Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Calls for Literary Collaboration
I am going to focus my musings or personal literary reflections on this blog, with a mixture of short and long posts. This means that I will offer Wealth of Ideas and Moments in Literature for collaborative posting with other writers and contributors. I want them to achieve more of a magazine look, to raise the bar on their seriousness and quality. Writers and readers out there are all invited to send works for consideration on the two blogs. The goal is to give more exposure to the literary issue being explored and to the authors or interviewees. I will be approaching specific individuals to solicit works so we can get this rolling. Please contact me at manu[AT]munyori.com if you are interested in submitting some works.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
KwaChirere Exclusive: Interview with Brian Chikwava
He doesn't do a lot of these, so it was great to see this Brian Chikwava interview on Memory Chirere's blog. Here is an excerpt that focuses on the language issue in Chikwava's novel Harare North. It is one of my favorite qualities of this novel, and when day, after I find out how Chirere managed to get an interview with Chikwava, I may attempt a long chat with the author on the issue of language and African literature. It is an issue not to ignore, even when we get too comfortable and think that it's not an issue, it will still be. But for now, read this excerpt and go on to Kwachirere to read the entire piece.
Memory Chirere: Harare North, your debut novel has been applauded for ‘experimenting with language’. Ikhide Ikheloa says you use ‘pretend-language’, back in Harare, Irene Staunton says you use ‘patios’. My students wonder what you wanted to achieve because “Zimbabweans are well known for their ability to speak English.” In what circumstances did you decide to abandon the standard English language you used in the short stories?
Brian Chikwava: I tried standard English and it just didn’t work. The manuscript read stilted and the character had inhabit. That’s when I thought of – is it Achebe, I can’t remember? – who talks about bending the English language in order to make it carry the weight of the African experience. The language that I use in Harare North is not a true language in the sense that it is not spoken on the streets of Zimbabwe, but I believe it expresses the Zimbabwean sensibility better than standard English.
Memory Chirere: Harare North, your debut novel has been applauded for ‘experimenting with language’. Ikhide Ikheloa says you use ‘pretend-language’, back in Harare, Irene Staunton says you use ‘patios’. My students wonder what you wanted to achieve because “Zimbabweans are well known for their ability to speak English.” In what circumstances did you decide to abandon the standard English language you used in the short stories?
Brian Chikwava: I tried standard English and it just didn’t work. The manuscript read stilted and the character had inhabit. That’s when I thought of – is it Achebe, I can’t remember? – who talks about bending the English language in order to make it carry the weight of the African experience. The language that I use in Harare North is not a true language in the sense that it is not spoken on the streets of Zimbabwe, but I believe it expresses the Zimbabwean sensibility better than standard English.
Around the Blog World
I just discovered that Munyori Literary Journal is listed on a really nice resource called Asia Writes, which lists information about international jouranals and submission guidelines. Good resources for all writers looking for markets.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Amazon Link to "African Roar", a Collection of Short Stories by African Writers
African Roar is a fiction anthology drawn from the very best stories published from 2007-2009, in the StoryTime weekly literary ezine dedicated to publishing African writers. Between these covers you will find eleven stories that stand as a testament to the upsurge of talented African writers boldly utilising the cutting edge of technology and the writing craft to be read globally. Spanning Africa and the African Diaspora in past, present and future, each story has a fresh and diverse vision that opens up new vistas of experience. From the lucid terrors of domestic violence through the eyes of a child, and the anguish of those left behind by a fleeing Diaspora, to a full circle, when the prey becomes the hunter and has the opportunity for revenge, and a dryly humourous look at what it's like to lose a quarter of your brain, to name just a few of the treasures that lie within.
Edited by Emmanuel Sigauke & Ivor W. Hartmann, published by The Lion Press Ltd.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
RULES OF ENTRY FOR THE PEN / STUDZINSKI Literary Award
1. Entries, of short stories only, for the above award will be restricted to writers who are citizens of Southern African Development Community (SADC*) countries. An editorial board will select the best entries for inclusion in a book to be published in 2011, under the working title “AFRICAN PENS 2011”. Prizes of £5 000, £3 000 and £2 000, given by Mr John Studzinski, will be awarded for the three best short stories (winner, first runner-up and second runner-up) selected by Nobel Laureate J M Coetzee.
2. Authors who submitted entries for the HSBC/SA PEN 2005, 2006 & 2007, and 2009
PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Awards may submit new works for the 2011 award. More
than one entry may be submitted. (Multiple entries may be posted in one envelope, with one covering letter detailing all story titles.) There is no entry fee.
3. There is no age limit. Authors do not have to be SA PEN members.
4. All stories must be unpublished (as at publication of book in ±June 2011), original works in English, of not less than 3 000 words and not more than 5 000 words, on any topic.
5. Previously published work (including self-published), either in print or on the Internet, will not be eligible for inclusion in “AFRICAN PENS 2011”.
6. Entries should be typed in double spacing on one side only of A4 paper. Handwritten entries will not be accepted. Pages should be numbered on the bottom right hand side and securely fastened together. The final page should be indicated as such, and the number of words in the story given. Three copies of the story must be submitted.
7. No name, address, or other identifying mark should appear on the typescript other than the title of the story on each page. The identity of authors will not be revealed to judges.
8. A covering letter with story title and the name, e-mail address, postal address and fax & telephone contact details of the entrant must be included. A photocopy (it need not be certified) of ID/passport, or similar document showing proof of citizenship of an SADC country must be attached. Entrants may currently reside outside of an SADC country. Please notify the organisers of any subsequent change in e-mail address in order that details of future awards may be sent to you.
9. Entrants are advised to keep an electronic copy of their submission as this copy (which must not differ from the version of the story submitted for judging) will be required to be submitted at a later date if the story is selected for inclusion in the publication. Submissions will not be returned. An entry implies acceptance of all the rules and conditions of the project, including that of copyright. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
-2-
10. An editorial board will be appointed by SA PEN. This board will select the entries to be included in the book. J M Coetzee will select the prizewinners for the 2011 PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award. The board’s decision will be final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into other than with successful entrants. All entries will be judged without author identification. SA PEN will ensure that the name of the author does not appear on material submitted to readers or the editorial board. Identity will be recorded by means of a confidential coding system. Persons involved in the administration, final judging, editing and publishing processes are not eligible to enter. Readers may, however, submit entries.
11. In all cases, the copyright shall remain with the author, but SA PEN shall reserve the right to allow stories from the book to be published in the ‘P.E.N. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL’ or ‘P.E.N NEWS’ or in anthology form. SA PEN reserves the right not to publish or award should the general standard of submission be unacceptable to them. Royalties on the sale of the volumes of “AFRICAN PENS 2011” will not accrue to individual writers.
12. The closing date for submissions will be 5.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 th June 2010 . All entries must be posted by this date. Entries post-marked after this date will be rejected.
Submissions must be posted to PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award, P O Box 30327,
Tokai, 7966, Republic of South Africa. Receipt of entry will be acknowledged by e-mail if an author requests this. Fax and e-mail entries will not be accepted. Courier entries will be received by arrangement only.
13. SA PEN cannot undertake to make corrections or amendments to any typescript submitted.
Nor, while they will take great care of typescripts, can they be responsible for any that are damaged or lost while in the post.
14. “AFRICAN PENS 2011” will be launched officially in ±June 2011, at a time and place to be publicised. At this function the literary prizes of £5 000, £3 000 and £2 000, exclusively the right and reserve of Mr John Studzinski, will be awarded. Finalists will be invited to attend this function, at their own expense unless otherwise specified in their invitation.
Attendance is not compulsory and will not affect the awarding of prizes. SA PEN will also have the right to be directly involved in the process of distribution, marketing and promotion through all media. The book will be marketed in South Africa and will also be publicised by International PEN, which has 144 centres throughout the world.
*SADC COUNTRIES
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius,Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
2. Authors who submitted entries for the HSBC/SA PEN 2005, 2006 & 2007, and 2009
PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Awards may submit new works for the 2011 award. More
than one entry may be submitted. (Multiple entries may be posted in one envelope, with one covering letter detailing all story titles.) There is no entry fee.
3. There is no age limit. Authors do not have to be SA PEN members.
4. All stories must be unpublished (as at publication of book in ±June 2011), original works in English, of not less than 3 000 words and not more than 5 000 words, on any topic.
5. Previously published work (including self-published), either in print or on the Internet, will not be eligible for inclusion in “AFRICAN PENS 2011”.
6. Entries should be typed in double spacing on one side only of A4 paper. Handwritten entries will not be accepted. Pages should be numbered on the bottom right hand side and securely fastened together. The final page should be indicated as such, and the number of words in the story given. Three copies of the story must be submitted.
7. No name, address, or other identifying mark should appear on the typescript other than the title of the story on each page. The identity of authors will not be revealed to judges.
8. A covering letter with story title and the name, e-mail address, postal address and fax & telephone contact details of the entrant must be included. A photocopy (it need not be certified) of ID/passport, or similar document showing proof of citizenship of an SADC country must be attached. Entrants may currently reside outside of an SADC country. Please notify the organisers of any subsequent change in e-mail address in order that details of future awards may be sent to you.
9. Entrants are advised to keep an electronic copy of their submission as this copy (which must not differ from the version of the story submitted for judging) will be required to be submitted at a later date if the story is selected for inclusion in the publication. Submissions will not be returned. An entry implies acceptance of all the rules and conditions of the project, including that of copyright. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
-2-
10. An editorial board will be appointed by SA PEN. This board will select the entries to be included in the book. J M Coetzee will select the prizewinners for the 2011 PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award. The board’s decision will be final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into other than with successful entrants. All entries will be judged without author identification. SA PEN will ensure that the name of the author does not appear on material submitted to readers or the editorial board. Identity will be recorded by means of a confidential coding system. Persons involved in the administration, final judging, editing and publishing processes are not eligible to enter. Readers may, however, submit entries.
11. In all cases, the copyright shall remain with the author, but SA PEN shall reserve the right to allow stories from the book to be published in the ‘P.E.N. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL’ or ‘P.E.N NEWS’ or in anthology form. SA PEN reserves the right not to publish or award should the general standard of submission be unacceptable to them. Royalties on the sale of the volumes of “AFRICAN PENS 2011” will not accrue to individual writers.
12. The closing date for submissions will be 5.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 th June 2010 . All entries must be posted by this date. Entries post-marked after this date will be rejected.
Submissions must be posted to PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award, P O Box 30327,
Tokai, 7966, Republic of South Africa. Receipt of entry will be acknowledged by e-mail if an author requests this. Fax and e-mail entries will not be accepted. Courier entries will be received by arrangement only.
13. SA PEN cannot undertake to make corrections or amendments to any typescript submitted.
Nor, while they will take great care of typescripts, can they be responsible for any that are damaged or lost while in the post.
14. “AFRICAN PENS 2011” will be launched officially in ±June 2011, at a time and place to be publicised. At this function the literary prizes of £5 000, £3 000 and £2 000, exclusively the right and reserve of Mr John Studzinski, will be awarded. Finalists will be invited to attend this function, at their own expense unless otherwise specified in their invitation.
Attendance is not compulsory and will not affect the awarding of prizes. SA PEN will also have the right to be directly involved in the process of distribution, marketing and promotion through all media. The book will be marketed in South Africa and will also be publicised by International PEN, which has 144 centres throughout the world.
*SADC COUNTRIES
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius,Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Read an Early Version of "Call Center" here
My prize-winning short story, "Call Center", was first posted on Half-Tribe, a multi-genre Nigerian website. The story won first place the Artsinitiates/Lion Press short story prize. The winning entries will be published this year as Call Center and Other Stories. Here is a link to the story:Call Center.
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