'A truth in art is that whose contradictory is also true.’ (Oscar Wilde)
WRITER TEACHER ACADEMIC
'A truth in art is that whose contradictory is also true.’ (Oscar Wilde)
Blurring Lines Between Truth and Fiction
I am a Dutch fiction author, writing in English, living in Belgium. Next to a writer, I am a senior lecturer and academic.
I hold a PhD in literary studies and am an alumna of Faber Academy London. I teach literature, poetry, and creative writing at Maastricht University, the most international university in the Netherlands.
I love to cross borders in my writing too. I take to heart Oscar Wilde’s words that 'A truth in art is that whose contradictory is also true.’ My stories mix fiction with truth, are character- and event driven, fast-paced yet imbued with poetic rhythms and sounds. I love to write and read ambiguous stories, which are open to interpretation, inviting us to consider multiple perspectives; never settling down on one meaning.
My work has been nominated for Best Small Fictions (2024 edition) awarded by Altcurrent Press in the category micro-fiction. My short stories have among others appeared in Burningword Literary Journal (LA), Litbreak Magazine (NY), Flash Fiction Magazine (NY), and Low Hanging Fruit (California).
I am a regular essayist for The Independent Publishing Magazine and the founder and editor of
Telling Stories Magazine
My debut novel Fake Fish has been published by Sparsile Books LTD (UK, Glasgow, 2024). Sparsile Books is an independent publisher, specialising in literary fiction and high-quality non-fiction.
Fake Fish was selected as a Scotland's Book Week Debut Showcase by Publishing Scotland, and Books from Scotland.
I am currently working on my next novel and a composition collection of short stories.
A near-future novel on the devastating impact of Fake News
Think Atwood meets Tarantino
A varied group of characters in an increasingly dystopian world have to deal with ‘deep fakes’ distorting their very sense of reality. In a world drowning in a deluge of falsehoods, “Fake Fish” confronts the insidious rise of false news, and unmasks the far-reaching consequences that extend beyond mere headlines. With an unflinching gaze, this novel exposes the alarming impact of deceit on a global scale, as personal and national reputations crumble, and the very fabric of truth is torn apart. As the story unfolds, the characters navigate the treacherous landscape of a society where nothing can be trusted. “Fake Fish” is a timely exploration of the fragility of reality in an age where truth is being swallowed by technology.
You can pre-order my book globally on Amazon
Better yet, support your local (independent) bookstore and ask them to order a copy.
Product details
- Publisher : Sparsile Books Ltd (14 Nov. 2024)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1914399609
- ISBN-13 : 978-1914399602.
Reviews of Fake Fish
"Truth with a twist: Literary debut plays with fact and fiction (...) Weusten's novel is a real page-turner, albeit one that sticks in the mind once you've finished."
(The Observant)
"Josje’s writing invites us into layered worlds where the lines between truth and fiction blur. Through her art, she addresses timely concerns, such as the societal effects of misinformation, while emphasizing the timeless need for genuine human connection. (...) Her rapid-paced storytelling keeps us on our toes and swiftly turning every page."
(Low Hanging Fruit Literary Magazine)
"I simply had to continue reading. Out of curiosity for the fate of the intriguing characters, for the sharp observations, the subtle irony, and most definitely for its commanding writing style" (Prof Jan de Roder, professor of literature and jury member of the Constantijn Huygens Prize and the PC Hooftprize)
"This is a great book. It’s beautifully written and cleverly structured. It’s almost like a thriller in its page-turning qualities. The characters are really relatable, facing professional and personal dilemmas. The first half is pretty much now, in a very recognizable present. The second half is 20 years in the future, when we read about a particular dystopian future where ‘fake news’ has resulted in an authoritarian crackdown on literature, music, visual arts and imagination." (Professor of Digital Cultures Prof Dr Sally Wyat).
"Een ingenieuze, vindingrijke en actuele roman (An ingenious, imaginative and timely novel)." (Prof Em Dr Wiel Kusters, professor of literature, writer, and poet)
" Must read en dat zegt een Heerlenaar over een boek dat grotendeels over Maastricht gaat!" (Drs Marcel Put, writer and publisher)
Creative Writing Teaching
I am deeply passionate about fiction. I love to teach creative writing and cultural and literary theory, which I have been doing for nearly two decades at Maastricht University.
I believe that honing one's creative writing skills leads to a deeper understanding and enjoyment of literature, and vice versa.
In my courses and workshops, I thus combine hands-on creative practices with theoretical insights.
My flagship courses are
Telling Stories and Pop Songs & Poetry
I am also happy to announce that I will be teaching the very first Maastricht University Creative Writing Summer School in July 2025.
Creative Writing Summer School
This summer, I will teach the very first Maastricht University Creative Writing Summer School.
This full-time, two-week course focuses on the craft of creative writing with a focus on the short story.
The course is open to everyone, regardless of experience, age, or background (not just for university students). The only requirement is that you have a good command of English.
You will learn mostly by doing. We will work together in a small, selective setting with a maximum of 12 participants.
Each course day starts with a short seminar followed by a creative writing workshop. After lunch, there will be a peer feedback session and another workshop.
In addition, you will receive one-on-one feedback and tailored guidance throughout the course. This includes both advice on how to take your writing to the next level as well as on how to get published.
For students, it might be interesting to know that you can earn 5 ECTS by completing the course.
More information about the course and how to sign up.
Short Stories and Poems
My short stories have amongst others appeared in Litbreak Magazine (NY), Burningword Literary Journal (LA), Low Hanging Fruit (California), and Flash Fiction Magazine (NY).
My work has been nominated for Best Small Fictions (2024 edition) awarded by Altcurrent Press in the category of microfiction.
Recent Short Fiction
- Anthology of poems, short stories and reviews of my work. Special Issue of Low Hanging Fruit.
- Book Deal (July 20) in Low Hanging Fruit (first print edition)
- Tripping. In Burningword Literary Journal.
- Wrong Time. In 101 Words Magazine
- Doppelgänger. In Flash Fiction Magazine.
- Flea Show. In Low Hanging Fruit.
- Wide Angle Perspective. In LitBreak Magazine.
- Exposition. In Flash Fiction Magazine.
- The Stuff Stories Are Made Of. In Mosaiek Magazine (Print only).
- Several poems and prose pieces. In Stephenson, P. & Wyatt, S. (eds.), Letters in Lockdown. An Anthology. Maastricht: Maastricht University Press.
- Several poems. In Stephenson, P., Wyatt, S. & Parkinson, J. (eds.), Quarantine Spring. Maastricht: Maastricht University Press.
Literary Essays
Why Authors Should Listen to Readers: About the importance of reading reader reviews
How to Get Writing Inspiration: About spitting in your hands and the importance of just watching
How to Get Writing Inspiration: About spitting in your hands and the importance of just watching
"Reader reviews can make a difference in whether your book sells or not. I read them all, but according to some authors and publishing experts, this is not a good idea. After all, one negative comment might sting more than all the praise can lift you. It might even hamper your writing, or worse, cause writer’s block. These are indeed valid concerns, but looking at the job of today’s author, we have to acknowledge it isn’t only about writing (I wish). As an author you will have to market your book too.
Reading reviews by readers can be useful for this."
Read the full essay on how you can make the most out of reader reviews without being dragged down by the negative ones.
How to Get Writing Inspiration: About spitting in your hands and the importance of just watching
How to Get Writing Inspiration: About spitting in your hands and the importance of just watching
How to Get Writing Inspiration: About spitting in your hands and the importance of just watching
‘I spit in my hands…’ The sentence has been in my mind for a couple of days now. I am not sure what it wants from me. What does it want me to do with it? What does it want to be?
I haven’t had the time to write anything properly in the past months. (...) I have been too tired and distracted for inspiration to strike. I haven’t forgotten what it feels like though, the excitement, the rush as if you have struck gold.
‘I spit in my hands…’ Could this be the beginning of something? I pick up the sentence and turn it around in my head, looking at it from various angles. It indeed seems to spark something inside of me.
Read the full essay on inspiration and tips to encourage it.
A 'True' Story about Inspiration
How to Get Writing Inspiration: About spitting in your hands and the importance of just watching
The Art of Not Losing It: Performing in Public as a Writer
"The young woman who raised her voice is holding the novel we are reading up in front of her chest, the cheap Penguin pocket partially covering the picture of an immaculate Taylor Swift on her T-shirt. Her green eyes blaze behind her curtain bangs. It is not uncommon for students to interrupt me, to ask questions, to initiate a discussion. In fact, I urge them to. But what happened just now is something different."
Read the full essay on how I was inspired to write the novel Fake Fish.
The Art of Not Losing It: Performing in Public as a Writer
Why every writer should consider writing shorts: A re-evaluation of an underrated genre
The Art of Not Losing It: Performing in Public as a Writer
On the art of public performance-the one thing that most writers (including me) dread. On how famously shy authors like JD Salinger, Elizabeth Bishop and Frederik Backman have (not) dealt with this and my own continuous struggle to keep it together on stage.
With tips and pointers for other (shy) authors:
Prepare
Practice
Perform
Link to the full essay
Why every writer should consider writing shorts: A re-evaluation of an underrated genre
Why every writer should consider writing shorts: A re-evaluation of an underrated genre
Why every writer should consider writing shorts: A re-evaluation of an underrated genre
Short stories are an often overlooked and undervalued genre. In this essay, I reassess short stories as a comprised genre open to experimentation, forcing you to hone your writing skills in ways that longer narrative forms do not. I argue that because of its experimental and fragmentary form, the short story can be particularly useful for the artistic articulation of riven topics related to trauma and abuse.
Read the full essay to find out why I think you should give them a try as an (aspiring) writer? With tips on how to get started.
Using Social Media as a (Female) Author: Or How to Swim with Sharks
Why every writer should consider writing shorts: A re-evaluation of an underrated genre
Why every writer should consider writing shorts: A re-evaluation of an underrated genre
This essay deals with the question of how to navigate social media as a (female) writer, drawing on research on the online author persona and my own experiences. Read it here.
Going Beyond My Mother Tongue: Writing Fiction in Another Language
Going Beyond My Mother Tongue: Writing Fiction in Another Language
Going Beyond My Mother Tongue: Writing Fiction in Another Language
About writing literature beyond your "first' culture and language. Drawing on the work of amazing authors such as Chinua Achebe and Kazuo Ishiguro and my own experiences, I explore whether such a practice always has to lead to less literary diversity, as some literary critics, writers and publishers have claimed. Read it here.
I write who I am? The problem with Identity Politics in Publishing
Going Beyond My Mother Tongue: Writing Fiction in Another Language
Going Beyond My Mother Tongue: Writing Fiction in Another Language
A must-read for publishers on how to foster inclusivity and diversity without limiting the imagination of authors to write about characters which are not like them. Read here
Contact Me
Workshops, lectures, and talks
If you consider booking me for a creative writing workshop or course, or if you want to invite me for a lecture, talk, or signing session, feel free to reach out: josje.weusten@maastrichtuniversty.nl
Press
I am more than happy to make time to talk about my novel Fake Fish, creative writing, literature and/or poetry. Feel free to drop me a line:
