First and Last Magazine is your chance to write the Great American Novel - without having to pen all of the words in between. Here's how this works: 1. Conceive of your novel's title. 2. Give us the name of its "author" (this doesn't have to be you - in fact, it might be more interesting if it isn't. Don't worry, at the bottom of all accepted submissions we will give the real creator all proper and due acknowledgement). 3. Write your novel's first sentence, 4. Write your novel's last sentence 5. Send us a short bio of you, the real author (and if feeling creative, include one for the fictional author as well). 6. Send everything off to firstsentence@gmail.com 7. Wait with baited breath and rapt attention to see if you have been accepted. You can make the sentences as long or as short as you want (Proustian-length sentences may not make it though), feel free to include clause upon clause in a tumble of commas and semicolons, or to keep it to a cool minimum. Let us know exactly what type of novel your fictional work is in just two sentences - or let the ambiguity and mystery be your message. The original Great American Novel - "Moby Dick" - begins with those memorable words "Call me Ishmael." Let's see what you can do. So what is this form? Micro-fiction? New formally structured type of prose poem? Or just first and last sentences? About the Editor: Edward Simon is the founder and editor of the Thirty First Bird Review: The Committed, Critical, and Creative Journal of Religion and Literature (www.thirtyfirstbird.com). He has written several volumes of prose, poetry, and drama, some of which are available from the 31st Bird Review Website. He works as an adjunct instructor in composition and literature at several Pittsburgh universities. He specializes in medieval, Renaissance and Romantic literature, as well as the intersections of religion and world literature.