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POSTCARDS FROM IMPOSSIBLE WORLDS // The Shortest Story

Created by Peter Chiykowski

A book of 88 stunning micro-stories written as postcards from strange worlds and alternate lives, featuring the voice of Cecil Baldwin

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Last 24 hours on The Story Engine Kickstarter!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Oct 10, 2019 at 09:39:56 PM

Hi again backers!

I'm just dropping by to let you know that the campaign for my new book of postcard stories and deck of storytelling prompts is ending in 24 hours!

The project has surpassed my wildest expectations! We have passed $200,000 in funding and funded not just the book (with new guest stories and voice actors to read selections), and not just the deck, but 3 expansion decks and 6 booster sets as well!

Once again, the community that has assembled around my stories has absolutely blown me away with their enthusiasm!

I couldn't be more proud of this project and I wanted to let you know about it one more time before the campaign closes!

We only have a couple of stretch goals left, including providing free copies of the deck and book to schools, libraries and community programs.

You can click here to check out the project and help spread the word!

Also, in case you missed the news, I have launched a YouTube channel for animations/narrations of The Shortest Story!

Thanks so much!

<3 Peter

The Shortest Story vol. 2 on Kickstarter now + postcard subscription renewals
over 4 years ago – Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 05:01:06 PM

Hello backers!

I am thrilled to share the news that the next volume of The Shortest Story has just launched on Kickstarter, along a with a new project that is very dear to my heart.

(Also, if you're a monthly mailed postcard subscriber, scroll down the page for details on your subscription, which is expiring this month.)

Since launching The Shortest Story 2 years ago in 2017, I've met so many people who have shared incredible ideas for stories, books, characters, games and campaigns trapped in their heads, but who tell me they never find time or motivation to create them.

I know first-hand how frustrating that is, and how it can feel like you're missing out on your best creative years.

I lost my connection with writing for a few years, and I didn't  realize how much colour and depth had drained from my experience of the world until I finally picked up the pen again for The Shortest Story.

I've tried to take all the lessons I learned about staying creative, about prompting story concepts ideas with the right images and ideas to get me past my anxiety and mental blocks, and put them together in a project to help storytellers finally tell all those stories they have locked up in their heads and hearts.

It's called THE STORY ENGINE, and it's a deck of storytelling prompts made up 5 decks for creating varied, customizable story prompts.

But the same decks can be arranged in different patterns to create prompts for tabletop RPG storytelling:

  • Character concepts
  • Magic items ideas
  • Encounter locations
  • NPC encounters
  • Adventure hooks
  • Campaign structures

I'd love for you to take a look at the Kickstarter campaign by clicking here. Or, if you'd like to hear more about it, I've embedded the video explanation of the deck below.

For backers who purchased a 1-year mailed postcard subscription during the 2018 Kickstarter for Postcards From Impossible Worlds: the final month of your subscription is mailing out right now and you can renew your subscription through the new Kickstarter or my website.

I will be pausing mail-outs during October and November so that nobody will miss any postcards. Further details will be available in an email I am sending out to all subscribers.

Thanks again for your incredible support on the 2018 campaign, and to all the people who came out to conventions or sent messages to tell me about the affect the stories had on you. 

This project was a runaway success for me, and it gave me the confidence dig deeper and aim higher with the new project.

With gratitude,

Peter

Toronto reading for // Postcards From Impossible Worlds // tomorrow!
almost 5 years ago – Wed, May 15, 2019 at 02:54:17 AM

Hello backers!

Thank you again for your incredible support on this project! I have been touring this book around the world and it is my absolute pride and joy!

Last year I'd wanted to put together a book launch for // Postcards From Impossible Worlds // but never got the chance, and then in November I moved to London England and got caught up starting a new life in an unfamiliar city.

I'm briefly back home in Canada for a whirlwind visit and I'd still like the chance to celebrate the existence of this book that I'm so very proud of!

I'll be reading some of my postcard stories (including new and unreleased material) in Toronto tomorrow at the ChiSeries, a monthly reading series hosted by my publisher ChiZine! There will also be readings from some very talented authors!

The details can be found on Facebook!

I'd love if you could come out to join us! I'll happily sign your book, and, if you say the code phrase  dithyrambic diprotodon, I'll have some postcard prints to give you!

Also, for those of you NOT in Toronto, I'll be at the following upcoming conventions rep'ing The Shortest Story and Rock Paper Cynic and I'd love to meet you!

I usually post my table info to my Twitter the week before the show, so it's worth following for updates!

  • MCM London Comic Con, May 24-26
  • UK Games Expo (Birmingham), May 31-June 2
  • London Film and Comic Con, July 26-28
  • Gen Con (Indianapolis), August 1-4*
  • Fan Expo Canada (Toronto), August 22-25*

Those last two dates are dependent on some travel stuff, but it's currently looking good for me being able to go!

Oh, and one last thing! If you like my short stories--especially the absurd/comedy-driven ones--you might be interested in my two new books of comics coming out later this month. 

Be a Turtle is full of comics about life and turtles and marching at your own pace, and Is It Canon? is full of comics that ruin your favourite games and movies.

You can learn more about them in my new online store!

Thanks so much!

Peter

Longer-form short story + a little something for the RPG-lovers
over 5 years ago – Thu, Nov 15, 2018 at 10:27:24 PM

Hey everyone!

It's been so thrilling to receive your messages about books and ebooks arriving! Thanks for your faith in this project, an your enthusiasm the final product--I couldn't be prouder of how things turned out!

I wanted to take a moment to tell you about a new project I've been working on, and send you a longer-form short story to read!

But first, here's a new multi-media short story I posted last month that I wanted to share with you!


The new project

I’ve always wanted to make a tabletop RPG, and over the past year I got to do that as part of a team of the most talented designers, artists, writers and nerds I’ve ever met. Seriously. This team has done work for Magic: The Gathering, D&D, Shadowrun, Bethesda, HBO–this is the big leagues. An actual bucket list item for me.

This morning we launched our Core game engine on Kickstarter.

I haven’t felt this excited since the first time I picked up a D&D rulebook at a garage sale when I was 12 and realized OH DANG, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

I could tell you about why I think EMBERWIND is going to change the game for tabletop RPGs (modular rules that are noobie and veteran-friendly, options for GM-free play, customization out the wazoo, awesome stories), but I basically already put all those arguments on the Kickstarter page.

Instead, I’m just going to say that I’m so goddamn proud to be part of this team, and I hope you’ll take a look, and consider pledging or sharing the link with that nerdy friend who never shuts up about their D&D character. Because I think we have a game that’s worth getting that excited about.

Here's the campaign I helped write and design. If it's your kind of thing, I'd love for you to take a look and maybe share the link!

The longer-form short story

I had the pleasure of writing a horror-adventure short story for EMBERWIND about an ill-dated expedition to capture an elusive creature on a mysterious island. I had SO MUCH FUN with the tone and the creature design on this one, and got to work with artist Toma Feizo Gas to develop artwork and a stat block!

You can read the story here!

Thanks so much!

All books on their way + and early look at the first guest-of-the-month story
over 5 years ago – Mon, Oct 01, 2018 at 11:23:40 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.