About

This is me!

Hi! I'm Nayad (pronounced "NIGH-add,") Monroe. I am a short story writer and anthology editor, focusing on speculative genres: fantasy, horror, science fiction, and especially weird fiction. I've learned about writing in workshops taught by Gary A. Braunbeck and Tim Waggoner, and I was a submission reader (aka "slush reader") for Clarkesworld Magazine for three years before I started to work on creating short story anthologies of my own.

I often attend writing-oriented speculative fiction conventions. I have moderated and participated in panels about various writing, editing, genre, and social media topics at conventions such as WisCon, Context, CapriCon, and OdysseyCon.

Here's a list of some of my most-read posts!

Editing
Five Things I've Learned from Reading Slush
On Becoming an Editor
What Fates Impose: Inside the Anthology
How Choosing Anthology Stories Is, and Is Not, Like Making a Mix Tape
Why "Maybe" is Way Harder than "Yes" or "No"

Reading
Nonfiction: Five Great Books for New-Ish Writers
Nonfiction: Five Books for Leveling Up in Writing and Life
Fiction: Ten Books for a Desert Island

Social Skills
How Being Social Helps Me as a Writer and Editor
How I Learned to Be Social Despite Having Introverted Parents
How To Say No When You Need To
Why Enjoying Solitude Helps Me Meet Conventions Full of People

Writing
"Blogging Advice" Is Ruining the Internet! A Rant
Anthology Submission Strategies that Work for Me
Tips for Giving Useful Story Critiques
7 Ways to Improve as a Writer