E83: Losing Sleep

E83: Losing Sleep

Author: Kris Baker Dersch June 9, 2017 Duration: 33:34

Up late wondering if they know what they are doing to memories of "My Last Husband." By Mary J. Breen, copyright 2013, used with permission. "My Last Husband" first appeared in The Waterhouse Review in January 2013. Read Mary's bio.

Today's episode features a silly campfire story by Kris Baker Dersch. The three guardians of this podcast are Submissions, Promotion, who would like to introduce you to the wilds of Instagram and YouTube, and Support.

Writing spaces for Episode 83 features Steven Mayoff, who was previously with us on Episode 47 and Episode 56. Click here to see his writing space.

Our second Writing Spaces contributor is Rachel Lyon, whose work can be heard on Episode 46. Click here to see her writing space. You can also see detailed photos of the balloon, the lion, the angel, and the novel-in-progress featured in her piece.

It's always hard to explain a dream. "I Had Children in a Dream" is by Stacy Stepanovich, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Stacy's bio.

The Google poem featured in this episode is by Kris Baker Dersch and is the launch of our fundraising campaign on Patreon. You can view the video of the Google poetry writing technique by becoming a Patreon sponsor to the show. The poem is called "Lost Sleep" and is inspired by the stories of this episode.

We've all had that middle of the night feeling like it's "Three in the Morning and You Don't Smoke Anymore." By Peter J. Stavros, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Peter's website.


Kris Baker Dersch hosts No Extra Words one person's search for story, a quiet corner of the audio world dedicated to the power of brevity. Each episode is a complete, self-contained piece of flash fiction, with every story crafted to be under two thousand words. This constraint isn't a limitation but a focus, distilling narrative down to its essential elements-every sentence carries weight. You'll hear tales that span the spectrum of human experience, from subtle character moments to sudden, striking turns of events, all delivered with a thoughtful and intimate narration. The podcast lives up to its name, offering narratives that are precise and potent, leaving room for your own imagination to linger in the spaces between the words. It’s for anyone who appreciates the art of a well-told story and the unique intimacy that audio can bring to fiction. Tune in for a regular dose of concise creativity, a moment of literary escape that fits into the busiest of days.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

No Extra Words one person's search for story
Podcast Episodes
E95: The Microfiction Triumviarate Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:51
Happy holidays! Today we start a 3-part series where we revisit favorite moments from the show's history. Our first repeat is Episode 6: The Microfiction Triumvirate. This episode, the shortest in the show's history, con…
E94: Too Late? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:07
Timing is everything. The "Laundromat" is not what you expected. By Paul Rousseau, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Paul's bio. Things look different from the "Beyond." By Francis DiClemente, copyright 2015, us…
E93: Scary Stories of a Different Sort [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:25
Happy Halloween, No Extra Words style! Caught by cops will never feel the same after you've had a little "Night Vision." By Michael Anthony, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Michael's bio. For our segment today…
E92: Damaged Goods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
We're showing where all the broken pieces are. Carefully prepping which face we show the world in "Kintsugi." By Jaclyn Tan, copyright 2017, used with permission. Visit Jaclyn's website. New segment! I talk all about my…
E91: Beauty in the Broken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:42
Clarissa's meticulously organized life wanders off track in "The Planner." By Catherine Moscatt, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Catherine's bio. Tears are the weapon in "Reading a Letter." By J. Franklin, cop…
E90: A Liar's Duplicity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:44
Good and bad are closer together than you think. She didn't know what "The Law of Buoyancy" would come to mean in her family. By Brittni MacKenzie Dale, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Brittni's bio. He's lost…
E89: Hold Hands and Stick Together [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
The back to school episode is so much more than that. It's the lesson that's not in the curriculum but one we all remember learning in "Read Across America." By Jeff Bakkensen, copyright 2010, used with permission. Read…
E88: Seeing the Divine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:54
What do you see when you look into the eye of humanity? A chance encounter with a stranger on a train makes a woman wonder who is friend and who is stranger in "The Good Samaritan." By Mary J. Breen, copyright 2011, used…
Special #17: An Important Call for Submissions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:54
I'm here on a special episode to ask women writers to share stories about an issue important to all of us. Literature is a powerful thing and in 2018 we are going to be brave and tackle big truths head-on.
E87: Crack the World Open [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:10
The world is always on the verge of exploding and reinventing itself. "A Town Built on Salt" is on a shaky foundation indeed. By Windy Lynn Harris, copyright 2014, used with permission. This piece was originally publishe…