Awards, Interviews & Appearances
A Step-by-Step Guide to Curating Your Own Speculative Short Fiction Syllabus
Build a speculative fiction syllabus that tracks SFF magazines, surfaces new writers, and...
Daniel Brooks
Content Strategy Manager
Daniel reads SFF commentary like a good conversation at a convention bar: generous, specific, and unafraid of disagreement. He compares Merc’s short fiction against genre movements, magazine ecosystems, and reader expectations, then turns that analysis into usable editorial guidance. Based in Seattle, with an MA in English from NYU, he helps the site balance warmth, critical sharpness, and practical navigation for reviewers, educators, and fans.
Writings by Daniel Brooks
Short Fiction Commentary
Structural Pacing in Speculative Fiction: A Data-Driven Look at Flash Fiction vs. Novelettes
Compare flash fiction and novelettes through scene mapping, word-count pressure, and...
Short Fiction Commentary
How to Read Contemporary SFF Short Fiction More Closely
Learn a practical close-reading method for contemporary SFF short fiction, from first...
Short Fiction Commentary
Recent SFF Short Fiction Worth Reading Closely
A concise review of recent SFF short fiction, with close-reading notes on craft, theme,...
Short Fiction Commentary
What Makes a Memorable Novelette in Speculative Fiction
A sharp opinion guide to why speculative novelettes endure: compression, consequence,...
