including cash, book tokens, restaurant dinners and show tickets. Another slam is planned for the summer.

Anyone interested in reading at a Short Fuse event can send a story (50 – 3000 words) to our email address. We will read it and respond as soon as we are able.

We are inviting submissions for our September night - 'Nights at the Circus'-think purple!

Please save all attachments as a Word file under your own name, rather than the story title.

For more info please email shortfusestories@yahoo.co.uk