MENTORSHIP RECIPIENT

Mentor Commentary:
Isaiah Hunt

Recipient Reflection: 
​Axel McAvinue

On the Revision Process for "The Battle of Milky Mart"

by Axel McAvinue

Northeast Ohio Writer

“The Battle of Milky Mart” started as a flash fiction piece I wrote for one of my creative writing courses in college. I was inspired at the time by a prompt I found online about a war starting over a trivial reason, Reddit stories about ‘Karens’, and a Netflix show I’d been watching called Kid Cosmic. I’d revised it after doing a workshop with my class, and let the idea float around my head like space junk for a bit, debating expanding the short into a longer work. After procrastinating on revising it again, I sent out the piece as it was with low expectations. 

When I received an email from Katie Strine, telling me that Isaiah Hunt was interested in offering me an editorial mentorship for The Gordon Square Review, it felt like an opportunity that was out of this world. So, of course, I accepted immediately. 

Collaborating with Isaiah came with much ease. We bounced ideas off each other well, and with each revision, the story became more punchy and cohesive. Isaiah provided great insight on how to expand the conflict, characters, and prose without feeling like an imposing presence on my style or creativity. He helped me strengthen the language while cutting out what was superfluous. I tend to dread the revising process when working on it alone, but with Isaiah, I found myself feeling confident in the changes I was making. 

In total, “The Battle of Milky Mart” went through four revisions to get where it is today, three of those with Isaiah’s input. I’m proud of the adventure we wound up telling together. The story’s come a long way from simply being a short comedy piece that I wrote for a quick laugh. Isaiah saw the heart of my piece and helped me travel the universe to get to it. 

Thank you for all your help, Isaiah. I hope we’re able to collaborate more in the future. Looking forward to seeing what corner of the universe the next editorial mentorship for the Gordon Square Review brings another promising writer to.

Axel McAvinue

Axel McAvinue (He/Him) is a queer writer and poet from Bay Village, Ohio, whose love for telling stories blossomed in the first grade. He is a recent graduate from Cleveland State University with a BFA in Creative Writing and Film & Media Arts. He currently spends his days watching over other people's pets as a doggy daycare attendant and soaking in tons of puppy love.