Welcome to Alters!

The Intro; Submissions, A Confession, & Intentions

So, what first started out as an utterly self-indulgent other section for me to publish some of my own stories (admittedly, they were going to be at least obliquely related to the main serial), has become, in a whimsical instant, an intention to turn it into some kind of magazine. That’s to say, with stuff that isn’t always written by me. So this will be where those guest articles end up.

So what kind of stuff, I sense your submissive thoughtforms.

Well, primarily, something along the following lines:

Fiction (somewhat obviously), of the speculative variety. But this needs elucidation. I am certainly not looking for the kind of superficial one-dimensional crap that passes for speculative fiction these days. Unless, that is, you are being knowingly ironic & postmodernist. AKA taking the piss. I, personally (and I do get to choose being the erstwhile editor) would like to see exquisitely written stuff with notes of deep philosophy & emotions, perhaps tinged with a little magical realism thrown in for good measure.

Humour is also very welcome. Something that will reward repeated readings. I would also take flash fiction, especially since I have been minded to keep everything to around the 2k words a go, given that’s a quick, easy read for people (if you don’t mind reading longer stuff, let me know). On the other hand I don’t really care about word limits so long as the author doesn’t mind splitting the story up into instalments (as I’ve done). Anyhow, let’s just see how it goes – eventually, if it picks up, then simply reading the kind of things published will provide a pretty good idea of what sort of stuff I would likely publish.

Philosophy & Psychology; likewise, this should be a little offbeat, perhaps. It should absolutely not be written in some dry academic style. Think Nietzsche, or some of Plato’s poetic flourishes (The Republic, Symposium, etc.). I’m also rather fond of the Pre-Socratics. Psychology (or psychological philosophy), in particular, is definitely desirable, but not if it’s going to perpetuate Establishment myths about humans being naturally barbarian. If you think the likes of Pinker or Dawkins are worth listening to, then the door is over there, Sir.

Hmm, perhaps if I tell you what I hate it might help. Fucking analytical philosophy, that’s what! That kind of anti-enlightenment shit seems designed to prevent the emergence of truth within philosophy. And there’s a conspiracy theory there. Logic. ‘Moral’ philosophy (good and evil, as far as I am concerned, is obvious and evolutionarily innate for normal humans – some anthropology might be nice, on that note – the anarcho-socialist, egalitarian, perhaps Proudhonist true nature of humanity – compared to monsters, as we call them, who must’ve evolved down a different path). ‘Meta’ stuff I don’t like (I once had a PhD supervisor forcing me to read ‘metaethics’, so don’t make me angry there) – except, I hasten to add, metaphysics, which I do like. The world needs a healthy and substantial dose of spirituality, that’s for sure. Philosophy of physics or science likewise (you’d probably guess that from all the parallel world stuff floating around this place). Paranormal stuff would also be cool. Futuristic speculative philosophy. And so on.

Anyway, hopefully that provides at least a loose guide. Essentially it’s the kind of academic writing that academia would reject.

On a similar note – conspiracy theories. I love them. The more offbeat the better. But not ‘right wing’ fascist shit. I’m not having that. It’s the monsters (the globalist cabal) who are the fascists. Well, technically, they’re more like feudalists than fascists, but we shouldn’t quibble over definitions here. What I would love to see is socialists embracing the reality of conspiracies, instead of rejecting them simply out of an aversion to being seen in the company of the so-called right wing. Socialism seems to have a real blind spot here (a version of the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect, perhaps). In my view, if socialists were able to accept the existence of a minority social group (or other species, even) constantly conspiring simply as a group survival strategy (with no conscience regarding humanity, humanity being, to them, the other) then they might just not only see the world as it really is, but suddenly come to understand how to fix it.

This is my own view, by the way (although it’s Katrina’s too). Humans (let’s call them homo sapiens for want of a better term) are not the only intelligent, tool-making humanoid lifeform on this planet. There is another, minority humanoid species too (although yes, there will certainly have been some inbreeding – they are parasites, after all). Let’s call them Homo Monstrus, or something along those lines. Actually, technically Homo Immanis would be the correct Latin, but Monstrus might be more understandable for the layperson. And I do believe that if homo sapiens ever got wind of this truth, then no one would be able to stop the lynch mobs. No one would want to either. And personally, I think it’s clear that Homo Immanis is acutely and permanently aware of this fact (hence their need for power and control etc.).

Well, it makes sense to me.

With regards to writing style for conspiracy stuff – think Dave McGowan (click here for his CIA). He made it fun and ironic, whilst being brilliantly incisive and insightful at the same time. As Nietzsche said, ‘You can kill it with laughter’. Another one I’m increasingly becoming a fan of is Miles Mathis (here’s a link), who appears to have developed a genius-level method which, I have to say, is making more and more sense. He’s also very pleasingly readable. So, likewise - be creative and readable. Again, we’ll see how that goes.

Finally, perhaps to be totally offbeat, and provide a little light relief, inspired by my erstwhile companion, Alison, any little ‘pomes & words’, ditties, ironic & humorous observations, vignettes, skits, that kind of thing. Poems, in fact, would also be welcome, so long as they don’t, in any way, conform to the modern, pretentious pseudo-literary-fiction ‘it’s just fucking prose arranged on a page to vaguely look like poetry ‘cos you put it into little lines’ kind of crap that seems ubiquitous these days. No, it’s not true that ‘everyone has a novel inside them’ – at least, not one that other people might want to read, that is. That’s like hearing about other people’s trips. Or dreams. It only makes sense to them. There are clearly predators out there making money off the naïve by making them think they have something of merit to say. None of that will happen here.

Anyhow, that’s pretty much, if a little vaguely, what I reckon should get published here. At the moment, I should add, I am in no position to pay anyone (we’re a little below the poverty line, to be honest – yeah, that’s the emotive thing about pledging for paid subscription out of the way). But you do get publicity, of course. And maybe, if it takes off… well, we’ll see.

So, for the start of this potential misadventure, perhaps, most of the content in Alters will be free. As it grows, however, it’ll be the other way round, with most of it paid-subscription only.

Oh, and a note to potential illustrators – if likewise you’d like some publicity, or just want to show off, submitting illustrations for anything you’ve read to enhance the whole thing would be very welcome. You never know. I would especially love to see what you think our Katrina looks like. First person to get her spot on gets a Blue Peter badge (or at least maybe a commission).

It also strikes me that this thing might need a cool logo/header at some point. It should, however, at least in my view, have something to do with those Monarch caterpillars in the photo above. But I’m going to run out of images soon enough (most of them are from Unsplash, by the way).

Enquiries, as ever, to inadifferentplace@substack.com.

But if I ever have to say no to any submissions, please don’t take it personally – it will probably be simply that it’s not what I’m looking for (the usual excuse, I know). Because I’m something of a sensitive soul, believe me, having to dish out rejections is seriously going to hurt me. Not least since I’ve been on the receiving end of them myself. So for this, in advance, I ask your forgiveness. I’m a lovely person, really.

Anyhow, that’s my intro done for now, and my confession of self-indulgence & intentions firmly stated, along with instructions on how to be submissive. I hope you enjoy what you read, and I hope this misadventure turns out, well, let’s just use the word intriguing, for now.

Turn the page. Through the door. Ride the silvery wings. Come inside… And don’t be scared.

Don’t be scared.