Hysteria 8

By Linda Parkinson-Hardman

Hysteria 8 is the anthology of finalists in the Short Story, Poetry and Flash Fiction categories from the Hysteria Writing Competition 2021. The competition opens each year on the 1st of April each year and closes at midnight on the 31st of August. You can find out more about the competition, including rules and guidelines for entries on my website: www.lindaph.me.
Never underestimate the power of words combined with each other to evoke an image, feeling or emotion. We are a species that tells our shared history and understanding through stories, poetry and song. And never has that been more important than now.
We change our perspective and our understanding when we listen to the words others use to describe their experiences, hopes and dreams. And by coming together to share these words we gain a sense of what we have lost when we believe we are separate.
Perhaps it’s time now to put aside the differences the words we use appear to create and recognise that this is simply a different understanding.
This year, the anthology contains many entries from countries I would never have expected to see, and I hope that this is perhaps the first of many such publications.
As usual, I am awed and humbled that so many, often not writing in their native language, are able to put into words things that impact my soul in a deep and very meaningful way.
My congratulations go to everyone who appears in the anthology, you are the best of an excellent bunch.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781794803329

Book preview

About the Hysteria Writing Competition

Hysteria is an annual, international writing competition. It opens on the 1st of April each year and closes at midnight on the 31st of August. You can find out more about the competition, including rules and guidelines for entries on my website: www.lindaph.me.

Acknowledgements

The competition and this anthology wouldn’t have been possible without the support and help of a wonderful team of readers:

Electra Rhodes, Laura Besley, Michelle Christophorou, Patricia Good, Rachel Angel, Diane Jackman, Gill Scholey, Abdulrahman M Abu-Yaman, Kate Meyer-Currey, Helen Challis, Nicky Plaskitt, Richard Teague.

Foreword

Never underestimate the power of words combined with each other to evoke an image, feeling or emotion. We are a species that tells our shared history and understanding through stories, poetry, and song. And never has that been more important that now.

We change our perspective and our understanding when we listen to the words others use to describe their experiences, hopes and dreams. And by coming together to share these words we gain a sense of what we have lost when we believe we are separate.

Perhaps it’s time now to put aside the differences the words we use appear to create and recognise that this is simply a different understanding.

This year, the anthology contains many entries from countries I would never have expected to see, and I hope that this is perhaps the first of many such publications.

As usual I am awed and humbled that so many, often not writing in their native language, are able to put into words things that impact my soul in a deep and very meaningful way.

My congratulations go to everyone who appears in the anthology, you are the best of an excellent bunch.

Linda

Contents

About the Hysteria Writing Competition

Foreword

Advice for entrants

Flash fiction

What if earth is a pyramid?

Marriage vow

parents and guardians

The big blue nothing

circle time at the community centre

parachute

remembrance

strangers

coarse fishing

they didn’t just fall from the sky

Poetry

a new hope

all of it is us

blinded by fear

three things to know

from the other end of the world

when words fail

Part

remedial action

let me

warmer places

Short Stories

the day of glorious silliness

last Christmas

a day trip to heaven

when angels cry

hope and unity

the next stop

my lifesaver

shelter

two dreams collide

six things i abandoned by the time i was 31

Advice for entrants

A massive well done to everyone who entered this year’s Hysteria competition. It was amazing to read so many different interpretations of the theme, ‘Hope and Unity’.

The entries that stood out the most for me were those with a strong sense of place where I felt instantly transported to