Big Shots And Beginners Face Off In The Writing Ring
Ever fancied telling Alan Duff what you really think of his work, or asking C.K. Stead exactly how much of a hit he is
with the ladies?
evasion, the literary magazine you thought was dead and buried, is back like Lazarus as of October 2002, with the aim of
bringing big names and unknown wannabes together to critique each other's writing and reputations.
Managing editor Malcolm Burgess says evasion, which was launched in print to critical acclaim in 2000, is now using the
web to allow local and international writers and poets to interact "while the fire is still burning". "Above all we want
to foster that essential quality of 'mutual intolerance' as opposed to 'disappearing in a fog of mutual admiration', to
borrow a phrase from Czech playwright and president, Vaclav Havel," he says.
Guest editors and established writers will "discuss your work, answer your questions, account for something they once
claimed, [and] risk their professional and literary status in a dynamic medium", says Burgess.
Despite a flood of Kiwi poetry and literature magazines in print and online, evasion is more than just a static web
version of a paper magazine, with plans afoot to introduce a number of New Zealand "first"s. These include:
* a specially designed forum in which you can discuss the work of other users, to be moderated by guest editors *
a monthly email newsletter with a round-up of local literary news, events, reviews and details of upcoming material on
the site * you get to choose what goes into the print edition of the magazine (as and when funding allows) and an
annual anthology.