In 2024 SmokeLong hosted our second SmokeLong Workshop Prize competition. Our workshop participants reported almost 300 publications to us before November 1, 2024. In 2025, we’ll be featuring one writer each week from The SmokeLong Workshop Prize long list. It’s an excellent series of interviews, each grappling with questions about workshopping, giving and receiving feedback, and the publication process. If you are a previous or current SmokeLong workshop participant and you have ultimately published something you began in a SmokeLong workshop, remember to enter The SmokeLong Workshop Prize competition. This free-to-enter competition is on our Submittable page.
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An Interview with Glenn Orgias — “Axolotl Soup” published in Pithead Chapel
What do you remember about the workshop where you wrote this story? What was the prompt or writing task that led to the story?
I wrote this in my first SmokeLong Summer workshop. I had trouble with this story. The third prompt was to “place a character and someone with whom they are in close relationship in a setting with a striking/evocative object that has an impact on character”. I wrote a paragraph about a guy who had to buy some Axolotl soup for his girlfriend, and the story went nowhere and made zero sense. But two months later, the 32nd workshop prompt was to “tweak the syntax of an old story”, so I dug out Axolotl soup. It had obviously been percolating in my soul over those months because I could really feel it, I had the guy’s voice down and I knew his girlfriend was pregnant and it fell into place.
Peer-review feedback is always full of surprises. In general, what kind of feedback do you find helpful? What kind of feedback do you find less helpful?
I like to know what is not working and can be improved, but I think it is maybe more important to hear about what parts of a story work. I’ve found that redrafting a story based on the parts that work can produce a new story from the wreckage of the old that is fresher, deeper and more what you intended to do in the first place anyway.
To how many places did you send this story? Can you tell us a little about its journey to publication?
I waited a few months to send it out, because I went through another round of reviews with my writers group. Then in early 2024, I sent it to 7 places. One of the publications I was focused on was Pithead Chapel, I just love what they do, and they replied back to me after 2 days (over a weekend!) and took it. Fastest acceptance I’ve ever had. And not only did they take it, but their amazing EIC/writer Kim Magowan suggested some edits that really enhanced and clarified the story.
What is your advice to someone considering taking part in a peer-review workshop?
You’ll love it. Don’t hesitate. It’s hard work, a bit daunting, sometimes harsh truths will be told, but that’s a good thing. You will meet heaps of people who love what you love and who will get what you are trying to achieve. Hopefully you will make a good friend or two and be that much less lonely in the world. Good luck.
Read “Axolotl Soup” published in Pithead Chapel.
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Glenn Orgias is a writer from Sydney. His memoir, Man In A Grey Suit, was published by Viking in 2012, and his writing can be found at X-R-A-Y, SmokeLong, and Wigleaf.
The core workshop of SmokeLong Fitness is all in writing, so you can take part from anywhere at anytime. We are excited about creating a supportive, consistent and structured environment for flash writers to work on their craft in a community. We are thrilled and proud to say that our workshop participants have won, placed, or been listed in every major flash competition. Community works.