Call for Writing-Introduction

International Call for Writing

VSA arts is accepting short works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for an online literary journal on the theme "Encounter."

The Theme - “Encounter”

Create a short work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry that examines an encounter between you and another person or group of people. Write about an extraordinary encounter, an ordinary encounter, or create a fictional encounter. Examine the interactions and relationships in your life, or delve into the inner workings of your imagination.

Create a fictional situation. Let your imagination wander and envision an encounter and the details that accompany it. Who would you most like to meet for the first time or see again, and what would that encounter be like? What interactions might you have in the future?

-- or --

Take a walk through your past, remembering the people with whom you have interacted: someone you remember who you will never see again, the most influential people in your life, the most important relationships, or the mundane conversations. Relive an encounter in which you felt excitement, elation, discomfort, or contentment.

Dyslexia
By Elizabeth Hyland
Age 14, Vermont

You are suddenly aware of all the whispering that is going on. As you try to get farther and farther in the reading the whispering gets louder and louder until embarrassingly the teacher says that she’ll read the passage because it is taking you too long to do it. You sit down with your red face in your hands on your desk.

(Excerpt from Dyslexia; selected from the 2007 VSA arts call for writing.)

Be specific—describe the encounter using as many sensory details as possible: sights, sounds, tastes, textures, and smells. Short fiction, nonfiction, and all poetic forms are welcome.

Writing will be judged for its creativity, technical proficiency, adherence to the theme, and presence of personal style and vision. Selected pieces will become part of the VSA arts online writing journal, Infinite Difference. A smaller selection will be exhibited in VSA arts’ writing gallery.