While it is deeply terrifying to open submissions to TWO editions while summer is in production, gulp, it’s that time.
Talk Vomit Summer: GIRLHOOD (available for $10 for the rest of the month!) will come out next month, but we’re already thinking about the second half of the year. Namely, we’re thinking about our THEMES, which will be, respectively:
FALL: American Gothic
WINTER: Caregiving
Here are lengthier descriptions, as well as links to our Google Forms, where we field submissions. As always, refer to our submissions page for finer details.
Our fall edition theme is American gothic, however you interpret that. We are particularly interested in stories that consider themes of class, non-city living, the institution of motherhood, and gender, but all facets of American culture are welcome for exploration. One might consider writers like Shirley Jackson, Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, and Stephen King as stand-out examples in the genre. Submissions may be sent using this Google Form.
Our winter edition theme is caregiving, however you interpret that. One might consider subjects like parenting and familial duties, gender roles, and medical realities. We are especially interested in the emotional nuances of caregiving, its physical demands, and its psychological aftermath. What does it mean to be cared for? What does it mean to care for others, at all stages of life? Pieces that do not strictly fit into the theme will also be considered. Submissions may be sent using this Google Form.
Both of these editions will be open for submissions until September 1st.
The plan (hope, wish) is to have both fall and winter closed and live by the end of the calendar year (wish me luck on that).
Other, smaller, less new things!
Syllabus writing update:
I recently read Jo Ann Beard’s ‘The Fourth State of Matter’ for the first time. I plan to assign it in one, maybe two of my upcoming classes. I went into it without knowing what happens, and hoo-boy did I not see that narrative twist coming. It’s not about the dog! But it is, also, of course, about the dog. I think it would be great to help cover “how do I write about big events?” and “how do I write about big feelings?” without veering into overly sentimental, emotional descriptions. I’m a huge fan of spare, journalism-like reporting on the self. It’s less alienating because it doesn’t assume the reader can access the feelings and reference points you’re describing. This piece is a master class in that.
If you had to pick an excerpt from Tara Westover’s Educated to teach in class, which section would you pick? This is something I’m noodling on for fall, and I haven’t made up my mind just yet.
Summer editions remain on sale!
They’re discounted to $10 for the month of July. Every single penny goes back into TV, which at this point is doing okay-ish, but in order to accept more pieces/pay our writers more, we need your support. Consider buying yourself (or your mom, or your friend, or your cool lit teacher) a copy and support independent art-making. If you don’t want to collect stuff, consider becoming a paid newsletter supporter. I haven’t quite worked out perks, but the biggest one, IMO, is you’re a patron of the goddamn arts. (If you’d like to see perks, what would they be?? Leave a comment or send an email to talk@talkvomit.com).
In the coming weeks, we’ll have more book reviews/recs and literary-adjacent discussions. Thank you so much for reading (and submitting, which a lot of you do). And, if you got this far, please know we’re always open to book review pitches, which you can also send to our email.
Until next week!
xoxo
Monica