SmokeLong Quarterly

This week, students from Michael Don’s International Publishing class at George Mason University read our submission queue! We asked them some questions to get to know them better and discover what they are hoping to learn from this experience.

SLQ: Tell us a little about yourselves. 

Kris

My name is Kristen Zory King and I am a writer based in Washington, DC. I am the author of Ladies, Ladies, Ladies, a chapbook of flash fiction published by Stanchion, alongside numerous poems, essays, and stories available through various anthologies and publications in print and online. In addition to my work on the page, I am also a teaching artist, yoga instructor, and graduate student at George Mason University.

Kate

I am an English major at George Mason University with a concentration in Creative Writing, and I am minoring in Dynamic Publishing. I love reading and I love collaborating with authors who are passionate about the stories that they want to tell.

Christina

I am an English major at George Mason on the pre-law track and have a concentration in Creative writing. My passion for literature led me to this class to learn more about the ins and outs of publishing and editing, as I’ve spent the majority of my life on the writer’s side of things.

Charisma

I am majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and minoring in Dynamic Publishing. From a very young age, I have loved both reading and writing, so I decided to make it a career. You can almost always find me with a book in my hand or see my bookish updates on my Instagram.

Austin

I’m an MFA student in fiction. I’ve moved around a lot in my life from Oklahoma to Tbilisi, Georgia to Morocco to Berlin, Los Angeles, and now Washington DC.

Misheel

I am an undergraduate English major with a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric and a minor in Dynamic Publishing. I am more interested in editing and publishing than I am writing. I’ve lived all over the world from Beijing and Berlin to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I hope to get into the publishing industry and possibly pursue a Library Science Masters in the future to work in archives or as a librarian.

Megan

I’m an English major concentrating in creative writing. I’ve been writing since middle school, but it wasn’t until joining the editorial staff of my high school’s literary magazine when I became more interested in the publishing sphere. As for my time in college, I’ve done a little bit work as a slush reader for Stillhouse Press, but I’m excited to hone my creative instincts even further with this class.

SLQ: Tell us a little about this creative writing class you’re taking.

International Publishing is a semester-long course at George Mason University taught by Michael Don, in which we are learning more about the publishing sphere around the world through guest speakers from various international literary journals and presses, readings on issues in the world of publishing, and editorial work for Kikwetu: A Journal of East African Literature. We get to have hands-on experience as readers and editors for publications that we otherwise may not have had the chance to work with such as SmokeLong Quarterly and Kikwetu.

SLQ: What do you know about flash fiction already? What interests you about flash fiction?

 An author can do so much with such a small amount of writing. The immediacy of the genre and economy of language allows narratives in both fiction and nonfiction to teeter on an urgent, delicate edge. It prioritizes quality over quantity to deliver attention grabbing stories. Because it’s short doesn’t mean that the writer should feel as if they don’t have to put as much effort into it. On the contrary, flash fiction requires excellent control over your craft. Compression in flash can move us through hours, days, and entire generations in a single line. This creates an immediate and vast world along with the feeling that it’s been inhabited for a long time.

SLQ: What are you hoping to learn by reading our submission queue?

Kris

To me, Smokelong consistently publishes fresh and interesting flash pieces, so I am eager to read through the slush to see what people feel motivated to send as well as to be part of some of the behind the scenes conversations and decisions regarding how pieces are selected.

Kate

I’m hoping to learn how to become more confident in my discernment skills when it comes to deciding between great pieces and pieces that fall flat.

Christina

I’m hoping to learn to trust my gut within this genre. I’m used to reviewing poetry and other short prose, but this will be new for me.

Charisma

I hope to learn how being a reader/being on the editorial team of a publication works. I am also hoping to learn what is best to include in writing, as I still aspire to write.

Austin

I’m curious to learn how writers navigate the storm that is flash! How do they wrangle all the necessary elements to tell their story, give it depth and even resonance in such short order?

Misheel

I am hoping to broaden my experience with flash fiction. I hope to read something truly interesting and of course also see what obviously fails.

SLQ: Who are some of your favorite writers?

 To name a few: Lydia Davis, Mary Oliver, Tana French, Lucille Clifton, Tove Jansson, Aimee Nezhukamatatil, Suzanne Collins, Chloe Michelle Howarth, James Baldwin, Jade Song, R.F Kuang, Sarah J. Maas, Chelsea Curto, Garth Greenwell, Jesmyn Ward,Teju Cole, Ursula K. Le Guin.

SLQ: Favorite pizza toppings? 

Black olives (Also, hot take: DC does *not* have the pizza culture it believes. It has an elevated flatbread culture.).

Mushrooms (but I’m not picky lol).

Pepperoni (you’re insane if you put fruit on pizza).

Pepperoni, bacon, sausage, chicken (meat lover’s).

Cheese pizza with uncooked toppings: prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, fresh parmesan, and arugula piled high (Strong feelings here!).

I like trying new and interesting flavors, so I like to see whatever unique option a pizza place has to offer (But on a typical day I just go for cheese).

I don’t eat pizza 🙁