Word Pirates

Steve Moran, a judge for an English contest called the Willesden Herald short story competition, wrote a list of reasons why he rejects short stories. It starts out with common critiques such as too many characters or weak endings and quickly descends into a highly personalized and whimsical list. For example:

Ankles. Particularly ankles in Asia. But I don’t want to be overly negative and turn critique into a despicable blood sport, because there have been many charming, fascinating and amusing entries from the sub-continent as well as from Africa and other (to me) strange places. As a matter of fact, I’m not at all sure that Ankles in Asia, though it sounds worryingly now like a rare disease, is not in fact a virtue. Let a thousand professors dream of butterfly kisses with a thousand feisty young neighbour girls. And please do try us again with wonderful tales of African village life and politics.

What is he talking about? Maybe he’s trying to be funny? Also did you know that the British write too many short stories about old people living in squalor? Anyway, he makes some good points amongst the pet peeves. Mostly, however, it’s a revealing little insight into the mind of someone who judges one of these contests.

(Via Bookslut)
~ Joy