Summer General Issue – our Inaugural Issue
Following the launch of each of our issues, we cajole one or more of the contributors into a mini interview with the Trash Cat. Here they will reveal some writing wisdom and tell you what trash critter they identify with most. Important stuff like that.
Today, we have Martha Lane, author of the fantastic flash, The Scavengers in our inaugural issue. Read it HERE.
Q: What piece of writing advice/ crafting rule would you trash?
A: The piece of writing advice I’d chuck straight in the bin is ‘write every day’. Blah! No. Not forcing it, and writing when I want to, works best for me. That’s when the magic happens
Q: Which writers and magazines do you go to to find treasure to read?
A: The classics are classics for a reason, Ellipsis Zine, Idle Ink, Free Flash Fiction, The Forge all have a wide range of amazing stories. There are too many lit mags to keep up with though. I find following writers I love easier, I read the stories they share, no matter where they’re published
Q: What trash animal do you most identify with?
A: I love sharks and everything about them, but I’m not sure I identify with them. I’m a pack animal so I’m going to be very generous to myself and say I’m a Trash Wolf (Husky)
Q: When your writing mojo is trashed, how do you recharge?
A: If my writing isn’t going anywhere I take a break. The break might last weeks and I don’t feel guilty. I go for a walk, bake a cake, eat a cake. Socialise. Writing can be lonely, and there’s nothing like being around human beings to make me feel more confident about writing about human beings
Q: If you could offer three tips to writing short treasures, what would they be?
A:
1. Don’t be afraid to push that metaphor, take that imagery a step further.
2. Fall in love with one and two word sentences.
3. Stick the landing. Finding the perfect ending can take longer than writing the whole story. But when you do, all that work will be worth it.
Q: What is one thing, if spotted in a crowded charity shop, you would just have to buy?
A: I need another jumpsuit like a hole in the head but if it’s got a wide leg and animals on it, I’m taking it home.
Martha Lane is a writer by the sea. She writes extensively about grief, nature and all things unrequited. Her novella (about grief and nature), Lies Over the Ocean, is available on Amazon. Balancing too many projects is her natural state. Tweets @poor_and_clean
TRASH CAT LIT 