Ryan Vance

My work tends to focus on queer themes, explored through speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. I’ve been published in many of Scottish literature’s leading magazines, as well as several international publications. My first collection of short stories was published by Lethe Press. I’m particularly fond of helping writers  improve on structure, tone and atmosphere within their work.

Beyond writing, I’m also a designer and editor. I created The Queen’s Head, a zine of speculative fiction which featured work from Scottish writers alongside international submissions. I organised Queer Words Project Scotland, a mentoring scheme for queer writers, which culminated in an anthology of new writing, We Were Always Here, published by 404 Ink. My responsibilities with Gutter Magazine have included reviews editor, submissions reader, and typesetter. I believe understanding the production side of publishing can be a benefit to all writers, whether that’s at the level of a solo pamphlet or a full-scale anthology, and would enjoy assisting anyone keen to get some hands-on experience.