Or you could read it. This is a compendium of all the reasons I prefer to write speculative fiction https://jmwwblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/speculative-fiction-on-a-sliding-scale-a-conversation-between-k-e-semmel-tara-campbell/?page_id=17073
Tag: writing about writing
Neither Fish Nor Foul – one week to go
Creating Neither Fish Nor Fowl has been an absolute blast and now we are almost ready to receive visitors (well, your words anyhow). Here's our first newsletter with all the details. Open for submissions via Duotrope on 15th June 2024. Enjoy, subscribe, submit (or you know, just have a read. It's got interesting facts about … Continue reading Neither Fish Nor Foul – one week to go
2021: Walking the writer’s walk, an update
Last year I wrote a summary of my experience of sending work out to be judged and found wanting. Here’s an update 14 months on … I didn’t send much off in 2021. I was too busy reading and writing for the MA (and still being found wanting - justifiably). However, I did send off … Continue reading 2021: Walking the writer’s walk, an update
Review: The Shipping News
by Annie Proulx Tried to read this pre-MA days. A couple of times. Captured by the characters and the idea but never got further than meeting the Aunt. Why? Maybe it was the prose style. The disjointed sentences. The head hopping. The MA has done something, because I finished the whole book yesterday and when … Continue reading Review: The Shipping News
Bombshells
I was in a play last night. That’s a photo of me in rehearsal, which is why there’s a massive telly. In real life we performed in the very beautiful Clandon Woods. Bombshells, by Australian Joanna Murray-Smith is a set of six monologues about women at bombsell moments of their lives. I did two, my … Continue reading Bombshells
Medicating with Facebook
Every time stuff gets difficult, I find myself reaching for Facebook for distraction. I know enough to know that's not good. Self Improvement 101: sit with the difficult stuff - that's where the rewards lie. I'm not talking personal problems here, though I have no doubt I would use FB to make myself feel better … Continue reading Medicating with Facebook
The Via Feminina: Revisioning the Heroine’s Journey by Mary Sharratt —
Reblog of this piece. How am I 52 years old and this is the first day I found out about The Heroine’s Journey? How? Excuse me whilst I disappear down a wormhole. I’m off to finish reading The Writer’s Journey by Vogler and then The Heroine’s Journey by Murdock. Here’s Murdock’s webpage and explanation of … Continue reading The Via Feminina: Revisioning the Heroine’s Journey by Mary Sharratt —
Another reason to Iove David Sedaris
This is just out on David’s FB page. I have mentioned I love him, right? In a very diffident, back of the queue kind of a way. https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/story/literally-david-sedaris/
Work in progress
A stranger said some lovely things about a couple of my poems yesterday, which left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and also a bit ... sad? ... perplexed? ... because I haven’t written poetry since July. I turned my back on it to master the art of the short story. Turns out storytelling is harder … Continue reading Work in progress
We need to talk about Amy Hempel
I think I mentioned Chuck Palahnuik and I have become extremely close? As in, I read his Consider This twice and took notes? You remember, on New Year’s Eve, 2020? Anyhow, Chuck mentions this Amy Hempel character more than a few times, in glowing terms. So, if l ❤️ Chuck and Chuck ❤️ Amy, then … Continue reading We need to talk about Amy Hempel
Just waving 