It’s a new year and while the overall spirit of my goals remain the same, I find myself trying to write longer form and exploring different tools for creating cohesive and complex narratives. Of course, I’d be remiss to abandon my flash roots and so, I have two pieces in that style for you to read at your leisure.
What was published in the past month
January 2024 saw the publication of three pieces (!!)
If Only Mary Shelley Could See Us Now - History Through Fiction
Read time: <20 minute (2,500 words)
This is by far one of my favorite longer pieces, born out of a writing competition called “Writing Battle.” The story traces its origins to the 1800s during the surge of trance lectures namely driven by a fascinating historical figure named Cora L. V. Scott (check out more info about her here). Essentially, the piece follows a medical skeptic in his first attendance at a trance lecture and the fallout from that interaction. Reading the story requires paid membership with History Through Fiction, a fantastic community so highly recommend you check out all the pieces there.
The Inherent Risk of Being Alive - Wrong Turn Lit
Read time: <5 minutes (600 words)
Folks, we’re back with some magic realism, my favorite writing genre. This one’s short and sweet and free to read.
Public Notice of Removal - Retreat West Monthly Micro
Read time: <2 minutes (250 words)
I was thrilled again to make the top ten shortlist for Retreat West’s monthly micro competition, this time with the theme Bark. They also expanded the word count to 250 and I took advantage of every additional mot. While it didn’t win, it still received publication and I recommend you read not just my piece, but the others in its company.
My favorite reads from the past month
Non-fiction: The Great Post Office Scandal by Nick Wallis
As someone who works in software, I will say this in-depth journalistic account of the Post Office scandal and the Horizon system kept me up night. The piece follows the centralized automation process that took place in Post Offices across the UK in the 90s whose poor implementation and subsequent coverup ruined the lives of hundreds of subpostmasters across the UK. It’s an account of corporate greed and power, and the exceedingly slow moving process of justice, still ongoing today.
Fiction: The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
This trippy fantasy novel, perfumed with Sri Lankan mythology and politics, follows Fetter, a man tasked by his mother to kill his father, a popular cult leader. It covers class, caste, devils, anti-gods, plague, destiny, and resistance with a healthy dose of both the mythical and mundane. It's a book that doesn't explain itself, but instead immerses the reader in a world not unlike our own. Highly recommend if you're looking for some philosophical fantasy that subverts genre and plot expectations.
A favorite from the archives:
Perspective from Club Plum’s Horror Issue, Fall 2022
Other things of note & the look ahead
I had the opportunity to attend Retreat West’s workshop about keeping your reader hooked for novel writing, which was a fantastic way of trying to get back into longer form pieces. I’m exploring Plottr as a potential piece of writing organization software. Lastly, I’m participating in Smokelong Quarterly’s winter fete workshop, a two-month intensive for writing enthusiasts, so hopefully will have some new pieces coming your way soon.