An update and a published piece
I was published in a literary magazine!
Hallo dear subscribers
I’ve been terribly quiet on here. Truthfully, I have been writing a lot but nothing which has been Substack-orientated. A goal for this year has been to put my work out there as much as possible, so I have been submitting to a wealth of literary journals, small publishers, and writing contests.
A couple of months ago I received my first Submittable acceptance - which was a huge win in itself! It was for a small literary magazine called The Argyle and it was for a personal essay.
It has taken me some time to share it with my networks because it's very personal. But it's also very topical.
"Speculum" navigates two experiences which unexpectedly became entwined in my life last year: female reproductive health and narcissistic abuse. The dual epidemics of cervical dysplasia and narcissistic relationships - one widely spoken of online at the moment, and both quietly battled among many women - don't always go hand in hand, but when they do it can be a pretty devastating experience.
When I write like this it is a form of catharsis and a place to hone skills I hope to apply to a louder conversation about the human condition. It is my hope in sharing this that it gives validity to many women's untold stories - because their's have certainly given validity to mine.
In other news:
I’M GOING TO PRAGUE IN SEPTEMBER!
This is for something of a self-funded research trip. I’ve come up with a new idea for a novel and somehow it has decided to be based in Prague, so naturally that is where I need to go. I’ve had my head down for the last month or so picking up extra work to save for this trip and, as it slowly draws nearer, I’m beginning to get excited.
Stay tuned for the novel which will, hopefully, emerge from this adventure.
As always, thank you for the continued support of my work as I further myself in the craft I love.
With literary love,
Skye