Last time in "Doing Cool Stuff" I focused on Pequin. I figured I'd bring "DCS" back to highlight any literary publications that especially merit a read. You've probably heard of it, but one such publication is the First City Review. Besides looking good inside and out, the content is consistently strong. What's also rewarding is that I can't recall reading any of these authors elsewhere, though I may have as some of them have published widely. While the inaugural issue of FCR is loosely based on dysfunction, the stories and poems are quite different from one another. I usually tire when reading a theme issue, because they can become too similar, but this one held my interest. The found photographs and photography-related pieces are great. Overall, my favorite story was Leslie Bienen's "The Practical."
Unfortunately, according to their listing on Duotrope, they take a while to respond to submissions, so take that into account if you submit. And keep in mind that everything in the issue is realist--a snag for those of us who don't normally write realist material. Either way, $11 is worth the price of admission.
