Writer. Reader. Human. Managing editor of Forge LitMag. Winner of the Excellence in Prison Libraries Award.
I read my new story – “The Mothers” – at Sparks and it is now available to read here.
I received an invitation to write a story for new magazine HOUSEFIRE. They had specific instructions about what they wanted:
“Your story should be called “The first time”. Your story should involve romance in some way. The story can be absurd, or surreal, or structurally unconventional. It can not involve violence, or popular monsters (vampires, zombies, et cetera). It can not have anything to do with drugs. It can not have anything to do with food. It should not mention dogs or children. Nothing conventional.”
If you’d like to see what I came up with please read The First Time.
Thanks to Riley Michael Parker for asking me. I’m glad to be part of this and amongst some pretty darn cool writers.
One of my favourite stories of Ethel Rohan’s is Shatter at FRiGG. Maybe it’s because the main character feels so real. I recognise her and am touched.
“She chewed harder on the side of her thumb. Maybe she should call her husband back and tell him to forget the chips. Hardly any of her clothes fit anymore. Her mouth watered. What was living if she couldn’t have her few treats every evening, some chips with wine before dinner after a hard day’s work. She thought to phone her mother, but felt too tired. She really should call her sister, too, one of these days. They hadn’t spoken in months.”
I appreciate Rohan’s skill at conjuring with reality and the ache of life, saying so much in a clean, crisp, concise way. That the title of her collection of short stories is Cut Through the Bone seems incredibly fitting as that is exactly how she works her words. It’s a must read book as far as I’m concerned. Congratulations too, Ethel, for being one of The Story Prize’s “Notable 2010 Short Story Collections”
My story “Notes To Keep a Life Going” has been published at Metazen. The story originates from the weekly Flash Factory challenge at Zoetrope where the remit was to write a story using list form. My (absent) character felt very real to me and it was fun to try and convey her in this way.
I like how it looks up at Metazen too.
And watch this interview with Ms Forrest.
I do this annual best of the year with salt thing. Well I did. It’s a random collection of good things from the year and I think I’ve written one the last five years maybe. This blog is my writer/reader/reviewer/lit blog. I no longer keep a personal journal though I hand-wrote a diary from 11 until 31ish. I like to get my old diaries out of the cupboard occasionally and re-read. There are some familiar passages, many deeply cringey parts, and some unexpected forgotten details that suddenly blaze a path to my past self. This blog will never be like that; I am myself here, only I rarely discuss truly personal things. That’s why this year I have been so quiet.
My role as mummy has dominated a year of crisis. I’ve had people I thought were friends drop me and my family from their lives. I’ve been stung by judgemental attitudes and ignorant assumptions. I’ve had to prove myself over and over. I’ve lost heart, faith and patience. I’ve been told I’m not alone and then been left alone. I’ve been told help was coming only for it never to arrive. I’ve watched those I love fall apart and break. I’ve tried to patch them together. I’ve been ill and been told that stress won’t help. Ha! At one truly dark point I lost hope. Oh, there were several truly dark points actually.
In the midst of this turdy year there have been flashes of shine. Old friends have reappeared, new ones have been made. Unexpected people calmly accept situations and apparently see it as no big thing to offer friendship and support. Out of the blue an email arrives and sparkles. A phone call, a smile, a text, a blog comment – these things matter when you’re hanging on by a thread. Thank you to all who have helped get me through. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Time for writing has been rare but some words have been written. I am most proud of being published in PANK, wigleaf and Neon this year. I made the final 10 in The Glass Woman Prize. I was on a few longlists/shortlists.
Other good things include being a first reader for PANK – something I view as a privilege and invaluable learning experience – and working in a fantastic online writers group.
So, bests of the year? I really have no idea as the year is one big mash in my noggin. I’ve loved the Mumford and Sons album, and Eminem’s Recovery. I’ve enjoyed watching Sherlock but can’t remember much other TV. I’ve read thousands of short stories. Stand outs are from Kirsty Logan, Roxane Gay and Susannah Rickards. I discovered Breece D’J Pancake (and named my rescue kitty after him.) I bought the much fetéd Lydia Davis collection but have yet to crack its spine.
I had to cancel my Arvon trip and in the whole year I doubt I wrote a single word of the novel. In my mind it twists and changes. It can’t have the ending I originally planned, can it? Short stories swim and blur. Flash fiction became a necessity. I need to write to stay sane but I have no time.
I wish for 2011 to be a year of kindness. I hope to write. I readjust my goals with the reality of my life. I wish you well.
1) Vanessa Gebbie has signed a deal with Bloomsbury for her novel “The Coward’s Tale” to be published in hardback in November 2011 and paperback 2012. This is simply wonderful news. Vanessa is a hugely talented writer: uncompromising, determined, and inspirational. Many congratulations, Vanessa!
2) In other news there’s an interesting discussion at Jane Smith’s How Publishing Really Works blog about the Brit Writer’s Awards and their recent invitation to apply for a chance to join their publishing programme (where for a fee of £1,795 fifteen writers will be guaranteed to be published with a “…top publisher before Christmas 2011”). Hmmm.
3) I have deemed myself the anti-fest. Truth is that it’s been a shitty year and I’ll be glad to see the back of it even though I can’t see things changing much in the new year. Whilst I’m glad of the break from school/work grind I find it hard to participate in something I view so warily. Christmas seems a pacifier to the workers, a time to kick back and indulge in too much of whatever it is you want to indulge in. And at the same time we prop up our capitalist society by spending way too much money on stuff in a bid to show those we care for that we love them. So, the most festive I’m going to get is by sharing this awesome video with you (cheers to Big Adam for bringing it to my attention.) It’s Slayer, it’s Reign In Blood, it’s Christmas lights, it’s amazing!
Some sad news this week that Cami Park has died. I didn’t know her but we were facebook friends and she was a writer that I saw and admired around the internet. She blogged here and I recommend you read her words and I send my sincere condolences to her family and friends.
My story “Yeah, yeah it takes two” made the top 10 in The Glass Woman Prize.
Sara Crowley 