Writer. Reader. Human. Managing editor of Forge LitMag. Winner of the Excellence in Prison Libraries Award.
Grey Sparrow Press is a publisher of art and literature online and in print. Grey Sparrow Journal has just published its first issue. I’m delighted that they feature not one but two of my tiny fictions: “The Visit” and “View”.
I’m in very good company there. Randall Brown, Stefanie Freele, Beth Thomas, Richard Osgood, David Erlewine and Elizabeth Creith are just some of the other contributors. Good words.
I have a small fiction up at Dogzplot:
I haven’t updated here recently. I think I am in a bit of a funk. I only just thought of that word “funk” but it seems to fit perfectly with my mood.
Random then:
I miss Matt, and I try not to notice just how much because it rips me to pieces. So I think a Matt thought, and I try to move away from it quickly.
I wrote a flash for a weekly thingy at the Fiction Workhouse. I am quite keen on it, but nobody else is.
I have had a sort of viral something since Christmas. It doesn’t ever quite evolve, but I am constantly tired, and ears pop in and out with swallowing. I have no energy.
I am re-reading Kate Pullinger’s guide on how to write fiction (given away with the Guardian last year) and it is so superb. I feel as if I have turned the key in my car, and I am gently revving the engine. I am going to finish the novel this year.
I just read Kate Atkinson’s “When will there be good news?” and enjoyed it. I was disappointed with her last novel, but this was a page turner that I loved reading. The character’s of Reggie and Dr Hunter are lovely, and I was rooting for them all the way. Occasionally I was surprised by how clunky a sentence was, but mainly I was in that gorgeous fictive dream. She makes it seem easy to plot juggle and switch perspective. I know it is not.
I wish I was full of energy. I have a permanent health problem anyway, so always operate from a below average start point, when a virus comes along it really does for me. I hope to be back at it soon.
I sent a small piece of fiction to Dogzplot at 20.38 last night, and Barry Graham responded at 20.47. Nine minutes! Wow!
And it was an acceptance, so yay, both for the super zippy response, and for the yes.
I am so shit at subbing. Once in a while I’ll sit down and really devote time to the process, but mostly I just whine about being rejected, and totally ignore the “get it back out there” advice of writing pals. It’s like I’ll give it one shot, and if someone doesn’t fall on it and say yes, I don’t quite love it enough any more. I do have one story that I have sent out 8 times. That’s a major amount of attempts for me. But I have a rather rare to me self confidence about it. I think it is good, dammit. It’s come close a couple of times. I have had an editor ask me to change it a bit, and I refused, because I am CONVINCED that it is good as is. I had another Ed say that they nearly published it but at the very last minute they didn’t. No reason. Weird. Anyway, I sent it back out today, this time to a female editor, because it suddenly struck me that maybe that would help.
All the place I sent to today are zines that I read and consider chock full of good quality writing. And, I didn’t even sim sub. Ah, the heady feeling of hope mixes with the blah inevitability of rejection. I’ll get used to it eventually. Perhaps.
I’m really pleased to have my story ICED up at at Red Peter.
I have a tiny story up at Every Day Fiction, it’s called The Collector of Shiny, and is a rare attempt at a love story. It is customary on that site for people to vote/rate the stories, and perhaps leave a comment too, so if anyone feels so inclined that would be appreciated.
I have a small thing up in this months elimae.
I love elimae. Really, really love it. I love the way it looks, the way it’s set out, the words, the way the editor responds to submissions, the care that goes into it. I am so chuffed to be there again.
I have a wee story up at BLM
You have to scroll down a little to reach it, do stop and read Sarah Hilary’s story, she is always good. Also check out Ravi Mangla’s ache of a drabble. I am noticing his words more and more frequently on my travels around the lit mags, he’s pretty cool bananas.
Jo Horsman is setting up a new Flash Fiction evening, “Sparks”, at Upstairs at Three and Ten in Brighton.
The very first event will take place on October 14th. I will be there, attempting to read a tiny flash that made me bawl when I wrote it, so lots of fun eh?
Jo is looking for submissions from people who are available to read on the night. She invites subs of 500 words or less, on any theme. Please send to :
jo horsman@hot mail.co.uk (remove the spaces)
for her consideration.
Or, if you wish to attend, tickets will be available from Other Place Productions nearer the time, at a cost of £5. Places are limited, as this very cool venue has a limited capacity of 46. (It is in a room above a good pub, and drinks can be taken into the venue. Hurray. I may need several!)
Sara Crowley 