400 Words


About 400 Words

400 Words is a storytelling project. It is a print magazine and a website, consisting of true stories, none over 400 words, by ordinary people on assigned themes. It's about the documentation of everyday life, saying a lot by saying a little. You can learn more, or order a copy, or tell a story of your own.

Print Issues

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Issue 2, Compulsions:
What can you not not do?

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Issue 1, Autobiographies:
Tell the whole story of your life in 400 words or less.

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For Further Enjoyment

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Hype!

I know there is more than enough great stuff to read here, but I wanted to call your attention to a couple of things. First of all, I have a positive rash of publications in other venues: an essay about depression, medication, and the way we live now in The Brooklyn Rail, and another essay about depression ‘n’ Dad (timed for Father’s Day) in the estimable SMITH.

400 Words contributors Leah Ryan and Jason Wachtelhausen turned out to read at the Rail’s latest Rant Rhapsody reading, at the Bowery Poetry Club this last Sunday. They both ruled.

Finally, another 400 Words contrib, Stephanie Gayle, is publishing her novel, My Summer of Southern Discomfort, this month. Her author page at the HarperCollins website reads: “Stephanie Gayle’s work has appeared in the literary magazines 400 Words, The Charles River Review, Edgar Literary Journal, Ellipsis, and The Fourth River.” How cool is that?


4 Comments

Read your essays-
after listening to all the voices ‘here’, it’s nice to finally hear yours. well done on all accounts.

Posted by Paul D on 21 June 2007 @ 9am

How did this comment make it where the job essays are placed?

Posted by Tish on 22 June 2007 @ 7am

Katherine, your writing is superb. You hooked me in right from the beginning….In ‘Girl, Lightly Medicated’ I was particularly impressed by the paragraph beginning “And then, a day comes when I do not feel this way” …… I understand your captivation when noticing the trees outside your window, understand it very well – powerful writing. Lovely!

Posted by Rijn on 25 June 2007 @ 8am

Thanks so much, Rijn. Publishing something so personal was definitely a bracing experience. It’s been rewarding to hear that it struck a chord with some people.

Tish–I’m the webmaster here. Usually I post stories, but every now and then I break it up with a message from the editor type thing.

Posted by Katherine on 28 June 2007 @ 11am

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