Holly Walrath's Blog, page 7
April 17, 2023
April 4, 2023
February 20, 2023
Ask the Editors: Save the Date!
Ever wanted to just sit down with an SFF editor and ask them what they’re thinking? Soon, you’ll be able to do just that.
Starting in January 2023, Metaphorosis Magazine is launching a periodic video #AMA with #editors of #SFF #magazines. This will be a Zoom-type format — about 40 minutes of discussion with a rotating panel of 3–4 editors each time.
Join Interstellar Flight Press Managing Editor Holly Lyn Walrath (and other talented editors in speculative genres) for the third session:
4 March 2023, 8:00 PST
Holly Lyn Walrath (Interstellar Flight Press)Selena Middleton (Stelliform)Justine Norton-Kertson (Solarpunk)B. Morris Allen Metaphorosis (host)To Sign Up, visit the Metaphorosis website: https://industry.metaphorosis.com/ask-the-editors/
Holly Lyn Walrath is a writer, editor, and publisher. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, Analog, and Flash Fiction Online. She is the author of several books of poetry, including Glimmerglass Girl (2018), Numinose Lapidi (2020), and The Smallest of Bones (2021). She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Texas and a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Denver.
In 2019, she launched Interstellar Flight Press, an indie SFF publisher dedicated to publishing underrepresented genres and voices. As a freelance editor, she provides editing services for writers and organizations of all genres, experiences, and backgrounds but enjoys working with new writers best.
[image error]Ask the Editors: Save the Date! was originally published in Interstellar Flight Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
January 10, 2023
Write with What You Have
Emily Dickinson’s Envelope Poems, The Power of the Fragment, and a Writing Prompt for the New Year
December 12, 2022
Forthcoming in April 2023: Numinous Stones
From Elgin Award winning author Holly Lyn Walrath, a haunting collection of poetry about grief and the sacred that digs deep beyond a fairytale world into the grave. Told in the circular pantoum form, Numinous Stones is a poetic graveyard littered with horror — from sentient scarecrows to silent skeletons to scorched sacred spaces. As each line repeats, new meaning gleams like bones unearthed in a shattered realm of monsters, dark forests, and dusty ghosts.
I am delighted to announce that my chapbook of horror pantoums NUMINOUS STONES will be published by Aqueduct Press in 2023.
This book has been a long time coming. I wrote this book after my father passed away from Parkinson’s disease. As I say in my author’s note, “the book, which was initially written in response to death, held a clinging veil of darkness on its metaphorical skin. Death follows this book, informs it, and delivers it into the world.” Of course, it’s queer and feminist too.
This little book was first published in Italian by Kipple Officina Libraria and Alex Tonelli. It was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2021 Tomaž Šalamun Prize. I dedicate this book to my father and the late Marco Raimondo, the original translator of the Italian poems. This will be its first publication in English, with ten new poems!
Stay tuned for pre-order information! Please enjoy this excerpt from the book:
Parkinson’s is a Kind of Armageddonby Holly Lyn Walrath
I dreamed of my father last night
He was thin and frail in bed
As he was in the moments before death
And he was crying out
He was thin and frail in bed
In the dream world he could speak
And he was crying out
We were in so much pain
In the dream world he could speak
His body was thin and mottled and naked
We were so much pain
I could do nothing but hold his hand again
His body was thin and mottled and naked
As he was in the moments before death
I could do nothing but hold his hand again
I dreamt of my father last night
Parkinson’s is a kind of Armageddon
It riddles the brain with silence
Nothing can enter or leave unaided
And the father I knew is not there
It riddles the brain with silence
Words are painful
And the father I knew is not there
So I don’t know what to say
Words are painful
They form into stones in his mouth
So I don’t know what to say
How do you say I’m sorry to a ghost
They form into stones in his mouth
I could do nothing but hold his hand again
How do you say I’m sorry to a ghost
Parkinson’s is a kind of Armageddon
“Walrath poetically constructs tombstones (what is poetry if not construction?) imbued with a sacred, powerful, and majestic presence that both attracts and terrifies. They are sacred tombstones that serve the poet, and we will see this in the reading of her texts to celebrate, mourn, cry out, and, finally, accept her father’s death…. The collected poems constitute a journey, a slow path that we could also define as a slow coming to consciousness. A becoming aware of a pain to be understood and experienced to be, finally, accepted.”[image error]
— From the original Introduction by Alex Tonelli in Numinose Lapidi
November 28, 2022
New Workshop Alert + A Free Prompt
New Workshop Alert!!I have a new self-paced workshop up at The Poetry Barn. This class came out of NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month), which happens every year in April. Similarly, the goal of this self-paced class is to write 30 poems in 30 days. However, you might write one poem a day, or several poems in a day, and then give yourself a break. It’s totally up to you!
Whether you’re writing to a specific theme, assembling a group of poems for a chapbook, or you want to try writing a longer poetic sequence, this workshop is meant to support you with generative prompts and experiences to get you creating plenty of new work.
And because I love you, here is an excerpt from the class!
Echo/RepetitionPoems that include echoes are those that utilize repetition. A line “echoes back” to an earlier line or to the title in the poem. Like the echo in a canyon, the poem speaks to itself. The poet may repeat a sound, syllable, word, phrase, line, stanza, or rhythm.
On the subject, Edward Hirsch says in his book A Poet’s Glossary:
“It is one of the most marked features of all poetry, oral and written, one of the primary ways we distinguish poetry itself. Repetition, as in rhyme, is a strong mnemonic device. Oral poets especially use it for remembering structures. The incantatory magic of poetry — think of spells and chants, of children’s rhymes and lullabies — has something to do with recurrence, with things coming back to us in time, sometimes in the same way, sometimes differently. Repetition is the primary way of creating a pattern through rhythm. Meaning accrues through repetition. One of the deep fundamentals of poetry is the recurrence of sounds, syllables, words, phrases, lines, and stanzas. Repetition can be one of the most intoxicating features of poetry. It creates expectations, which can be fulfilled or frustrated. It can create a sense of boredom and complacency, but it can also incite enchantment and inspire bliss.”
An example of repetition on the book level is the book inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells”. Using the poem’s rhythm, Daniel Hoffman’s book Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe (1972), uses repetition to enforce the influence.
As an example, try to spot the repetition in the poem “Some Feel Rain” by Joanna Klink over at the Poetry Foundation.
Writing PromptWrite a poem in which there is an echo/repetition. You can repeat any part of the poem that inspires you. I suggest starting with an interesting phrase, although you can also repeat the structure of the poem itself in some way.
Think of how your repetition might be lyrical or musical. An example is the blues rhythm:
“Oh, I asked her for water, oh, she brought me gasoline
Oh, I asked her for water, oh, she brought me gasoline
That’s the troublingest woman
That I ever seen” — Howlin’ Wolf
Or, your repetition could be as simple as one powerful word used in a powerful place.
About the InstructorHolly Lyn Walrath is a freelance editor based out of Houston, Texas. She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Texas and a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Denver. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Analog, Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, and in the Other Terrors anthology from the Horror Writer’s Association, among many more publications. Holly is the author of the collection The Smallest of Bones, published by Clash Books in 2021 and Glimmerglass Girl, winner of the SFPA Elgin Award. She is the managing editor of Interstellar Flight Press, an indie press for underrepresented voices and genres. Visit Holly’s website at www.hlwalrath.com.
[image error]November 21, 2022
Awards Eligibility Post — Holly Lyn Walrath
The gash of your mouth opens
wide around the cold
porcelain of the condemned —
the lonely, the wasteful, the lavish
like a kitten dead in the road
all things are wanting to you
Wow, I really can’t believe this year is almost over. This year, I am very glad to have published in some outstanding anthologies and pro markets. I want to thank all the editors and publishers who continue to support my writing — I would not be here without you! And thank you to all the readers, writers, and friends who have read my writing. Particular thanks to Alex Tonelli of Kipple Press for translating my book The Smallest of Bones (first published by Clash Books) into Italian!
My short stories “Twelve Babies” and “The Asylum” are eligible for the HWA Bram Stoker Award. My poems are eligible for the SFPA Rhysling Award. If you would like a PDF of any of these works, please email me: hlwalrath (at) gmail (dot) com.
List of Works Published by Holly Lyn Walrath in 2022:Fiction (Short Stories)“Twelve Babies” —Flash Fiction, A Woman Unbecoming Anthology, Crone Girls Press (October 2022)
“Trinity’s Dragon” — The Sunday Morning Transport (October 16, 2022)
“The Asylum” — Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology (July 2022)
Poetry“Water Drawn from a Stone” — Not One of Us, Issue #71, July 2022
“Literature for Ukraine” published in Houston Arts Journal
March 10, 2022
“You Crave Poison” — HWA Poetry Showcase V. IX, October 2022
BooksIl più piccolo tra le ossa — The Smallest of Bones, translated into Italian by Kipple Press, February 2022
Books EditedThe Gravity of Existence by Christina Sng (Poetry, Interstellar Flight Press, December 5, 2022)
The Future Second by Second by Meridel Newton (Fiction Novella, Interstellar Flight Press, May 2, 2022)
Escaping the Body by Chloe N. Clark (Poetry, Interstellar Flight Press, March 7, 2022)
Interstellar Flight Magazine (A Project of Interstellar Flight Press, First started in 2019, Publishing Nonfiction — probably eligible for Fanzine or related project?)
About the AuthorHolly Lyn Walrath is a writer, editor, and publisher. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, Analog, and Flash Fiction Online. She is the author of several books of poetry including Glimmerglass Girl (2018), Numinose Lapidi (2020), and The Smallest of Bones (2021). She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Texas and a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Denver.
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November 19, 2022
New Workshop Alert: 30 Stories in 30 Days
Celebrate National Flash Fiction Month in July!July is the unofficial flash fiction writing month. It also happens to be the month when the Bath Flash Fiction conference occurs. This year, I’m planning a super-special workshop meant to give you 30 story starts.
Class Starts Saturday, July 1st, 2023Led by Holly Lyn Walrath, whose speculative work has appeared in Analog, Strange Horizons, and in the Other Terrors anthology from the Horror Writer’s Association, among many more publications. Holly is the author of the collection The Smallest of Bones, published by Clash Books.
This generative workshop is chock full of 30 writing prompts for short story writers.
Whether you write micro fiction, flash fiction, or short stories, these 30 prompts are meant to inspire and support you in this unique writing challenge. You’ve heard of NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month), where poets write 30 poems in 30 days, and you’ve probably heard of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), where writers try to write a novel in a month.
Now you can do the same with short stories. Whether you’re writing to a specific theme, assembling stories for a collection, or want to try writing a series of connected stories, this workshop will explore new contemporary structures like The Tryptich or The Wikipedia Entry.
Open to writers of all genres — from realism to memoir to speculative fiction.
Note: For this class, you will not be required to submit peer critiques, since the goal is just to generate new work. However, the instructor will give feedback to each student, and there will be an opportunity to upload your stories for accountability.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Week 1: Finding Your Voice
Week 2: Writing Memorable Stories
Week 3: You Are Your Audience
Week 4: Write What You Love, Love What You Write
COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
Dive into seven writing prompts each weekExplore elements of short fictionLearn about hooks, twists, and turnsWrite 30 short stories in 30 days!ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:
This class is entirely asynchronous which means you complete the weekly assignments on your own schedule. There are no set meeting times in order to allow for greater participation; your cohort will consist of writers from across different time zones, which allows for a wonderful diversity of voices.
Along with your weekly deadlines there is plenty of interaction with Holly and your peers within Wet Ink, our dedicated online classroom. Craft materials, lectures, reading assignments, and writing prompts are all available through the online classroom. Students also post work and provide and receive feedback within the online classroom environment.
You can get the work done as you see fit week-to-week, so it is perfect for any schedule. There are discussion questions each week inspired by the assigned readings and topics in the lecture notes. Students are encouraged to take these wherever is most compelling and/or useful for them. Holly engages with these discussions throughout the week and you will receive feedback from all assigned writing activities.
HOW DOES WET INK WORK?
Wet Ink was built and designed specifically for online writing classes. Wet Ink is private, easy to use, and very interactive. You can learn more about the Wet Ink platform by Watching a Class Demo.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.
ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:
Instructor: Holly Lyn WalrathStarts July 1st, 2023Course is fully ONLINE; students can work according to their own schedule within weekly deadlines. Once you have enrolled the instructor will send you a link to our online classroom, provided via Wet Ink.Instructor Holly Lyn Walrath is a freelance editor based out of Houston, Texas. She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Texas and a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Denver. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Analog, Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, and in the Other Terrors anthology from the Horror Writer’s Association, among many more publications. Holly is the author of the collection The Smallest of Bones, published by Clash Books in 2021 and Glimmerglass Girl, winner of the SFPA Elgin Award. She is the managing editor of Interstellar Flight Press, an indie press for underrepresented voices and genres. Visit Holly’s website here.
[image error]November 15, 2022
The Gravity of Existence by Christina Sng ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH!
Howdy Space Partners!
This is just a note to let you know we’ll be hosting a virtual book launch for Christina Sng’s new book of poems, THE GRAVITY OF EXISTENCE.
Here are the details. Sign up via Eventbrite to join us!
Date: Monday, December 5th at 12pm NOON EST / 11am CST
Online via Zoom/Eventbrite
You will receive info from Eventbrite on how to access the event after you register. This event is free to attend. We will also be streaming the event on Facebook, and you can watch the recording on our YouTube channel after!
THE GRAVITY OF EXISTENCEby Christina Sng
A collection of tiny terrors from Bram Stoker Award ® winner Christina Sng. The Gravity of Existence is a weight lifted, a monster freed, a princess with sneakers, a spell for a better world. From one of the leading voices in dark verse, this collection delights in the misunderstood, putting a new spin on werewolves, basilisks, sirens, ghosts, aliens, pandemics, fairy tales and myths. Sng gives new voice to classic heroines and the result is terrifying, magical, and fantastic.
About the Author
Christina Sng is an award-winning poet, writer, essayist, and artist. Her work has appeared in numerous print and online venues worldwide and is translated into six languages. She is the author of A Constellation of Songs (Origami Poems Project), Catku (Allegra Press), 2017 Elgin Award nominee An Assortment of Sky Things (Allegra Press), 2018 Elgin Award runner-up Astropoetry (Alban Lake Publishing), 2017 Bram Stoker Award® winner A Collection of Nightmares (Raw Dog Screaming Press), 2020 Bram Stoker Award® winner and 2021 Elgin Award runner-up A Collection of Dreamscapes (Raw Dog Screaming Press), and the collaborative poetry collection Tortured Willows with Lee Murray, Gene Flynn, and Angela Yuriko Smith.
Since 2001, her science fiction, horror, and fantasy poetry and fiction have been published across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore. These include Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Aoife’s Kiss, Apex Magazine, Astronomers Without Borders, Bare Bone, Beyond Centauri, Black Petals, Blood Rose, Bloodbond, ChiZine, Daily Science Fiction, Dark Animus, Disturbed Digest, Dreams and Nightmares, Electric Velocipede, Eye to the Telescope, Fantastic Stories of the Imagination, Flesh & Blood, Grievous Angel, Hadrosaur Tales, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Illumen, The Journal, Jupiter Magazine, LONTAR, Lunatic Chameleon, The Martian Wave, Mythic Delirium, NewMyths.com, Night to Dawn, Outposts of Beyond, The Pedestal Magazine, Penny Dreadful, Penumbric, Poe Little Thing, Polu Texni, Scifaikuest, Space & Time, Spaceports & Spidersilk, Spectral Realms, Star*Line, Story House, Tales of the Talisman, Trunk Stories, The Washington Post, Wicked Hollow, and Yellow Bat Review.
From late 2015, Christina began to study haiku, finding it immensely beautiful and therapeutic. She writes short form poems to document her thoughts and days. Her haiku, senryu, haiga, and tanka have since received numerous honours and accolades, including winning the 2018 Jane Reichhold International Prize and the Third Annual Jane Reichhold Memorial Haiga Competition. Her work has appeared all around the world in journals such as A Hundred Gourds, Akisame, Akitsu Quarterly, Asahi Haikuist, bear creek haiku, cattails, Cricket, Failed Haiku, Frameless Sky, Frogpond, Haikuniverse, Haiku Masters, hedgerow, Mayfly, otata, Prune Juice, Ribbons, Shamrock, The Bamboo Hut, The Cicada’s Cry, and Wild Plum, among others.
[image error]The Gravity of Existence by Christina Sng ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH! was originally published in Interstellar Flight Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
