From the 2023 introduction by guest editor Catherine McNamara:
This is a vast menagerie of potent works, ranging from the complexities of fish bone ingestion to the murderous insouciance of mermaids. As a whole, there is a feeling that our world is suffering, our family bonds are constricted and rueful, we still long to satisfy/break from our parents; some of us have been uprooted or span the friction between cultures; women are at risk, in frequent danger, defenseless—until they collude and fight back. There is an arduous search for love and its sustenance, the flux of depression and the nearby presence of the dead, as well as an unexpected abundance of wolves. There is often an awareness of the rifts between our inner and outer realities, and our helplessness as we traverse between the two. In all, this is a bold, sumptuous array of contexts where I found true representations of realities that were dented, pulled out of shape, crystallizing, captivating.

Best Small Fictions is the first-ever contemporary anthology solely dedicated to anthologizing the best internationally published short hybrid fiction in a given calendar year. Now in its ninth year of existence, Best Small Fictions features the best microfiction, flash fiction, haibun stories, and prose poetry from around the world. Published by Alternating Current Press, order your copy here !

Catherine will join Australian and international short story luminaries at the Australian Short Story Festival in Adelaide, South Australia, in November. An wonderful opportunity to share short story passion with other writers and send The Carnal Fugues out into the world. Check out the exciting line-up!

To finish off the retreat season if you bring a writer friend I will add a mentoring session (90mins) and story critique (one short story or three flash fictions). Autumn is when the heat tapers off but days are still light-filled and warm, all the better to write short fiction, go for a good hike, visit Venice and drink good wine!

Catherine has been invited to be Guest Editor of this year’s prestigious Best Small Fictions Anthology 2023, Editor in Chief Nathan Leslie and Managing Editor Michelle Elvy, to be published by Alternating Current Press in October this year.

Best Small Fictions is the first-ever contemporary anthology solely dedicated to anthologizing the best internationally published short hybrid fiction in a given calendar year. Now in its ninth year of existence, Best Small Fictions features the best microfiction, flash fiction, haibun stories, and prose poetry from around the world.

Originally founded by Tara L. Masih, Best Small Fictions is now steered by series editor Nathan Leslie, who has served in this role since 2019. Guest editors have included Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Olen Butler (2015), PEN/Malamud Award-winner Stuart Dybek (2016), PEN/Malamud Award-winner Amy Hempel (2017), two-time Pushcart Prize-winner Aimee Bender (2018), PEN/Faulkner-nominee Rilla Askew (2019), Sonder Press operator Elena Stiehler (2020), PEN/Bingham Prize-winner Rion Amilcar Scott (2021), and Bridport Prize-winner Elaine Chiew (2022). For the 2023 edition, we’re pleased to welcome Catherine McNamara as the guest editor!

Writing retreat bookings are open for this year! First bookings available from Sunday May 22nd and going through the steamy Veneto summer towards cooler October. Individual writer retreats from Sunday-Friday to suit your dates. And also Flash Fiction Workshops for 3-4 people in an Italian farm house full of West African art and photography. Readings in the evening! Onsite food and wine, and optionals including a day-trip to Venice, an afternoon hike in the Euganei Hills, a trip to nearby Vicenza for gelato and a stroll. Or extra mentoring and critiquing specific to your project. We look forward to seeing you! For booking info go to CONTACT page. Grazie!

Catherine’s short fiction appears in two fab anthologies published recently: ‘Of Nooses and Baby Fat’ in HOME Lifespan Vol. 7 by Pure Slush, and ‘Tales from Bodri Beach’ (2011) and ‘Propellor’ (2021) in A Cluster of Lights, edited by Michelle Elvy and John Wentworth Chapin, also from Pure Slush, a series of 10-years-on stories. Both wonderful collections of work and beautiful volumes to behold.

One-hour weekly Flash Fiction online workshops with Litro’s Award winning Flash Friday Editor, Catherine McNamara, where you will learn techniques to write flash fiction and tools to confidently put your work out there.

There are a thousand and one reasons not to write. It’s hard. Not enough time. Too tired. It’s lonely. There’s no point. These are all true, but to publish a story, you have to write one (probably several). Every story started as a blank page. This course will be a mix of pragmatic exercises to understand, through discussion and workshops, what is impeding your writing practice. Each week we will have writing exercises to get those blank pages filled and practical examples of how to get those now-filled pages to be good enough for publishers and agents to take seriously.

In January 2023 I will be back at the favolosa Casa Ana to mentor a group of up to 10 international writers. Anne’s hideaway is in a mountain village in the Alpujarra between Malaga and Grenada, with the most beautiful sweeping views, deliciously healthy food, gorgeous hikes and light and instant inspiration. I will be leading group discussions around the fireplace, but mostly you will be working at length on your projects. One-to-one mentoring is optional. Winter cosiness is included! Do make your bookings here: Casa Ana

Summer retreats have started again! Our first group has been a flash fiction boot camp and we look forward to hosting other writers over the summer. Retreats generally go from Sunday to Friday. We have single writer retreats for you to work on a project or hone your work, flash fiction boot camp for small groups (max 4 students), or an inspiring fiction writing retreat with Tom Vowler in early September. Retreats include onsite food, optional excursion to Venice or a hike in the nearby hills. And gelato! Contact page for info** or read through the relevant pages.

Why are some writers so original and alluring? Why does other sex writing make us cringe? How can your writing achieve balance and sensuality that engages the reader? Join Catherine McNamara for a masterclass series that will develop your voice through stimulating in-class exercises, critiquing of your work, and the development of a submission-worthy story. You will study style and technique of contemporary greats and saucy classics.

This four-week course will guide beginner and intermediate writers through the process of writing sex and sensuality. From overcoming the fears that keep us from putting sexuality into our writing, all the way to submission tactics, this online writing workshop will give you confidence to develop a successful draft.

INFO HERE

*10% off for new students - just use the code WINTER

I will be mentoring a group of very fortunate writing students at the inspiring and picturesque Casa Ana, located in a village in Spain’s Andalucia mountains. Two weeks of writing time involving one-to-one time and group sessions, the freedom to hike, gaze and not cook! while focussing on your project, whether it be a novel, short stories, a memoir or a screenplay, or creative non-fiction. Looking forward to a lovely autumnal two weeks with these writers. Do sign up here for this beautiful experience.

A great honour to be one of the summer judges for the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize! I will be joining Clare Morgan and Adam Lowe to select the winners. Looking forward to reading the best of these entries!

Love Stories for Hectic People has been shortlisted in the Best Short Story category of the Saboteur Awards so do cast your vote here ! Many thanks

Our last flash fiction masterclass series was so successful that we will do a rerun in March. Flash fiction in-class exercises and critiques of your work, with an aim to bring out a submission-worthy piece. Tips on beginnings and endings, language and pace, being thorough and real, overcoming rejection and facing edits, and getting your work read by editors and published! Join me and I will shake down your ideas.