We thought it was about time we re-introduced ourselves x
Hi, I’m Victoria and I am the social media manager and an editor for Swim Press. I currently live in Hampshire (also on the border of Surrey and Berkshire, so my town has a bit of an identity crisis!) but I’m originally from Cheshire, and went to Lancaster University with my fellow editors.
Here is a chance to get to know me, from my reading tastes to what I look for in submissions, to reintroduce myself to those who have followed Swim Press for a while, or have just stumbled upon us and want to know more about who we are.
Career
I have been a publishing assistant for the academic independent publisher Edward Elgar Publishing for almost six months now. I’ve wanted to work in publishing ever since we started Swim Press in 2021 as it opened my eyes to the world of editorial. Having been a student journalist at university (where I studied English language and creative writing), and realising that it wasn’t the career path for me, I pivoted into publishing as it felt like the perfect industry for me as well as allowing me to further develop my editorial skills.
Writing
In terms of my writing career, I have seven short stories published across a range of literary magazines. I was recently longlisted for Myslexia flash fiction competition, and want to continue entering competitions to try and get my name out there.
I have finished the first draft of my novel which has been my main writing project for over a year and a half. Now that I have 90,000 words to work with, I hope the editing process will bring the story to life before I find myself a literary agent. The themes integral to the novel are human connection, falling in love with the idea of someone, addiction and finding a sense of self.
General interests
When I’m not writing, I love to read and review books for The Debut Digest, a free monthly newsletter championing debut authors. I have a Bookstagram, @readingwithvic, where I shamelessly take photos of my books and ramble on about my reading tastes and the books I’m loving each month.
I have recently moved into a flat with my boyfriend so general adulting has filled up most of my time. Reading and writing will forever be a priority of mine which I hope I’ll never fall out of love with.
Favourite books and authors
Authors:
- Emily Austin
- Megan Nolan
- Jane Austen
- Carley Fortune
- Khaled Hosseini
- Coco Mellors
Books:
- Happy hour by Marlowe Granados
- Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Homeyman
- Okay days by Jenny Mustard
- Ti amo by Hanne ørstavik
- The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
- Homesick by Jennifer Croft
- Tennis lessons by Susannah Dickey
What do I look for?
My own personal preferences in what I love to read does not always impact how I react to and reflect on Swim Press submissions, therefore please do not tailor your submission to our individual interests as that wouldn’t guarantee an acceptance – plus we love to be surprised!
In literature, I love books written with a vignette structure which are razor sharp and perceptive. More broadly, I love themes about female friendship, woman in their 20s, love stories and exploring a sense of self. My favourite genre is literary fiction and my least read genre is fantasy – although I am impartial to magical realism.
What I look for in a submission is an interesting voice. I love narratives with a striking and unique perspective. If there isn’t a strong voice coming through the writing then I struggle to engage with it. Language is also very important to me, more so with poetry, as every word counts. Your language must be unique and well placed – I like to read something I’ve not seen before.
As a literary journal which supports women+ voices, I love work which highlights girlhood and being a woman in society.
If you’d like to follow any of my socials, you can find me at @victoria.bromley and @readingwithvic on Instagram.
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