SmokeLong Quarterly

This week, the students in Meg Cass’s “Creative Writing, Publishing & Community” class at the University of Illinois Springfield will be reading our submission queue! We asked their students a few questions:

Tell us a little about this class you’re taking with Dr. Cass (what are you learning, what do you find most interesting, etc)?

This class has been fascinating because I never knew the true depth of everything we’ve been discussing or how often the publishing world changes with new technology. I’ve learned that both sides of the publishing process require immense amounts of analytics, thought, and confidence in your abilities. (E)

So far, our work has mostly been focused on relatively smaller forms of publication, both of which were new to me. The first was the Zine, which is a very short self-published format designed for easy dissemination of thought, and the second was the Chapbook, which is a relatively low cost and easily produced collection of poems centered around a shared theme. We’ve also done some small work on marketing, centered around producing an Instagram slide, and a very brief exploration of online literary magazines. (H)

I am learning about publishing formats and practicalities that I hadn’t given so much thought before. (M)

Why did you decide to take this class?

I decided to take this class because I’ve written creative works and explored self-publishing and alternative forms of audience building before. After determining that the simplistic prose structure of web serials and the demanding expectations of the audience simply wasn’t for me, I decided to focus on literary fantasy and the more introspective and thematic works that I ultimately wanted to write. Towards that end I am very interested in publishing and so I took this class. (H)

I decided to take this class because I am intrigued by both the writing side of having an English degree as well as the publishing side. (V)

I decided to take this class to enhance my knowledge of the world of literature in more ways than just experiencing or creating it. I’ve taken many types of writing and analysis classes but never knew how to get work from your hands to someone else’s and this class has shown me both how easy and how difficult that can be at the same time. (E)

What are you hoping to learn from reading our submission queue?

I’m hoping to see interesting methodologies of story-telling, and fresh perspectives. I like the more experimental nature of flash fiction. (H)

What is the current state of short fiction.(M)

I’m hoping to learn more about what goes into how submissions are picked and what is considered a good submission. For example: is it based on other content like how Issue 89 for SmokeLong Quarterly has an overall theme or is it purely based on the writing? I do understand that the answer can vary based on what the submission is for. (E)

What do you appreciate about the flash narrative form?

I appreciate the skill involved in telling a cohesive narrative using limited means. I explored this in my Zine submission as well and found it a really fantastic method to make sure every word you write counts. (H)

The way that the form impacts your creative choices. The depth that can be extracted from such economy of setting. (M)

I appreciate the short form. I can get lost when reading something that goes on for a long time with no discernable checkpoints (chapters in books for example) so I love that I can have an impactful experience without losing interest. I also love that I can put a name to my own type of writing. I love to write short stories and poems but hate when I’m told to beef it up. (E)

One last question: what is your favorite ice cream flavor? 

Vanilla. I like chocolate as well, but sometimes chocolate flavors vary and I don’t like every chocolate; vanilla varies too, I’m sure, but I’m less sensitive to its variations, I guess. (N)

I like any flavor from Ben and Jerry’s, but if I’m just out and about I’ll order vanilla with hot fudge and caramel. (H)

Chocolate. (M)

If it’s with a baked good, like roasted plums or cobbler, then definitely French Vanilla Bean (it has to be the bean!) but just a cup? I love the Blueberry Waffle Cone flavor at Kilwin’s Chocolate and Ice cream Shop in Lake Geneva Wisconsin. (E)