Hysteria 9 is the anthology of finalists in the Short Story, Poetry and Flash Fiction categories from the Hysteria Writing Competition 2022. 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 the website: www.hysteriawc.co.uk. I am fascinated by the way words and language can be used in such a multitude of ways to invoke a sense of space, place, scenario or persona. Each year I'm blown away by the quality of the stories and poetry that emerge from the creative imagination of so many people, and this year is no exception. When I was thinking about a theme for the year I looked up the meaning of the word Peace and was treated to the following meanings: 1. The absence of war or other hostilities. 2. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities: negotiated the peace. 3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other. 4. Public security and order: was arrested for disturbing the peace. 5. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind. As it happens, the majority of entries focused on harmonious relations, freedom from quarrels and disagreement and significantly, inner contentment; serenity and peace of mind. These are the meanings that were uppermost in my mind when I eventually set the theme. To be honest I was a little concerned at the beginning that too many entries would relate to the absence of war given this topic has dominated the news for much of the year. So it was with much relief that where war was a source of inspiration it didn't dominate. All the entries deserve tp be read again and again as I believe they have the insight and power to help our species navigate away from a sense of constant conflict towards the real peace that is available when we recognise we are all one.
