Category: fiction

Broken Rules and Other Stories, Events, fiction4 Comments

Festival reflections

Barry Lee Thompson

When I first began sending work to publications and competitions, I realised that something strange happens once a story is submitted. Despite all the time spent honing, refining, getting it just right, almost immediately after hitting ‘submit’, issues and ideas previously hidden become apparent, opening up new and exciting ways to think about the story. This may be to do with distance from the submission process, stepping outside the piece and experiencing it objectively. With a few years under my belt, I’ve acquired a toolbox of resources for tricking my mind into believing a story’s been sent before it actually … Continue reading Festival reflections

fiction, flash fiction4 Comments

Life Drawing

Barry Lee Thompson

Maybe you could sketch me. I’ll recline, here on the couch, and you can study me all afternoon. No clothes, isn’t that the way it’s done? Turn up the heating, I’ll cover the cost. I’ll fall asleep eventually, drowsy with warmth, and you’ll be able to take your time, to notice the unguarded in my expression, capture the unexpected in my pose, see the detail beneath my skin. Take me by surprise with the finished drawing. I like surprises. What else were you going to do today? No one’s drawn me before. It must be fascinating to see oneself portrayed. … Continue reading Life Drawing

fiction, short fiction4 Comments

Fisher Girls | Island

Barry Lee Thompson

One of my short stories is published in Island today. You can read ‘Fisher Girls’ here. I hope you like it. While you’re there, why not check out some of the other content. Since our beginnings in 1979 (as The Tasmanian Review), Island’s mission has remained the same: to produce a magazine with a national vision and audience that supports new, emerging and established writers and artists, and to bring works of excellence and variety to the reading public throughout Australia and overseas. Island Magazine Happy reading! Continue reading Fisher Girls | Island

fiction4 Comments

Ice Cream Social

Barry Lee Thompson

Originally posted on Elwood Writers:
Who likes ice cream? We do! Who loves an ice-cream social? We certainly do! So imagine our delight when we heard that American Writers Review is throwing one on Saturday October 30. And to add to the joy, Helen and Barry will be among contributors reading a selection of their pieces from the latest issue of AWR, Turmoil and Recovery. There’ll also be readings from Art in the Time of COVID-19. Both books are published by San Fedele Press. Our Ice Cream Social at Wilkes University was a delight. While we can’t hand out the… Continue reading Ice Cream Social