I am really a woman! Yes, that’s me. Spending five minutes communing with nature in Vita Sackville-West’s garden at Sissinghurst. I’ve posted it because somebody thinks I’m a bloke! An anonymous poster insists that (a) I’m a man masquerading as a woman and (b) my writing proves it. Sorry mate, I am, and always have […]
If you want to be a writer … You have to play the number’s game. This means that you have to learn to look at the world of writing through the eyes of editors and publishers. The average literary journal (non-paying but providing copies to published writers) gets between 2,000 and 4,000 submissions a year. […]
The Slush Pile reader’s story Viet Dinh (no, not that Viet Dinh; not the one who helped write the Patriot Act!) got his first degree from Johns Hopkins University and his MFA from the University of Houston, his stories appear in many superb literary journals; and my favourite of his that’s available online is Lucky; […]
On the subject of rejection Sometimes it’s a good thing. Sometimes, like yesterday’s post, the sting is almost removed by a caring editor who makes you smile even as you shrug off yet another failure. And sometimes it’s good for other reasons. I recently sent sample chapters of my novel to a well-regarded UK literary […]
A novella is difficult to write, hard to get published, but a joy when done well. Here’s a chance for those with a novella sitting on their hard drives to get it into print. The Miami University 2006 Novella Contest The novella form has had a long and distinguished place in American literature, and has […]
Renewing the Muse I bang on a lot about the harsh practicalities of the writing business, but sometimes you have to let yourself sink into the current of life and allow the world to flow through you. Ray Bradbury says it best: We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how […]
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