Summer General Issue – 1st Anniversary
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 Madeleine Armstrong. You can read her harrowing dystopian short, Coiled HERE
Q: What piece of writing advice/ crafting rule would you trash?
A: Show, don’t tell. When I first started writing I took this as absolute gospel. This meant I had a lot of shrugs and meaningful looks and shuddering breaths, which aren’t good for anyone. I think it’s always a balance between showing and telling, and finding the right line is the tricky part.
Q: Which writers and magazines do you go to to find treasure to read?
A: There are SO many. I don’t want to start listing writers I admire in case I leave anyone out. But aside from Trash Cat Lit, I enjoy reading Frazzled Lit, Underbelly Press, The Hooghly Review, Fractured Lit, Punk Noir, Bull. Some of those stories can be quite dark, so I’ve recently started reading Micromance to counteract them with a little sweetness. I love a side helping of romance with my tragedy.
Q: What trash animal do you most identify with?
A: A meerkat, because they’re small, can be vicious and run around a lot. I had the privilege of feeding some meerkats once and they wouldn’t stay still for photos.
Q: When your writing mojo is trashed, how do you recharge?
A: Running. I get my best ideas when I’m pounding the local trails and parks. Running gives me the same effect as I imagine others get from meditation – I can shut my brain off for a bit. And when I come back to the page, I’ve often found solutions to the writing problems that have been bothering me.
Also, reading. Any book I can get my hands on!
Q: If you could offer three tips to writing short treasures, what would they be?
A:
1 – I feel a bit weird offering people writing advice because I’m still pretty new to this game. But I’d say write from your heart. The stories I’ve been most scared about submitting, because they revealed something deep about me, are often the ones that have done well.
2 – Second, don’t be afraid to experiment. I think I tend towards being quite methodical and linear but, when I’ve tried to mix it up a bit, magic has happened.
3 – And finally, keep going. Have faith in your words and your unique perspective. Don’t give up at the first rejection, or the fifteenth – sometimes easier said than done!
Q: What is one thing, if spotted in a crowded charity shop/thrift store, you would just have to buy
A: I have a penchant for fluffy jackets and gilets. I imagine they make me look like Kate Moss circa 2000, but they’re probably more Bet Lynch.
Madeleine won the Hammond House international short story prize in 2023, and has been published by Flash Fiction Magazine, Fussub Mag, The Hooghly Review, LISP, Moonflake, Trash Cat Lit, Underbelly Press, Waffle Fried and WestWord. She’s a journalist and runner, and lives in south-east London with her husband, son and two cats. Twitter/X @Madeleine_write; Bluesky @madeleinewrite.bsky.social
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