by Victoria Bromley
When it came to choosing the theme for our eighth literary magazine, as always, we wanted a word which would fit aesthetically with the rest of our collection while offering new creative interpretations for writers and readers. Motion was a word which we thought fit our repertoire well, similar to the themes of issue 01 Water and issue 02 Bodies with the fluid motion of water and how our bodies move, yet open to other aspects of the word with how we move through space and time.
There’s many ways for things to be set in motion, from an external source, a force outside of your control, to more autonomous movements. From a pebble drifting down a stream from the sluice of a current to going through the motions of a relationship, there’s both physical and metaphorical paths you could go down.
There’s many forms of motion: dancing, swimming, running, racing, reaching, et cetera, et cetera. But also quieter, subtler acts, such as the passing of a day, undertaking mundane tasks, the things which pass us by.
Then there’s the absence of movement. Standing still. Stationary. Motionless. Pausing to take in a moment and to resist the chaos of modern life.
There’s also photography to consider. This theme allows a vast scope for photographers and artists. To capture a movement in a still frame, to capture a live moment, is a wonderful irony. It’s always a joy to collate the photography and artwork with the written pieces.
Then there is the motion of reading, of turning each page. Motion is never ending, it’s relentless, it’s peaceful. Every movement has a start and end. When something is put into motion, it takes a force to stop it or to propel it further.
Submissions for issue 08 motion close Sunday 2nd March, midnight (local time). For all submission guidelines, see here.
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