Jonathan Hunter
Why did you submit to trash to treasure lit?
I was impressed by Trash to treasure's Twitter page instantly. I could tell it was a fun literacy magazine that was an encouraging and supportive place for writers to submit pieces to.
How would you describe your writing practice?
Rather spontaneous. Sometimes thoughts come into my head and I think that would be really interesting to put into a story. Often, I start with a few details and expand my piece from there. Rarely do I know where the piece will take me when I start writing it.
What is the biggest thing that stops you from submitting work to lit mags/journals/publications?
Too many formatting guidelines are always a pain. Also, if the response time is ages then I rarely see the point in submitting to that journal. Not allowing simultaneous submissions is another pet hate.
Do you think the writing industry has an impact on your confidence in your work (good or bad)? Why?
It varies hugely between literacy magazines. Some rejections can offer really encouraging feedback which motivates me to keep writing, whilst others can be very dismissive.
When do you start to doubt a piece that you are working on?
When I keep getting rejections for it even when I am happy with it.
Once you trash one of your pieces, what makes you come back to it (if ever)?
Coming back to a piece after a few months always makes me see it from a different perspective and want to change something with it.
How many pieces do think you have currently in your 'abandoned' folder?
Two
What is the ultimate reason that you trash your work?
When I can't think of anything else to do with it and I can't find any other literacy journals to try submitting it to.
Is there anything that would stop you from trashing your work? (More education in writing, more publications/less rejections, a change in the industry, etc)
Having journals that are more open to accepting a wider range of different types of genres would help.
What writing advice have you been given that has changed your perspective on how you treat/view your work?
A Full House Literacy Magazine Flash Fiction Course that I did really helped with my writing. I learned to write much more concisely and sensed the importance of every word that I used. It also opened me up to trying some new writing styles.
Jonathan Hunter is a Flash Fiction Writer from Solihull, UK. He enjoys writing flash fiction that stretches the imagination and pushes boundaries. Jonathan has had pieces published in the Secret Attic Anthologies, the Neuro-Logical Magazine, Bombfire Magazine, Corner Bar Magazine, Arasi Magazine and on the Trash to Treasure and Free Flash Fiction website. Twitter @JonTea22