So much buzz these days about Artificial Intelligence in general and the various chatbots in particular like ChatGPT, Bard by Google, and Microsoft's Bing. A computer-savvy friend has been exploring ChatGPT in particular to see what it does and does not know, what it suggests, what it hallucinates, and how it might be of help in various situations. Recently, he asked me to forward him a submission (anonymously) to Star 82 Review, one I had not yet read, and asked ChatGPT if it "thought" I would accept it. I read the story and considered it first, then read ChatGPT's analysis. I've redacted and changed any identifying features to protect the privacy of the submitter. Here's what it said. * Based on the provided excerpt, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment on whether "[This Story]" would be accepted for publication in Star 82 Review. However, I can offer some observations and considerations to help you assess its potential. Strengths: Atm...

For your excellent submissions, I hope you will think of Star 82 Review first, of course, but perhaps you have submitted several issues in a row already and are looking for another venue. I have been in touch with other editors, and several are really interested in reading new, fresh, and creative work. I've made a short list of them at the *82 site here . Read some of the issues, read the guidelines, and think about tone and emotional landing point of your piece(s). Meanwhile, as I await the proof of 9.4, I've starting reading for spring 10.1.

This is the twenty-seventh poem created from either the first two or last two words from each written piece in an upcoming issue of Star 82 Review . I am told that this type of collage poem, that merges words from several writers, has an actual name, a " Cento ," Latin for "patchwork." Here is the poem that unites the community of writers that will appear in issue 7.3, upcoming mid-September or so. Look over a straw person’s day The new night outside has pockets of wind to dance Over untended eggs, cooling we sung to help at all been reading Big angels can beget from perfect ghosted companion The call to life be together just be This was nice even Old West court martial We thought wrong before I leave your feet platters filled

We chase our tails. Over and over we ask, "Why wasn't this piece accepted?" And when the answer comes that it's "subjective," we may look at our shoes in despair. What does that mean? For *82 , it usually means, believe it or not, the subject. I read many stories about dates in cafes, restaurant conversations, break-up stories, bad relatives, and dying relatives. Most are heartfelt, but don't tell me anything new. They need to both translate an experience and transform it, show something the reader probably hasn't thought of, and something unique to the person who wrote it, yet universal enough for other readers. Tricky, but it can be done. Mostly, I look for a new setting, some fresh dialogue or strong voice, some imaginative comparisons or metaphors, or at least some variation on the themes. And for *82 , a positive direction that encourages compassion and empathy.

Okay, so that's not a riddle. The characters in a flash story don't have much time to interact, but interact they must if we are to care about them. Flash fictions don't explain things to us, they suggest; they offer up some little gifts for us to arrange in our minds and explore. Usually, they comment on the human condition, or nature,  a philosophical, political, or personal issue. Often, the story will start one place and end at another delightfully surprising, connected, yet creative place. Ultimately, the reader must make what I call "little leaps of inference" at the end. The concluding sentence leaves open some possibilities, ironies, and/or a particular emotion. Open is the key word. As a reader, I want to feel awe, and that the ending wasn't obvious. As a reader, I want something that lingers: a story I might keep thinking about, turning it over and over, perhaps even finding new meanings in it. The ending is a door that leads outward. A joke ha...

A short bio shows confidence and is more likely to be read. Many things that you do are important and meaningful, but not all of them need to go into your bio. Before you submit your work somewhere, take a look at how the bios are structured. For a writer, a basic third-person bio would include about 50-75 words, with one sentence for each point: Your name and who you are and/or what you do. Book publication (if you have one or more: title of work plus press name in parentheses is good). 3-5 magazines where your work appears. The list can say "among others" or "in various magazines including" to point out that there are more. If you won an award, by all means, you can add that, but nominations are fairly common, so leave them out.  Top it off with your geographical location and Maybe one quirk or interest for flavor. An artist' bio often includes a statement about a specific work or about the artist's philosophy in general. That makes it a little d...