Hard on the heels of Didi Wood's departure from flashquake, we must bid farewell to another long-time editor, and resident curmudgeon Sean McKlusky. Sean leaves us to devote more time to his own writing, and those of us who've had the privilege of reading his work can only look forward to reading his sure-to-be-published work. Sean has left us a farewell message:
After spending some considerable time working on some internet research the other day, I wondered what someone might find if they Googled me. It's a reasonable question and one that easily allows vanity to stand naked but wear a shower cap of professional curiosity and empirical research.
So I donned my cap and Googled. As I expected I found a handful of bylines and the usual fluff and nonsense but there was one surprise. It appears that my virtual resume is focused on my position as a member of the editorial staff of flashquake.
I had to laugh. Although I've been doing this gig since the spring/summer of 2006, my position as a flashquake editor doesn't appear on my professional resume. Neither does 'writer' for that matter. Writing isn't my day job and anyone who has read my stuff will likely agree I have a promising career ahead as a writer and dishwasher. flashquake exists for the sake of the art, my involvement has been for the sake of art and for personal enrichment.
There is a good argument to be made that whether highly paid to do nothing or volunteering to do whatever is needed, an editor is as an editor does. The editors of flashquake spend a great deal of time reading and reviewing and communicating with each other in order to put each issue together. In fact, each of us considers the merit of a little over 1500-2000 pieces of fiction/poetry/nonfiction a year...in addition to our day jobs and families and other interests and responsibilities.
The payoff isn't monetary, it's the opportunity to associate oneself with a successful and popular literary e-zine and the participation in a creative endeavor, a collaborative work of art. It's also an opportunity to read so much good, and so much awful flash
Let me tell you, the experience can be cathartic. As I wrap things up and reflect upon my experiences I can liken every reading period to a tidal wave of emotions and fears and ideas and joys and sorrows. Suddenly my world view is replaced by 400-500 myopic views. It's like having compound eyes. I feel as if I'm a tasting judge at a wonderful, terrifying awful, beautiful, smorgasbord of the human condition. And I MUST sample every dish.
My first discovery was pedantic, suddenly writer's guidelines made so much sense I promised to read and follow them to the letter with every submission.
My next level of enlightenment dealt with the art of rewriting and editing for style that makes the difference between something suitable for posting in a diary or blog or perhaps publishing on the fridge vs. communicating with an audience. Worship high these great elements indeed, Elephants of style! Strunk and White will serve thee well.
"Then came the concepts of literary technique, symbolism, foreshadowing, theme etc. which most of us are exposed to in school and some have analyzed in literary interpretation classes and is certainly evident even without formal education if one gives careful consideration to classic literary works. Let me tell you, when deployed in flash fiction these techniques are devastatingly effective and clearly sets a work of literature apart from a cute little ditty.
And finally my epiphany: humanity is short-sighted with a poor collective memory and each generation and individual is destined to experience or uncover similar joys, truths and sorrows. Those of us who write catalog these events with an earnest desire to share them and if done well, the event appears clear and fresh, as if cataloged for the first time.
Thank you, writers for your hundreds and thousands of treasure maps and messages in bottles
Thank you, fellow editors, for your friendship, enthusiasm, and wisdom.
And thank you Debi Orton for your labor of love."
And thank you, Sean, for your service and your sense of humor. We'll miss you!