Letter From The Founder
And we’re back. After the (deservedly successful) Christmastime Fiction double issue it is now time to get back into the swing of things with the first Symposium of 2024.
Regular readers will know the drill but for the benefit of new readers the Symposium works like this: Each month we gather in the Discord community and decide on a topic (up until now it has simply been a random word, but there is talk of mixing up this format, which of course I would love to hear your ideas for in the comments). And then with this topic as the loosest of guideline our roster of artists create essays, stories, poems, paintings, podcasts, short films, and whatever else they want which are then collected here and given to you lucky people for free on the first Sunday of each month.
(Why this incredible initiative isn’t a much bigger deal is a question that I am sure must perplex you just as it does me)
So this month the topic is Windows. Will there be poetic descriptions of vistas seen from windows? Maybe. Will there be fiction that only tangentially touches on the topic of windows at all? It’s quite possible. Will there be unhinged diatribes about Bill Gates and how frustrating Windows is to use? Stranger things have happened.
The only way to find out is to scroll down and start clicking on the links and seeing what strange and wonderful places they take you to. I guarantee that when you do you will come across some of the best creativity and writing that the internet has to offer today.
Bold claim? Well read on and then tell me if I’m wrong.
Enjoy.
Essays
Nipple Accents by Jeanne
Dick jokes are funny. Vagina jokes not so much.
Did you, like me, read this quote and then immediately realise that not only is it true but that you have no real idea why it is true and want to know more? Well, you’re in luck.
This- unsurprisingly to those who are in the know- is yet another great essay from one of the best and most unsung voices on Substack.
Windows, Windowsills and balconies by Oleg
In the sleeping districts, like the one I live in, most of us only have our windows, windowsills, and balconies to serve as displays. A downstairs neighbour has a proud collection of cacti on their windowsill – seven little green men guarding the abode’s peace. Another one has two mock crows sitting on the railing of his balcony – it’s been years, yet I still find myself double-checking if those things are real.
As a big fan of gentle, observation essays ( Oleg has the perfect website name, which I wish I’d’ve thought of first to be honest) this short piece was right up my alley. To look at the everyday with fresh and eyes and capture it truthfully is a real skill. And to be able to do so with such simple yet beautiful prose is even more so.
Stupid Rules by Terry
The subtitle to this one is pure Terry Freedman :
with a somewhat convoluted effort to make this post relevant to this month's theme
Some write closely to the monthly theme in question. Some colour outside the lines. But our Terry simply marches on and makes it work, in spite of all of the stupid people around him. Admirable. And more than a little relatable.
bookmark #879 by Deepansh
First Terry Freedman ‘s subtitle and now Deepansh footnote. It was Derrida, or David Foster Wallace, or someone anyways, who said that the real heart of an essay, the actual meat of it is always to be found in the footnotes. Case in point:
this piece is a part of the the soaring twenties social club (stsc) symposium on windows, written a few hours before the deadline ended, finished haphazardly, and perhaps, poorly, in fear of missing yet another window in life.
And I can officially say that in spite of these reservations Deepansh has managed to not only get under the wire but also deliver a short but illuminating snapshot and really taken advantage of this window of opportunity.
Windows Past and Present by Michael K.
Sometimes you come across a quote that is such a killer that you know you can build an essay around it. You almost have to write the essay as a means of sharing the quote. But there is always the danger in this that you end up merely relaying this pearl rather than adding anything to it.
Well Michael K manages to dodge all of these pitfalls with this one and gives us a wonderful tribute and a poignant essay about life, death and memory. Beautiful.
Against windows by Ruins
I’m happy to feature a Proper Blog here today. Blogspot, no paragraphing, interesting colour scheme, a dropdown archive going back years and years. The works. And like so many blogposts of yore, this one is refreshingly passionate and real and unconcerned with being bland or homogenous just to be that little bit more popular.
I love it.
Fiction
A Room with a Mew by Vanya
After every one of Vánječka ‘s stories I simply shake my head and say to myself ‘he’s done it again.’ Whether the tone of the inner voice is admiring or jealously annoyed depends on the day to tell you the truth.
Windows by GK Gaius
Would be interested to hear what the graphologists make of this one. However I hope that any fiction reader would be able to clearly see that this is a banger.
A Window to the Birth of a Dragon by Clint
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Clintavo is an underrated fiction writer. He slides under the radar but I don’t think i’ve ever read a story of his that wasn’t good. And I say ‘good’ in that understated English way which actually translates as more like ‘very, very, very good’
Windows or Doors, either way don't enter if you're not invited by Trilety
I think this might be perfect. How good some of my contemporaries here are is starting to swing from inspiring to annoying. hahah.
Open Windows by Adam K
This is not a funny story. It contains explicit language. You've been warned.
But though you have been warned I would implore you to give this story ago as it is 1000% worth your time. Adam Kozak always delivers the goods.
Film
Myopic Tom by D.B
Everyy artistic collective/ literary salon/ online magazine needs a guy or gal who can casually knock out genuinely great short films. The kind that should win film festival laurels. Fortunately for us we have DB . Lucky us.
So that was the STSC symposium on Windows. We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Thank you for your support with these projects we share, thank you for reading them and thanks for all of your comments, feedback and notes. Thank you for taking the time to share them and pass on the word.
And of course above all thanks to all of the contributors and those who help keep the STSC going via their kind support, especially those who keep a low profile, I hope we will be able to coax more of you into taking the plunge and participating in future issues.
Cheers.
😂 Thanks, Tom. I'm really looking forward to reading this new collection. And I love Deepansh's footnote!