The Metaworker Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Metaworker Literary Magazine
The Metaworker podcast is brought to you by the staff of The Metaworker Literary Magazine. We publish new and established writers, and look for work that surprises or that doesn’t fit anywhere else. We've published so much great stuff over the years but, as often happens with online magazines, the good stuff can get lost in the shuffle. So we created this podcast to discuss some of our favorite pieces and to delve deeper into the reasons we decided to publish them. Our goal is to make the publishing world a little less murky, and to get you inspired to keep writing. We hope you enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed creating them! | THE METAWORKER STAFF: Matthew Maichen, Editor in Chief; Elena Lucia Perez, Managing Editor; Marina Shugrue, Communications Coordinator; Melissa Reynolds, Editor; Darin Milanesio, Editor Emeritus | FIND US ONLINE: www.themetaworker.com | www.patreon.com/metaworker | @TheMetaworker on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Episode Description:
Elena, Mel, and Cerid speak with Kathryn Temple and Matthew Smallwood about unfinished work—those ‘buried’ drafts—and what they do with them. Kathryn reads two unfinished poems, “The Lawyer Reads Yeats” and “Dis: A Dictionary Entry” while Matthew explains why he deletes all of his unfinished and unwanted drafts. The five go on to discuss different approaches to works in progress, the potential of the written “junk pile” vs the value of starting fresh, as well as the role of perfectionism in art.
Author Bios:
Kathryn D. Temple teaches and writes at Georgetown University. Her latest work has appeared in Streetlight, Fauxmoir, Delmarva Review, and 3Elements, among others. She was a funded finalist for the Lori White Nonfiction Fellowship in 2023. In addition to her creative work, she has published two academic books on law & emotions and many essays in academic journals. Find her on the Chesapeake Bay or at https://georgetown.academia.edu/KathrynTemple and https://medium.com/@templek
Matthew Smallwood is a 43 year old horror author living in West Virginia. He has a collection of tuxedo cats and has been published in numerous anthologies. His first novel Immortal Again is available on Amazon.
Referenced in this episode:
Numbers by Kathryn D. Temple on The Metaworker website
Amongst the Clouds by Matthew Smallwood on The Metaworker website
Explanation about The Grind writers group
About Robert Louis Stevenson’s writing—and burning of the first draft—of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Keith Haring, “Art is for Everybody”
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Episode Description:
In Part 2 of our Pushcart Prize Nomination podcast series, we review three pieces: one of poetry, one of creative nonfiction, and one of fiction. Our editors Elena, Mel, and Cerid share their reasons for nominating these pieces, and we hear each author's background and reason for writing, in their own words. Stories here include "Sharh on Sunan an-Nasa'i 736" by Reyzl Grace; "Rubies" by Carol E. Anderson; and "Ashmedai and the Hairdresser" by Allister Nelson. Part 1 can be found here.
Featured Authors:
Reyzl Grace is a writer, librarian, and translator whose work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and featured in Room, Rust & Moth, So to Speak, and other periodicals. Currently a poetry editor for Psaltery & Lyre, she lives as an expat in Minneapolis with her novelist girlfriend, arguing over which of them is the better writer. (It’s her girlfriend.) Find more of her at reyzlgrace.com and on social media @reyzlgrace
Nominated Poetry: "Sharh on Sunan an-Nasa'i 736" by Reyzl Grace on the Metaworker website
Carol E. Anderson is a life coach and former organizational consultant whose passions are writing, women’s empowerment and travel photography. She is the founder of Rebellious Dreamers, a twenty-five year strong non-profit organization that has helped women over thirty-five realize dreams they’d deferred and women of all ages come into their own. Carol holds a doctorate in spiritual studies, and master's degrees in organizational development, and creative nonfiction. She is the author of the award-winning memoir, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties. Her work has been published in The Metaworker, Across the Margin, Bending Genres, Hippocampus, Lit Break and others. Her goal at this stage is to live with a peaceful heart – a state regularly cultivated through walks in nature, meditation, and heartfelt conversation with friends. She lives with the love of her life and their sassy pup in a nature sanctuary in Ann Arbor, MI.
Nominated Creative Nonfiction: "Rubies" by Carol E Anderson on the Metaworker website
Allister Nelson is a technical writer who has been published in Apex Magazine, Eternal Haunted Summer, FunDead Publication’s Gothic Anthology, Sudden Denouement, the Showbear Family Circus, and more.
Nominated Fiction: "Ashmedai and the Hairdresser" by Allister Nelson on the Metaworker website
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Episode Description:
Elena, Mel, and Cerid review and discuss three of their nominees for the 2024 Pushcart Prize. Part 1 of this podcast includes readings of "Parteada por el Fuego/Twice Born" by E.N. Diaz, "December Rain" by Subarna Mohanty, and "Heavy" by Shaun Anthony McMichael. You’ll also hear reflections from each author on their piece, their craft, and what drives their creative process. Congrats to each of these three nominees!
Featured Authors:
E. N. Díaz (México, 1995) es poeta y cuentista. Sus escritos han aparecido en las revistas BULL Magazine, Letralia Tierra de Letras, Babab, The Café Irreal, Clarkesworld Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, y en el blog Jóvenes en la Revista de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
E. N. Díaz (México, 1995) is a bilingual poet and short story writer. Their writings have appeared in BULL Magazine, Letralia Tierra de Letras, The Café Irreal, Clarkesworld Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Revista Casapais, Revista Larus, Strange Horizons and others. You can find more of their work at Bluesky: @endiaaz.bsky.social WordPress: https://endiaazblog.wordpress.com
Nominated Poetry: Parteada por el Fuego / Twice Born by E. N. Díaz on The Metaworker website
Subarna Mohanty writes poetry and short stories that explore the intricacies of human relationships. An avid reader and movie enthusiast, she prefers fiction to reality and draws inspiration from the stories that surround her. Her work has been featured in Sparks Magazine and Alipore Poetry Post, among others. Through her writing, she aims to inspire readers to see the world from fresh perspectives, fostering empathy and a deeper connection to the human experience.
Nominated Short Story: December Rain on The Metaworker website
Since 2007, Shaun Anthony McMichael has taught writing to students from around the world, in classrooms, juvenile detention halls, mental health treatment centers, and homeless youth drop-ins throughout the Seattle area. He is the editor of The Shadow Beside Me (2020) and The Story of My Heart (2021), anthologies of poetry by youth affected by trauma, mental illness, and instability. Over 85 of his works have been published, including the forthcoming short story collection The Wild Familiar (Fall, 2024; CJ Press). Keep up with him at shaunanthonymcmichael.com.
Nominated Poetry: Heavy on The Metaworker website
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Elena, Mel, and Cerid are back with updates. Elena asks Mel how it feels now that River and Stone is out in the world, Cerid discusses the fun challenge of arranging the order of pieces in her anthology Artificial Sweetener, and the trio discuss the thought and care that goes into book design and illustration.
Mel’s anthology, River and Stone, is now available for purchase as an e-book or physical book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Cerid’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener, will be available in November.
Referenced in this episode:
River and Stone Anthology, edited by Mel Reynolds, is available to purchase!
Buy River and Stone in print or Ebook on Amazon
Buy River and Stone in print from Barnes & Noble
Buy River and Stone Ebook from Barnes & Noble
Cerid’s project – Speculative Fiction New Zealand’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener – will be out later this year!
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Elena, Mel, and Cerid get technical and discuss the software Mel used to create her books, plus the benefit of hiring a professional book designer, and fostering a community of new and seasoned writers and editors who can learn from each other. Mel and Cerid also share their marketing plans, as well as their hopes and projections for the projects once they are released into the world.
Mel’s anthology, River and Stone, is now available for purchase as an e-book or physical book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Cerid’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener, will be available in November.
Referenced in this episode:
River and Stone Anthology, edited by Mel Reynolds, is available to purchase!
Buy River and Stone in print or Ebook on Amazon
Buy River and Stone in print from Barnes & Noble
Buy River and Stone Ebook from Barnes & Noble
Cerid’s project – Speculative Fiction New Zealand’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener – will be out later this year!
Support the show
Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website!
Episode Description:
Elena talks with Mel and Cerid about their upcoming anthology projects outside of The Metaworker. They discuss how the projects got started, how they chose pieces to publish, and the process of editing those pieces into a book. They also discuss editor/author dynamics and the joys of creating the anthologies for their communities.
Referenced in this episode:
River and Stone Anthology, edited by Mel Reynolds, is available to purchase!
Buy River and Stone in print or Ebook on Amazon
Buy River and Stone in print from Barnes & Noble
Buy River and Stone Ebook from Barnes & Noble
Cerid's project -- Speculative Fiction New Zealand’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener -- will be out later this year!
Support the show
Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website!
Episode Description:
In this two-part series, we celebrate our Pushcart Prize nominees. This episode features Chris Cooper, Frank Njugi, and Linda Lacey. We asked each author to read an excerpt from their poetry or prose and to share some insights about their piece and themselves as writers. Elena, Mel, and Cerid also discuss what we loved about each piece and why we chose to nominate it.
Featured Authors:
Chris Cooper is a fiction author from New Jersey; his short story “Bleed” was listed among the “Best Summer Reads” for 2021 at Hash Journal; his 2020 short story "Finn Almost Buys a Goldfish" won the 'Emerging Writer’s Award' at Spank the Carp Magazine; and his short story “The Swim” was recognized as the Best in Fiction for 2019 at Across the Margin. Chris' work has also been featured in Expat Press, Bookends Review, and elsewhere.
Nominated fiction: Thirst by Chris Cooper on The Metaworker website
Frank Njugi (he/him) is a writer and poet from Kenya. He currently serves as a poetry Reader for Salamander ink Magazine & His work has appeared on platforms such as Roi Feineant press, Olney Magazine, Kikwetu Journal, Fiery scribe Review , Konya Shamrusmi and others. He tweets as @FrankNjugi
Nominated poetry: Desquamation by Frank Njugi on The Metaworker website
Linda Lacy is a short story writer from Salem, Oregon. She worked at a homeless shelter for many years and now a men’s prison for the last decade. Her writing mirrors these career paths. Her work has been published in the Avalon Literary Review, Geez, Country Woman, North Dakota Quarterly, The Magnolia Review, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, Universalist, The Adventist Review, Imperfect Women and The Anglican Digest.
Nominated fiction: For Thea by Linda Lacy on The Metaworker website
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Episode Description:
In this two-part series, we celebrate our Pushcart Prize nominees. This episode features Amita Basu, Daniel Brennan, and Marie-Louise McGuinness. We asked each author to read an excerpt from their poetry or prose and to share some insights about their piece and themselves as writers. Elena, Mel, and Cerid also discuss what we loved about each piece and why we chose to nominate it.
Featured Authors:
Amita Basu's fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in over sixty magazines and anthologies including The Penn Review, Bamboo Ridge, Another Chicago Magazine, The Dalhousie Review, and Funicular. She’s a reader at The Metaworker, sustainability columnist and interviews editor at Mean Pepper Vine, and submissions editor at Fairfield Scribes Microfiction. She lives in Bangalore, uses her cognitive science PhD to work on sustainable behaviour, and blogs at http://amitabasu.com/
Nominated fiction: Retreat by Amita Basu on The Metaworker website
Daniel Brennan (he/him) is a queer writer and resident of New York City, but spent much of his youth in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Pennsylvania (an early ecological inspiration for his work). As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Brennan hopes to capture and juxtapose the vastness we experience within our rapidly changing natural world with the often daunting intimacies the queer body presents. His poems have been published or are forthcoming in Passengers Journal, The Garfield Lake Review, ONE ART, and Feral: a Journal of Poetry & Art, among others. Instagram/Twitter @dannyjbrennan
Nominated poetry: The Beach by Daniel Brennan on The Metaworker website
Marie-Louise McGuinness comes from a wonderfully neurodiverse household in rural Northern Ireland. She has work published or forthcoming in Roi Faineant Press, Bending Genres, Intrepidus Ink, Flash Fiction Magazine and The Airgonaut amongst others. She enjoys writing from a sensory perspective.
Nominated creative non-fiction: Lives of Dust and Ashes by Marie-Louise McGuinness on The Metaworker website
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Episode Description:
Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk with former Metaworker Editor in Chief Matthew Maichen about writing rituals, how they create characters, and the benefits and drawbacks of writing with or without a plan. They discuss the importance of respecting readers and doing research when writing about vulnerable topics, then Matthew shares an excerpt (rated NC-17) from one of his published stories and encourages any writers listening to join The Metaworker’s weekly Discord writing group.
Author Bio:
Matthew Maichen typically writes as Johnathon Heart, and is the former editor-in-chief of the Metaworker. He is dedicated to writing stories for anyone who thinks that Halloween is better than Christmas, that love is worth believing in, and that all the best love stories are at least a little bit sad. Clearly enough people think this for him to get published. He has appeared in a variety of anthologies and is slated to appear in more. His hobbies include arguing with imaginary people and wasting the entire day. He does not actually enjoy these things, but he does them anyway.
Referenced in this episode:
Ants by Johnathon Heart
sensitivity readers, #OwnVoices, and doing your research when writing about sensitive or unfamiliar topics
I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter by Isabel Fall in Clarkesworld and details about the backstory
Feed by M.T. Anderson
The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan
Matthew Maichen (aka Johnathon Heart) Publication List:
"To Summon Her" from Pressfuls (as Matthew Maichen)
"Woman Made of Stars" from Factor Four
"The Mourner" in Depths of Love, Love Thy Enemy
"My Darling Girl" in It Calls from Below: Anthology of Horror
"Tacos" in The Best of Bizarro Fiction: Volume 2
"Dorian" in The Devil Who Loves Me
"(im here)" in Bleed Error, Vol. 2
"Lorelai" in the Thirteen Podcast (Patrons only) and in Wicked Shadow Press
"The Door People" in the Nosleep Podcast (as Matthew Maichen)
"Like the Devil" in Collage Macabre: An Exhibition of Art Horror (as Matthew Maichen)
“THREEFOLD.WMV” by Johnathon Heart in
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Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website!
Episode Description:
Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk with former Metaworker Editor in Chief Matthew Maichen about his writing and publishing journey since he stepped away from leading the magazine. They discuss writing query letters, the challenges of marketing a novel and finding stories you didn’t know you were looking for. They also discuss what goes on behind the scenes in the slush piles, and Matthew shares what motivates him to continue slogging through those query trenches.
Author Bio:
Matthew Maichen typically writes as Johnathon Heart, and is the former editor-in-chief of the Metaworker. He is dedicated to writing stories for anyone who thinks that Halloween is better than Christmas, that love is worth believing in, and that all the best love stories are at least a little bit sad. Clearly enough people think this for him to get published. He has appeared in a variety of anthologies and is slated to appear in more. His hobbies include arguing with imaginary people and wasting the entire day. He does not actually enjoy these things, but he does them anyway.
Referenced in this episode:
Switchyard Tulsa and The Switchyard Podcast
Mermaids Monthly
George Lies Morgantown Writers Group
Super Eyepatch Wolf, Influencer Courses are Garbage: The Dark Side of Content Creation
Dick Pig by Ian Muneshwar, published in Nightmare Magazine
Matthew Maichen (aka Johnathon Heart) Publication List:
"To Summon Her" from Pressfuls (as Matthew Maichen)
"Woman Made of Stars" from Factor Four
"The Mourner" in Depths of Love, Love Thy Enemy
"My Darling Girl" in It Calls from Below: Anthology of Horror
"Tacos" in The Best of Bizarro Fiction: Volume 2
"Dorian" in The Devil Who Loves Me
"(im here)" in Bleed Error, Vol. 2
"Lorelai" in the Thirteen Podcast (Patrons only) and in Wicked Shadow Press
"The Door People" in the Nosleep Podcast (as Matthew Maichen)
"Like the Devil" in Collage Macabre: An Exhibition of Art Horror (as Matthew Maichen)
“THREEFOLD.WMV” by Johnathon Heart in From Beyond the Threshold: Cosmic Horror Anthology
Support the show
Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website!
Episode Description:
Matthew, Elena, and Mel talk with Oisín Breen about his poem “The Borderland Furies” and about his new book of poetry, Lillies on the Deathbed of Étaín, published by Beir Bua Press. We discuss how to approach reading poems that we don’t understand on a first read, a reader’s interpretation of a poem vs. the author’s intention, and looking at the world from different angles to find writing inspiration. We ask Oisín how he finds time to write and what his process of writing a book of poetry entails, then the discussion turns philosophical as we discuss the concept of one’s self changing over time, and Plato’s concept of the idealized form of objects.
Author Bio:
Irish poet, doctoral candidate, and journalist, Oisín Breen, a Best of the Net Nominee, is published in 105 journals in 20 countries, including in Agenda, North Dakota Quarterly, Books Ireland, About Place, Door is a Jar, Northern Gravy, Decomp, and The Tahoma Literary Review. Breen’s second collection, Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín has just been released to growing acclaim through Beir Bua Press (2023). It follows his critically well received debut, 'Flowers, All Sorts, in Blossom...' (Dreich, 2020).
Referenced in this episode:
The Borderland Furies by Oisín Breen on The Metaworker website
Mourning by Oisín Breen on The Metaworker website
Lillies on the Deathbed of Étaín, Oisín’s newest book of poetry
Beir Bua Press - Oisín’s publisher, and publisher of post-avant, visual poetry collections
Flowers, all sorts in blossom, figs, berries, and fruits, forgotten - Oisín’s first book of poetry
Dublin & the Loose Footwork of Deity - a poem from Flowers, all sorts in blossom, figs, berries, and fruits, forgotten
Plato and the theory of forms
Book & Author Recommendations:
The Employees by Olga Ravn
Róisín Ní Neachtain, Irish writer and artist (Twitter @orphicreview)
W. Scott Howard, poet (Twitter @wscotth)
Support the show
Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website!
Episode Description:
Matthew, Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk with Isabel O’Hara Walsh about her short fiction piece “In the Willow Garden”. Content Warning: We discuss victims of trauma and abuse reclaiming their narratives, the process of writing dark and difficult stories, and the need to take care of one’s mental health while doing so. We also discuss different perspectives on the need for dark fiction vs. light fiction as well as Appalachian culture, language, and dialects.
Author Bio:
Isabel O’Hara Walsh (she/they) is a graduate from the MFA program in fiction at North Carolina State University and is working on her second novel. She teaches fiction at the Redbud Writing Project, and also works as a Tarot reader and witch. Walsh writes literary fiction with touches of horror that bring buried stories to light. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her partner and many pets.
Referenced in this episode:
In the Willow Garden by Isabel O’Hara Walsh on The Metaworker website
The Stray Birds band
Kirk Hazen, director of the West Virginia Dialect Project
Jane Austen novels
Promising Young Woman movie
Book Recommendations:
There There by Tommy Origin
White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
The Antiracist Writer’s Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez
Support the show
Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website!
Episode Description:
In this final episode of the editors chat, Matthew, Elena, Mel and Cerid get personal. They talk about their own writing projects and how they approach their craft, they share what they get up to outside of their fiction lives and finally wrap things up by providing a list of great books from the recent reads they loved.
Referenced in this episode:
Mermaids Monthly
WorldCon/ConZealand
NPR Top 100 SFF book list and other NPR book lists
Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse 5
Dark Tower: Stephen King
Book Recommendations:
The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
A Dead Djinn in Cairo and Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
Stariel series by AJ Lancaster
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers
Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Beckoning of the Gate by Benjamin J. Ryan
Court of the Grandchildren by Michael Muntisov and Greg Finlayson
Borderlanders by Gillian Pollock
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
Dark Star trilogy by Marlon James
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Matthew, Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk about how they got into writing and why they are involved in the publishing world, even as unpaid editors of an indie literary magazine. They also delve into the type of submissions they’d like to see in their inbox.
Referenced in this episode:
The Metaworker submission wish list
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Jane The Virgin - TV series
Brian Froud - Artist/concept creator
Kelly Link - Author
Neil Gaiman - Author
Long Ridge Writers Group
everydayfiction.com
www.fanstory.com
Topics of interest in this episode:
Magic realism and Cultural Traditions in Storytelling
Dungeons and Dragons
Genre Fiction/Lit Fic/Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Comic-Con
Writing Affirmations/Craft Commentary
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Matthew, Elena, Mel, and new intern Cerid talk about how they fell in love with reading, then move into a history lesson about how The Metaworker got started, and how Mel and Cerid joined the team.
Referenced in this episode:
Treesong by Melissa Reynolds on The Metaworker website
Cerid’s photo featured in A Fair Deal by Jon Kemsley on The Metaworker website
A translated poem, A Passage by Irsa Ruçi, on The Metaworker website
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Matthew, Elena, Marina, and Mel talk with Sam Asher about his beautifully strange story Boy, Deer, Chair. We discuss symbolism, inherited trauma, pantsers vs. plotters, and imposter syndrome.
Sam Asher is an alcoholic born and partly raised in the Middle-East, now living in New York. He loves translating English -language fiction into Arabic, and being terrible at social media. Find his work in Amazing Stories, Daily SF, and the Gateway Review.
Referenced in this episode:
Boy, Deer, Chair by Sam Asher on The Metaworker website
Chelsea Sutton - author recommended by Sam
Karen Joy Fowler - author recommended by Sam
Blackfish City by Sam Miller
Clarion Writers Workshop
Afrofuturism
Trans authors
Literary Magazines:
Voodoonauts
Fiyah LitMag
Clarkesworld
Apex Magazine
Strange Horizons
Uncanny Magazine
Mid-American Review
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
In this episode, Matthew, Marina, and Elena talk with Mary Paulson about her poem, Ruins. We talk about writing poetry to express deep emotions, writing and rewriting with help from community, and Mary's own personal journey toward writing this version of this poem.
Mary Paulson currently lives and works in Naples, FL. Her poems have appeared in Slow Trains, Mainstreet Rag, Painted Bride Quarterly, Nerve Cowboy, Arkana, Thimble Lit Magazine, and Tipton Poetry Journal. Her chapbook, Paint the Window Open, has recently been accepted for publication by Kelsay Publishing.
Referenced in this episode:
Ruins by Mary Paulson on The Metaworker website
Tenderness by Mary Paulson on The Metaworker website
Paint the Window Open by Mary Paulson, a new collection of poems
Donkey Gospel by Tony Hoagland, collection of poems recommended by Mary
What Do Women Want by Kim Addonizio, poet recommended by Mary
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
Matthew, Marina, Melissa, and Elena talk about Mina Rozario’s flash fiction fantasy story, Rangoli Man. We gush about saying a lot in very few words, the utopian fairy-tale tone, and the story’s fascinating dive into Indian culture.
Mina Rozario is an Indian-American writer and technical product manager. Her non-work hours consist of dreaming up storylines, learning new dance styles, and trying not to kill her plants.
Referenced in this episode:
Rangoli Man Mina Rozario on The Metaworker website
A Future Leviathan’s Prodigious Sister by Mina Rozario on The Metaworker website
Division of the Marked by March McCarron, book recommended by Mina
A Deadly Education (book 1 of the Scholomance Trilogy) by Naomi Novik, book recommended by Mina
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
Matthew, Marina, and Melissa gush about Lane Talbot’s Minotaurs before asking him about how he approaches his craft, the art of writing the thriller, and how his personal experiences have informed his storytelling. We manage to throw out nods to writers who take a long time on their work, and the hidden advantages of doing so.
Lane Talbot’s work has been listed as notable fiction in Best American Mystery Stories and published in Berkeley Fiction Review, ThugLit, Able Muse and elsewhere. His MFA is from Southern Illinois University.
Referenced in this episode:
Minotaurs by Lane Talbot on The Metaworker website
House in the Cerulean Sea by Tj Klune, book mentioned in episode
Sunk-Cost Fallacy
Mythbusters polishing a turd
David Mamet, memo to writers of The Unit (distinguishing drama from information)
Why you might want to rethink using the word ‘tribe'
Lane’s blog
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
Editors Matthew, Elena, and Melissa talk to Stella Meadows about her brilliant nonfiction (as well as what makes brilliant nonfiction in general), identity, introspection, LGBT+ representation in art, and specifically LGBT+ representation in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
Stella Meadows is a writer to know. Born in 1996, she’s been active since the age of eight, ever in search of the perfect sentence. Her first story was published in Quirk Literary Magazine in May, 2020. Her other work is forthcoming. Meadows takes a personal approach to story-telling, focusing primarily on issues of identity and self-expression. When not reading or writing, she can be found drinking espresso and chasing down scared raccoons (they need affection too!). A student of Humanities and Communications at California State University, Monterey Bay, she will graduate in early 2021.
Referenced in this episode:
Meditations on Water by Stella Meadows on The Metaworker website;
Paradise is a Feeling by Stella Meadows on The Metaworker website;
House in the Cerulean Sea by Tj Klune, book recommended by Stella;
The Pervert by Remy Boydell & Michelle Perez, comic book recommended by Stella;
Drop-Out, web comic recommended by Stella;
Grease Bats by Archie Bongiovanni, comic recommended by Stella
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
Editors Matthew, Elena, and Melissa talk to Veronica Lupinacci about her wonderful poem, Kurt. We talk about nonfiction, how we remember people, and the general topic of learning to write well.
Veronica Lupinacci is poet, an adjunct writing professor at State College of Florida, and a Grant Officer for Mote Marine Laboratory is Sarasota, Florida, U.S. where she crafts foundation proposals and reports to grow philanthropic support for marine conservation research and education. Her poetry has been published in journals including BOAAT, Gravel, McNeese Review, Haiku Journal, and The Pinch, and she is the author of a children’s book used for ESL education in Beijing, China.
Referenced in this episode:
Kurt by Veronica Lupinacci on The Metaworker website;
Beating a Dead Horse or Good Prose Writing by Matthew Maichen on The Metaworker website;
Neighbor by Darrell Pateska on The Metaworker website;
Daniele Pantano, poet recommended by Veronica;
Billy Collins, poet recommended by Veronica
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
Editors Matthew, Elena, Marina, and Darin talk to Kate Shannon about her wonderful poetry! We touch on the history of the form, some of the brutal inspirations that Kate uses for her work, and what we love about beautiful poetry of all kinds.
Kate Shannon is a farmer, editor, and poet from Upstate NY where she lives with her partner and too many dark secrets. She writes speculative poetry and fiction and hopes to not be eaten by one of her hideous creations. Her publication history includes The Mithila Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, and High Shelf Press.
Referenced in this episode:
thick crusts of midnight in the late Ordovician, a wilderness of morning elsewhere by Kate Shannon on The Metaworker website;ghazal for aguas del sur by Kate Shannon on The Metaworker website; a quote by Richard Siken, from his poetry collection Crush;Hip-Hop Ghazal by Patricia SmithThe American Cavewall Sonnets by C.T. Salazar
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
Editors Matthew, Elena, Darin, and Melissa talk to Paul Rabinowitz about his piece Little Gem Magnolia and its surreal mix of genres. We touch on New Orleans, art, making time for art, and so much more.
Paul Rabinowitz is an author, photographer and founder of ARTS By The People, a nonprofit arts organization based in New Jersey. Paul’s photography, short fiction and poetry have appeared in many magazines and journals including Nailed, Long Exposure Magazine, Linden Avenue Literary Journal, Pif Magazine, The Metaworker, Burningword and others. Paul is the author of Limited Light, and a novella, The Clay Urn, (Main Street Rag, 2020). Paul is currently at work on a novel Confluence and a collection of prose poems, Grand Street, Revisited.
Referenced in this episode:
Little Gem Magnolia by Paul Rabinowitz on The Metaworker website;
I've Loved You So Long, film recommended by Paul;
The Selfish Giant, film recommended by Paul;
Paul Rabinowitz's Website
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/metaworker)
The Metaworker Editors (Matthew Maichen, Elena L. Perez, Marina Shugrue, Darin Milanesio, and Melissa Reynolds) talk to Omar Hussain about his wonderful piece "The Dog in You." We introduce the larger idea of the podcast, Omar reads an excerpt, and then we talk about the piece, morality, and interpreting stories in different ways than the author intends.
Omar Hussain is a writer from the San Francisco Bay Area, transplanted to Ann Arbor, Michigan. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in X-R-A-Y Magazine, The Cabinet of Heed, Ellipsis Zine, Spelk, Dream Noir, Fleas On the Dog and (mac)ro(mic), among others. Omar’s beta-test novel, The Outlandish and the Ego, debuted in late 2017. It received some praise, remarkably.
Referenced in this episode:
The Dog in You by Omar Hussain on The Metaworker website;
Lobster by Rachel Reeher in SmokeLong Quarterly
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In this pilot episode, Editor-in-Chief Matthew Maichen and then-intern (now editor) Melissa Reynolds have a conversation about The Dinner Party by Alexa Hailey, in which they touch on comedy, magical realism, originality in writing, and the wonderfully bizarre suburban parody that is this story.
Alexa Hailey is a freelance and fiction writer living in Massachusetts. Her fiction work has been published in Flash Fiction Magazine, Vamp Cat Mag, and Detritus. You can follow her on Twitter at @lexabobexa.
Referenced in this episode:
The Dinner Party by Alexa Hailey on The Metaworker website;
And Then He Died writing tips by Matthew Maichen
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