Submissions for From the Body are now closed.
After a beautiful and emotional reading period, I'm delighted to say that - with the help of a great intern, too - I've now made final decisions on the essays that will be carried forward to the print anthology. This means that all contributors have now been contacted with the outcome of their submission. If you haven't yet received an email, please do get in touch.
From here, I will be liaising with contributors on minor edits to their submissions. My hope is that the upcoming Christmas period (apologies for using the c-word) will allow everyone time to firstly, celebrate their acceptance (and rightly so) and then spend time with their edits, to make sure any changes made are ones that authors are entirely comfortable with. There will be further updates posted here as the timeline advances.
All of that said, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who submitted their work for consideration. This is truly a passion project for me and one so very dear to my heart. It's filled me with joy and gratitude, though, to be given these windows it other people's experiences. The bravery and unashamed honesty of everyone who sent work in was and is utterly inspiring, and whether your work was accepted or not, I wanted to extend a deep thank you for allowing me to read it.
As always, if there are questions about the project then I encourage you to contact me. Otherwise, stay tuned for further updates in the coming weeks and months.
Take excellent care and be kind to yourselves.
Warmest,
Charley x
After a beautiful and emotional reading period, I'm delighted to say that - with the help of a great intern, too - I've now made final decisions on the essays that will be carried forward to the print anthology. This means that all contributors have now been contacted with the outcome of their submission. If you haven't yet received an email, please do get in touch.
From here, I will be liaising with contributors on minor edits to their submissions. My hope is that the upcoming Christmas period (apologies for using the c-word) will allow everyone time to firstly, celebrate their acceptance (and rightly so) and then spend time with their edits, to make sure any changes made are ones that authors are entirely comfortable with. There will be further updates posted here as the timeline advances.
All of that said, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who submitted their work for consideration. This is truly a passion project for me and one so very dear to my heart. It's filled me with joy and gratitude, though, to be given these windows it other people's experiences. The bravery and unashamed honesty of everyone who sent work in was and is utterly inspiring, and whether your work was accepted or not, I wanted to extend a deep thank you for allowing me to read it.
As always, if there are questions about the project then I encourage you to contact me. Otherwise, stay tuned for further updates in the coming weeks and months.
Take excellent care and be kind to yourselves.
Warmest,
Charley x
In light of the pandemic, our relationships to our bodies – including the nourishment we provide them with – has changed. While some have relied on comfort food, others have instead turned to comfort exercise as a means of support through this difficult period. Whatever the coping method, though, it has – albeit inadvertently in some ways – caused a shift in the ways we relate to our bodies.
“I can’t stop eating…”
“I’ve lost my appetite…”
“Oh, but my lockdown weight…”
That said, some are harbouring food, body and weight issues that were seeded long before the pandemic – and they’re likely to continue long after. In a setting wherein the dialogue around weight gain, loss, and body image relies on diction such as ‘the war on obesity’ alongside diet culture’s call that we begin to shed pounds of pandemic, what does this mean for those of us whose body/food/weight issues will not be so easily dealt with?
“I can’t stop eating…”
“I’ve lost my appetite…”
“Oh, but my lockdown weight…”
That said, some are harbouring food, body and weight issues that were seeded long before the pandemic – and they’re likely to continue long after. In a setting wherein the dialogue around weight gain, loss, and body image relies on diction such as ‘the war on obesity’ alongside diet culture’s call that we begin to shed pounds of pandemic, what does this mean for those of us whose body/food/weight issues will not be so easily dealt with?
From the Body will be an anthology of creative non-fiction/non-fiction writings, curated and edited by Dr Charley Barnes. Submissions will be read and reviewed by Charley, alongside a selected university intern, and their decisions will be final. Following this, there will be an editing period where Charley will liaise with authors to make subtle changes to their work ahead of the final manuscript being delivered to Valley Press.
The submissions window for From the Body will open and close as follows:
Submissions should be no longer than 1,500 words in length. For each submission there will be a reading fee of £3, which can be made via PayPal. Please include a TW/CW for your submission, if you feel it necessary.
The call for submissions will welcome creative non-fiction/non-fiction writing on, but not limited to, the following topics:
It should be noted that these are only suggested topics. Similarly themed topics are also welcome, so please do not feel limited by the above ideas.
The anticipated timeline for publication should see the book released in early 2023. This will be a charity anthology, with 50p from every copy sold donated to a nominated charity. Given that this is a charity anthology, we unfortunately can’t afford to pay contributors for their work; however they will be provided with a complementary copy of the anthology on its release.
The named charity for this project is BEAT: The UK's eating disorder charity.
The submissions window for From the Body will open and close as follows:
- Submissions open: August 16
- Submissions close: September 27
Submissions should be no longer than 1,500 words in length. For each submission there will be a reading fee of £3, which can be made via PayPal. Please include a TW/CW for your submission, if you feel it necessary.
The call for submissions will welcome creative non-fiction/non-fiction writing on, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Eating disorders and/or disordered eating
- Body weight, gain or loss
- Diet culture and diet practices
- Post-pandemic weight loss
- Post-pandemic body image and appearance anxieties
- Shame – around eating, body weight, weight gain
- Comfort eating/comfort exercise
- Food, exercise and control
It should be noted that these are only suggested topics. Similarly themed topics are also welcome, so please do not feel limited by the above ideas.
The anticipated timeline for publication should see the book released in early 2023. This will be a charity anthology, with 50p from every copy sold donated to a nominated charity. Given that this is a charity anthology, we unfortunately can’t afford to pay contributors for their work; however they will be provided with a complementary copy of the anthology on its release.
The named charity for this project is BEAT: The UK's eating disorder charity.
|
Please note:
This webpage will be updated regularly with information regarding From the Body, including details for submissions, acceptances and the publication timeline. If you require information that is not yet listed, please feel free to use the Contact me form available here and I will respond in due course. If you would like to know more about those involved in the project, you can access the Valley Press website here. |
|