“We will take the story back with us and spread it like butter on the toast of our item-rich society” – says Robyn Hitchcock, of Iceberg TV, in his dispatch for the Cape Farewell expeditions to the ‘frontlines of climate change’, out-takes from which form our central feature, this issue. A richly allusive and ambivalent remark: what is the place of story, of fiction even, in debates about climate? Can we afford the luxury of butter or is it in fact an essential? Read on.

Apart from Cape Farewell and its raft of artistes, the issue contains a strong showing of unorthodox forms, everything on the spectrum from poetry to prose, taking in prose poems, flash fiction and unclassed literature in the middle. On the shorter side, we bring you a lyrical double-bill from Tania Hershman; David Hermann goes back to the dictionary; Inua Ellams celebrates pandemonium; Frank Burton skims stones; John Turner revisits the Flood and Nora Nadjarian is optimistic. And at somewhat greater length, but not much (this is Litro), Lawrence John laments the rise of an unexpected rural literary community, Niall Boyce knocks Avatar into a cocked hat and (with Litro Classics) we take a snapshot of waterless living, mid-ocean, from that other, famous, raft, the Kon-Tiki.

This is Litro as barometer of mid-range atmospherics.

Sophie Lewis

‘Words get you further’
Inspiring, encouraging and acknowledging the creativity of young people is a common goal for London based Litro Magazine and the International Gateway for Gifted Youth (IGGY) at the University of Warwick. Today these two organisations have come together to announce a major new short story award for young people.

This new “Young Person’s Short Story Award”, funded by alumni from the University of Warwick, is open to young people from around the world aged 11-19. In addition to a cash prize of £2,500 the winner will be published in the free short story and poetry magazine Litro Magazine and will see parts of their work displayed on a poster in a London Underground station. The winner and two runners-up will also have their story published on Litro Online and on the IGGY website.

Judges:
Sadie Jones, Ian Kelly, Laura Dockrill & Peter Blegvad
• The competition starts in April 2010 and will be featured at this year’s International Camden Crawl Festival.
• The deadline for entries which should be no more 3,000 words is the 25th June 2010.
• A shortlist will be announced on 30th July 2010, with the winner being announced on 3rd September 2010.

Commenting on the announcement of the award Eric Akoto, Litro’s founder, said “This will be a fantastic opportunity for aspiring young writers to showcase their talent and to be recognised for their literary creativity. We are delighted to be partnering with IGGY on this. The magazine has thrived because of the creativity and talent of its writers and it’s exciting to think of who and what we might discover through this award.”

Ken Sloan, the Director of IGGY, added:
“IGGY is all about providing opportunity for talent to flourish, and we’re delighted to work with Litro on launching this exciting new prize. The theme of “Words get you further” is designed to stimulate ideas and discussion on a very important topic to young people across the world, conflict. I can’t wait to see what the young people produce.”

Notes to editors:
Litro Magazine, founded in 2005, is a free short stories magazine that publishes short fiction and poetry, including authors such as Irvine Welsh, Ross Sutherland and Benjamin Zephaniah. Litro Magazine has a circulation of 100,000 and is distributed monthly. It incorporates Litro Online, which attracts 15,000 visitors each month: www.litro.co.uk.

Litro Magazine aims to encourage the appreciation of culture within the UK. The format is a 56 page, pocket sized publication printed in full colour on high quality recycled paper. The design is clean, cool and simple and is designed to fit in your pocket so our readers can take it away with them to enjoy later. We like to provide those living in London with a form of escapism from the daily grind of city life, through the journey of a short story or poem.

IGGY, the International Gateway for Gifted Youth and part of the University of Warwick, provides an international network of the brightest and most creative young people aged 11-19. IGGY provides opportunities for individual endeavour, international teamwork and collaboration, competition, expertise and input from leading professional, academic and creative experts. Many opportunities encourage young people to address real world questions in a global context or enhance their understanding of cultural perspectives on common topics.

Submit your stories to: competition@litro.co.uk
For further information please contact:
Litro Magazine, 02033719971 or email: info@litro.co.uk

by Emily Flake