Pictures: https://www.litnet.co.za/litnets-kommadagga-workshop-with-the-jakes-gerwel-foundation-and-huisgenoot/; Thabiso Mahlape: Instagram
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They bring the story, and together we will work on the tools to move and/or build the story – things like action, dialogue, interior monologue, interior emotion as well as description.
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The Jakes Gerwel Foundation (JGF), LitNet and Huisgenoot will soon host their fourth annual Kommadagga workshop on short story writing for magazines.
The three-week residency takes place from 16 October to 5 November 2023 at the historic Paulet House, the JGF’s charming home-away-from-home for writers in the picturesque town of Somerset East in the Eastern Cape.
Fourie Botha, an editor, publisher and literary agent, and Thabiso Mahlape, the trailblazing publisher and owner of Blackbird Books, will mentor successful candidates in the fine art of short story writing.
The competition is now closed and no more entries will be accepted.
Thabiso Mahlape talks to Naomi Meyer about the upcoming residency.
Thabiso, you are a publisher and the owner of Blackbird Books, and one of the mentors for the upcoming LitNet Huisgenoot Jakes Gerwel residency in October. As a publisher, what is one of the first things you look at in a manuscript to know whether it is going to be accepted for publication?
One of the first things that excite me is “newness” in a submission.
I love a new take on things and/or submissions. So many stories have already been told; some may be the same as what you want to tell, but how well a writer manages to make it new is important to me. And then the first paragraph: this is where an author ought to show off their writing. Tell me in this paragraph how you are about to consume my time.
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So many stories have already been told; some may be the same as what you want to tell, but how well a writer manages to make it new is important to me. And then the first paragraph: this is where an author ought to show off their writing.
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You publish mostly novels as a publisher. What is the difference between novels and short stories – some of the differences and some of the similarities?
In my opinion, a short story is a lot more difficult to write. You have to get your point across as quickly as possible, with maximum impact and with one story and one plot.
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In my opinion, a short story is a lot more difficult to write. You have to get your point across as quickly as possible, with maximum impact and with one story and one plot.
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With a novel, you have a much longer time to tell the story, but it also has its challenges. You have to employ more subplots as well as different stories. There are many more characters to build and sustain. You have to hook the reader and keep them interested for a much longer time than with a short story.
The two employ the same storytelling devices, but they are just applied differently.
What feedback or mentorship can the successful candidates at the Paulet House expect to get from you when they finally know who they are and when they arrive there?
They bring the story, and together we will work on the tools to move and/or build the story – things like action, dialogue, interior monologue, interior emotion as well as description.
Also read:
LitNet se Kommadagga-slypskool in samewerking met die Jakes Gerwel Stigting en Huisgenoot
LitNet’s Kommadagga workshop with the Jakes Gerwel Foundation and Huisgenoot