In every issue of Popshot Quarterly we include quotes related to the theme by big names in the world of literature. Illustration by Jason Lyons

For The Chance Issue we asked illustrator Jason Lyon to respond to the following words by Ovid, a Roman poet who lived during the time of Augustus, but whose words are as true today as they would have been two thousand years ago.

“Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish,” – Ovid, Heroides

We think you’ll agree that Lyon’s landscape of leaping humpback whales and forests being subsumed by rising tides, does the poet’s beautiful words proud.

You will find The Chance Issue of Popshot Quarterly in WHSmiths, book stores and online today.

The Chance Issue of Popshot features a poem written by award-winning author Joe Dunthorne who first made his name with debut novel Submarine and whose first collection of poetry, O Positive, was published this year.

What inspires and drives you to write?

Curiosity, mostly. For me, the biggest joy of writing is in not knowing where I’m going. I love the feeling of following your mind into itself, of seeing what lives inside you.

You write poetry, short stories, novels and screenplays – how do you know (or at what point in the creative process) what format your story or idea is going to take?

Usually each story suggests its ideal form. In my experience, poetry is good at pinning a single moment under a microscope. Short stories tend to suit more experimental structures, weirder voices. Novels are often more about depth of character. Although there are obviously endless exceptions. Sometimes I change a story into a poem then end up hiding it somewhere in a novel. Whatever feels right.

Your poem “The Spins” (featured in the Chance Issue) brilliantly evokes the contradictions of the festive season — wanting to see family and loving them, but the madness and emotion that prolonged proximity and forced jollity can engender. What do you and your family do at Christmas and how do you avoid getting the spins?

We are usually quite a harmonious – or conflict-averse – family. We tend to all get together in Wales or Scotland and go for walks, eat food and play board games. The most notable family Christmas argument was between my older sisters. They fundamentally disagreed about how best to cook the scrambled eggs. It may sound as though the stakes were quite low but it became the prism through which they saw each others souls.

In terms of avoiding the spins, I think that getting out of the house is essential. I would recommend contact with non-humans. Feeding birds. Hugging dogs. Nodding to cows and sheep. And of course the other important rule is: never play Monopoly.

Can you describe your writing process?

I’m a morning writer so I get up as early as I can and try to write something, anything, while my brain is still fuzzy and dreamy. Recently, I’ve gotten into using a typewriter for these early morning poems and flash fictions. There’s magic in the way the typewriter publishes your work as you write it. Every keystroke goes to print. There’s no going back. Plus, it makes a cheerful ding noise when you get to the end of the line. What could be more encouraging than that?

What is the novel or collection of poetry you wish you had written?

Oh, there are so many. Perhaps Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower – surely one of the best short story collections ever written.

What are you writing right now?

I’m writing poems and short stories and just experimenting. I recently started sketching a graphic novel about a man’s co-dependent relationship with his talking verruca.

Joe Dunthorne’s poetry collection O Positive is published by Faber & Faber (£10.99)

Illustration by Wendy Wong

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We are now accepting short fiction and poetry for our 26th issue on the theme of ‘chance’. Send in your writing before 9am GMT on Monday 2 September.

The Chance Issue

UPDATE: SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

We have just finished putting together the Fantasy issue (thank you to all who submitted, the magazine will hit newsstands next week), allowing us to open the doors for new submissions. Our next theme is ‘chance’ and all the potential ramifications of taking a chance — as well as those of its bedfellows coincidence and opportunism.

Writers might want to examine what happens when you take a chance, the positive and negative outcomes of doing something extraordinary through luck or coincidence, chance encounters, impossible coincidences, the “fates” aligning to hand over an opportunity. There’s an old creative writing rule of thumb: “Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of trouble are cheating.” Do you agree? What would you do with your characters given the chance?

Successful submissions must display excellent writing, creative flair and originality. We are looking for a mixture of humour, social commentary, honesty and thrilling storytelling. We welcome all genres and writing styles.

Submissions for the Winter issue are open until 9am GMT on Monday, 2 September.

The Chance issue will be published in November 2019.

Guidelines for submission:

• Poems: 12 to 40 lines
• Short stories: 1,000 to 3,000 words
• Flash fiction: 100 to 1,000 words

Three entries maximum. Entries over the word count will not be considered.

To discover more about Popshot, pick up a copy from WHSmiths or another reputable newsagent. You can subscribe to either hard copy or digital editions. Four issues are published per year showcasing the best emerging fiction writers.

To see your writing published and illustrated, head to our submit page for the full guidelines. Include the issue and form of your work in the subject line (i.e. Chance – Poetry). We are open to original contributions from anyone, anywhere in the world.

At Popshot towers we have just wrapped up the Fantasy issue, which will be on sale from 8 August.

Drop us a line at hello@popshotpopshot.com

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Illustration by Shauna Mckeon