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What happens when a fortune teller delivers bad news—does it change the course of one’s life? Johnna Stein offers up one scenario in her flash fiction entry,
The Winter Will Ask. We invite you to enjoy her story
here and return for a short interview with the author.
Like so many, Johnna longed to be a published writer. About five years ago, after returning to the USA after a ten-year stint in The Netherlands with her Dutch hubby and two teenagers, she decided it was time. Various articles and short stories have found their way into print and she’s very proud of her children’s story, “The Wooden Apple” recently published in the November 2012 issue of
Cricket Magazine. Johnna recently returned from a five-day Highlights novel in verse workshop where she hopes she found the secret to publishing her YA novel in verse.
WOW: Welcome Johnna! What was the inspiration for The Winter Will Ask?
Johnna: I woke up one morning thinking, “What if a wife went to a fortune teller and was lied to and was told her husband would die, when in fact it was the wife who would die?”
WOW: (Smile). Writers wake up with the oddest thoughts… Tell us a little about your writer’s journey; what was your first big sale and what did you learn from it? Johnna: My first non-fiction piece was returned with an editor’s request for me to shorten it by half, with no promises to publish. I considered this a victory since it wasn’t a flat-out rejection. I edited away, sent it back, and I sold “Heart in Africa” to GUIDE magazine. I’ve since sold three more to them. My favorite sale was “The Wooden Apple” which appeared in Cricket this past November.
WOW: In what ways does flash-fiction challenge your writing skills?Johnna: I must search for the absolute best word and sentence structure to convey the meaning. It teaches me to write tight and bright.
WOW: In what ways has expat living influenced your writing?Johnna: It’s taught me to see with different and new eyes. When I returned to the States after living in Holland for almost ten years, I had to learn to be American again.
WOW: I hear the potential for a memoir in there; have you ever considered writing about your experience?Johnna: I prefer fictionalizing my experiences. I've had a few non-fiction pieces published about my life, but I haven't really considered writing a memoir. I think I've found my sweet spot in YA.
WOW: What author has most inspired you and how?Johnna: John Greene has been the most recent inspiration. I love his voice and the way he’s able to recreate the teen aura.
WOW: Regarding your YA novel in progress—how does writing in verse benefit the story? What points should a writer consider before choosing this route?Johnna: My novel is about a very sensitive subject, sex trafficking. The poetry acts as a buffer between the reader and difficult subject matter. I believe you should only choose this form if you see it as the best way the story can be told and you have practiced writing poetry.
WOW: Do you have a website where readers can connect with you? Johnna: Not yet! Hopefully, I’ll be blogging soon, though!
WOW: We hope to see you back here soon--perhaps to celebrate your YA novel!Interview by Robyn Chausse
Today we welcome Renee Carter Hall, runner up in our Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest. Renee is a master of letting fun lead the way as evidenced by her prolific publishing credits, numerous anthromorphic characters, and whimsical artwork (I love the lounging dragon
picture on her website). Her contest submission,
Nativity, is a sweet story of a little girl who longs to belong to a flock—and gets her wish! Please take a moment to enjoy
Nativity by Renee Carter Hall and then return here for a short interview.
Renee Carter Hall works as a medical transcriptionist by day and as a writer, poet, and artist all the time, writing fantasy and science fiction for adults who never quite grew up. Her short fiction has appeared in a variety of publications over the years, including
Strange Horizons,
Black Static, and the anthology
Bewere the Night, and her first novel,
By Sword and Star, was published earlier this year by
Anthropomorphic Dreams Publishing. She lives in the mountains of West Virginia with her husband, their cat, and a ridiculous number of creative works-in-progress. Readers can find more about her and her work at her website,
www.reneecarterhall.com, and her short story sampler
Six Impossible Things is available free at
Smashwords and
Amazon.
WOW: How do your stories develop—is there a method to your madness?Renee: More madness than method, I think! Every story is slightly different, of course, but most of the time I just start with a situation or a character, jump in, and see what happens. Once I get characters talking, things usually start to develop pretty quickly. As you might guess from all that, I'm not much of an outliner, but longer works usually do need some minimal notes and brainstorming along the way to get to a finished draft.
WOW: What was your inspiration for Nativity?Renee: "Nativity" was one of those stories where the concept and characters showed up all at once, so I don't really remember a particular spark other than the holiday season. Elements of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and memories of my own school days probably influenced it, though.
WOW: Some writers get their ideas in the shower, others while driving--when do you get most of your ideas?Renee: Whenever and wherever, really. The one writing problem I've never had--probably the only writing problem I've never had--is a lack of story ideas.
WOW: That’s a great one not to have! I’ll bet you have some writing tips to share; what are your top three?Renee: Keep writing, keep reading, and keep learning. Do those three things, and it's impossible not to improve.
WOW: What are your writing goals for 2013?Renee: Finish the first draft of my second novel (working title The Second Life of Bartholomew T. Lion), and keep chasing the third pro-level short story sale that will qualify me for active
SFWA membership (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America).
WOW: Great goals! Keep us posted on Bartholomew T. Lion (love that name). Interview by Robyn Chausse
G.G. Silverman lives north of Seattle with her husband and dog, both of whom are ridiculously adorable. When she isn’t writing, she loves to explore the mossy woods and wind-swept coast of the Pacific Northwest, which provide moody inspiration for all her stories. She also enjoys bouts of inappropriate laughter, and hates wind chimes because they remind her of horror movies.
She holds a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and also completed the Writing for Children program at the University of Washington. She also owns a
branding and graphic design firm.
Ms. Silverman placed as a finalist in the 2012 PNWA annual literary awards for her short story, “The Black Dog of Porto Negro.” She is currently working on her first YA novel, a hilarious feminist twist on the zombie genre. Chat with her on Twitter @GG_Silverman
interview by Marcia PetersonWOW: Congratulations on winning first place in our Summer 2012 writing contest! What inspired you to enter the contest?
GG: Thank you! I’ve been putting serious effort into launching my writing career over the last few years. I’m building up a body of work, and wanted to test the water for my stories, to get some validation and ultimately publish. WOW! has a great reputation with incredible guest judges every season, so your contest seemed like the right opportunity to do all of that. Having my story published on your site has given me fantastic credibility as a writer.
WOW: Thanks for the kind words about WOW! Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, The House of Butterflies? GG: It was inspired by a life-changing conversation with a friend. I was at a critical point with the last draft of my novel, where I had major fears about expressing darker ideas, and she asked how my writing was going. I said I was afraid that when my book was finished and I came out of my shell as a writer, that I’d be seen as a frightening spider instead of a beautiful butterfly, and the world would revile my work. That’s when she told me it was okay to be a spider, that the world needs spiders. So, I’ve embraced my spiderness, meaning, I’m being true to myself as a writer and have accepted my position as someone who explores darker themes. The House of Butterflies has become a sort of personal manifesto. It’s my first published work, and I’m taking it as a sign that I’m becoming who I’m meant to become.
WOW: What a wonderful development for you. I love that you’re embracing your spiderness. Have you always enjoyed the genre, and how did you learn to write great flash fiction? GG: I discovered flash fiction two years ago. It started as a way to keep writing when I need to take small breaks from my novel. I believe it’s important to write as much as you can, because you get better and faster with practice and time.
Also, I like to write flash fiction when I travel. It’s fun to dash off a story on a flight and have a sense of completion. Though the polishing aspect can be maddening, sometimes requiring up to eleven or twelve drafts. Writing a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end, in a very limited word count, while creating an evocative atmosphere with beautiful description, is quite challenging. But I love it. I really believe that flash fiction makes you a better writer.
It’s also a great way to honor readers who are busy and want a satisfying story they can read quickly. With the increasing popularity of e-readers, I think flash fiction is here to stay.
WOW: It's always interesting to learn about other people's writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?GG: For starters, I take a long walk every day, and I’m fortunate to live near incredible trails. My favorite walk is through a burnt-out swamp punctuated by dead, spiky trees. A bald eagle is usually perched overhead, and the sky can be really moody. The quiet atmosphere is meditative, and ideas often come to me there. Sometimes they come in the voice of a character. I might record a thought or a scrap of dialogue on my phone with a voice recorder app. If it resonates with me after my walk is done, then it’s something I’m really excited about, and I try to express it in writing.
I’m also a self-employed graphic designer, and keep a flexible work schedule so I can write or edit a few hours each day, usually in the afternoon. But unexpected things do happen, so I’ve learned to seize odd bits of time to write productively in short bursts whenever I can. I usually write first drafts long-hand (if it’s my novel, a chapter at a time) then transcribe and edit on the computer. When I write long-hand, I can do it anywhere, but when I’m on the computer, I prefer the ergonomic set-up of my office. When I’m writing, I have a strict No Internet rule. No Facebook or Twitter. I allow myself only fifteen minutes at the beginning of the day, but I’ll spend more time during lunch or when I’m done for the day, because I believe it’s important to start cultivating an audience and connecting with people.
Once every few months, as a special treat, my husband and I take short road trips to the coast to get away from the distractions of everyday life. We hole up in a cabin and soak up the scenery for inspiration, while getting lots of writing done.
WOW: Walking always yields lots of ideas for me too. What's one bit of advice you would give to aspiring writers?GG: Discipline and perseverance are everything. Practice writing until you realize that you can’t not write, that you would feel sick if a few days went by and you haven’t written. By then, you’ll develop the momentum and stamina you need to do great work.
WOW: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, G.G.! Before you go, do you have any tips for our readers who may be thinking about entering writing contests?GG: Rejection is a blessing. It’s an opportunity for you to go back, take another pass at your work, and make it sing.
And, don't rush to submit. Taking an extra day to let a piece breathe, so you can review it with fresh eyes, can make a world of difference.
***
The Winter 2013 Flash Fiction Contest is OPEN
For details, visit:
http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Congratulations to Michael Throne for placing in WOW’s Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Contest! Please enjoy Michael’s story,
One Human Being to Another, and return here to meet this emerging writer!
Mike Throne lives in North Virginia with his wife and three daughters. After graduating from Goshen College, he spent twenty-five years developing what turned into a wind chime factory. Several years ago, he sold the business to begin working on his new passion, fiction writing.
Mike has been learning his new craft through courses at Northern Virginia Community College, George Mason University, and
FaithWriters.com, a Christian-based online writers’ resource. As he continues to develop his skills as a writer, he will be seeking other opportunities to publish his work, and hopes to put out a collection of his short stories within the next year. When not writing, he enjoys camping with his family. Mike can be contacted at m.throne (at) verizon.net.
WOW: When did you first consider becoming a writer?Michael: I had always wanted to write. When I sold my small business a few years ago, I had the time to try.
WOW: The subject of homelessness can be approached in many different ways. In One Human Being to Another you show not only our hesitation to trust the homeless but our hesitation to reach out for help. Why did you choose this particular slant?Michael: I tried to make the situation as real as possible from both points of view. My goal was to bring out the nuances of thought that play into the actions of the characters: the protagonist's anxiety about her appearance, her attraction to Manny, the woman's initial concern in seeing people at her car, perhaps for her safety, but also for being asked for money, and finally, once safely in her car, her desire to possibly help. From the protagonist's point of view, her needs were so great that there was no way someone about to drive away could even start to fulfill them, and besides, she wanted to end with even a superficially sense of normalcy rather than feeling "homeless."
WOW: In stories of this kind the focus is usually on money or food. What caused you to decide on the hairbrush and what does that represent to you?Michael: In Manny, the protagonist found a good person, someone she wanted to stay with. She liked his lack of compromise, even in their times of need. The hairbrush represented the MC's desire to simply look like a human being, a woman. She felt it was important, in particular, because of her desire to remain attractive in Manny's eyes, but by the end, simply to look "normal," in her own eyes as well as to the people around her. If you look homeless, you feel homeless; if you look "normal," you feel normal.
WOW: You’ve been working on a collection of short stories; in comparison, how was your experience with this flash fiction piece?Michael: I loved this one. Of course, I love them all, at first. It's the ones that still speak to me after I've worked on them ten or fifteen hours that I keep.
WOW: Many writers find themselves writing on a theme while others explore a wide range of subjects and expressions—what about you?Michael: I try to write about things I know, or think I do, anyway. The themes vary, but I hit a dry spell when I have nothing interesting left to say. Coincidently, I was just in Philadelphia working with an organization that helps the homeless. I've been giving the subject more thought lately and may try to expand on the theme.
WOW: What are your long term goals as a writer? Is there a novel in your future…or a screenplay?
Michael: Hopefully, I have a novel to write.
WOW: We wish you all the best and look forward to reading your short story collection!Interview by Robyn Chausse
Amy Lewis is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of political science at Colorado State University. By day she speaks in questions, scholarly provocations based in fact and spun with data. By night she dares to speak in answers camouflaged in stories. She has written numerous short stories over the years and is only in recent months beginning to share them. Her story, “What Unicorns Think” was short-listed in the
Multi-Story short fiction contest. She is also the author of a quartet of young adult novels, reimaging Greek mythology in which princesses are the heroes, not the objects, of their own stories. These novels tarry with all the other tidbits of information on her hard-drive, awaiting a good going-over after she dispatches with the task of her dissertation.
interview by Marcia Peterson WOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in our Winter 2012 Flash Fiction competition! What inspired you to enter the contest?Amy: I’m not sure it was an inspiration. More of an impulse, a mad fleeting compulsion to have some fun, share some stories, belong to a community of similarly-interested people.
WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, Crate Training for Kids? It seems like your political science studies could have provided some inspiration.Amy: I wish I could say it was my political studies, and I’m sure that somewhere in the back of my mind I was thinking about the relationship between freedom, rebellion, and socialization (somewhere in the back of my mind I am always thinking about these things). In fact, I adhere to the notion that civics isn’t just a class, it’s a hands-on experience. The best way to teach young people about the importance of political participation is to encourage them to engage with the world around them, even if they don’t always do so in an adult fashion or through political topics. There is a growing cynicism in this country that problems are too big and institutions are too inept and/or large to respond to public demands. Although I share in these same frustrations, I also know that this feeling weakens democracy and inhibits improvement. Institutions may be big and intractable, but how much larger and recalcitrant are they when entire populations within the public remain silent? In my opinion, teaching children to be seen but not heard only lays the foundation for feelings of impotence later in life. So, I suppose the story is rooted in that. Nevertheless, the immediate inspiration was my Old English Sheepdog puppy. I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but I’ve crate-trained him. When I wrote this story, I was working through feelings of guilt.
WOW: What do you enjoy about flash fiction writing versus the other kinds of writing that you do? Amy: Flash fiction has the pit-a-pat frenzy of a summer romance. It’s short, sweet, and relatively uncomplicated. I don’t mean to suggest that flash fiction is somehow less meaningful than a more long-term, stable commitment – you know, like a book. But I think it offers things books can’t; especially in that it reminds us how fun and exciting writing fiction can be. Fleeting literary crushes invigorates writer and reader alike. And
Tearra Rhodes began her interest in creative writing in elementary school, but did not consider it more than a minor hobby until she got her first taste of affirmation after winning a local one act playwriting contest her sophomore year of high school. Having graduated from Canisius College with a minor in English (major Communication Studies), she is working towards making creative writing more than just a hobby. She lives in Buffalo, NY, where she has boxes and boxes of unfinished short stories and plays. Her next project will be pulling out one of those boxes and dusting off a potential masterpiece.
If you have not yet read Tearra’s story, I Began Baking a Cake, please enjoy it now— it’s murder with a sweet little twist!
WOW: Congratulations on placing in the WOW! Fall 2011 Flash Fiction Contest! What prompted you to enter?
Tearra: I entered a flash fiction contest with another website and I had ‘flash fiction fever’ and was on the lookout for another contest for which to write a story.
WOW: LOL. As they say…feed a fever! What was the inspiration behind I Began Baking a Cake?
Tearra: I watch a lot of police procedurals and murder mysteries and the killer is usually someone the detectives or amateur sleuths already interviewed/talked to. My question was why didn’t the killer ever just flee? Regardless, if it was self defense, an accident or premeditated, why didn’t they just run? I started with the line, “You shouldn’t have come, Boyd. I know why you did, but you shouldn’t have.” I really loved my unnamed character saying this to her adversary, knowing that he was there to hurt her and knowing what she was going to do to protect herself.
WOW: I enjoyed the opening as well because of all the questions it raised in my mind. But a great opening sentence is only part of the recipe for a satisfying story and flash fiction in particular can be tricky to work with, what was your process?
Tearra: I wrote a complete short story exploring the above mentioned idea and then I pared it down to the bare bones. The familiar term ‘less is more’ came heavily into effect. There was more mystery.
WOW: You say you have “boxes of unfinished stories and plays.” I think all writers have a stash like this—I know I do! What is it, do you think, that has kept you from finishing them?
Tearra: I have so many story and play ideas. When I write one down, I get a completely different idea for something else; hard to focus on just one. Plus, I’m a huge procrastinator.
WOW: I can relate on both accounts!
There are different skills required for writing plays as opposed to short stories—tell us a little about working with both forms.
Tearra: When I start writing a play, I write out all the dialogue, just character’s talking to each other. When I’m finished I add action sequences accordingly. When writing a short story I do the exact opposite. I write out the action first and add dialogue later. I like to play around with the point of view in which the story is told and the tense. I’ve found that first person present tense adds more flavor and urgency to a piece.
WOW: Great points! So, what is your next project?
Tearra: I want to complete a novel in the near future, so I’ve dusted off a story idea that’
Meet Debbi Straight: Although my real passion (obsession) has long been with writing, my professional life led me in a far different direction. I worked in the field of mental health for twenty years. I’ve held positions as the Psychiatric Social Service Director at the Indiana Boys School prior to its closing and as a director at an agency that serves the developmentally disabled. But still, a therapist’s duties entail exploring the inner workings of the mind and then making sense of and recording the most intimate thoughts of others in a meaningful way. I hold a Master’s Degree in Psychology and completed work toward my doctorate. Other joys in my life include my husband, two daughters, two grandsons and competing with my Appaloosa show horses. My two Great Pyrenees dogs are my soulful guardians. Ongoing writing projects include several short pieces (one, of course, for your next contest) and a creative non-fiction, book-length piece set in post-Civil War Indiana.
interview by Marcia Peterson WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Top 10 in our Fall contest! You also received an honorable mention for another story entry, so good job on that too. What inspired you to enter the contest?Debbi: Through the years, I’ve interspersed writing with the other demanding elements of my life: kids, horses, work and I guess I should mention a couple of husbands. My long-term goal is to find representation for a creative nonfiction book in the works that’s the literary love of my life. To gain street cred, I looked toward entering literary contests. There are few that have the on-line respect and feel of WOW.
WOW: Thanks for the kind words about WOW. We're glad to help with your street cred! Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, The R Wurd?Debbi: Through the years, I’ve worked with a variety of individuals and personalities. I’ve dealt mostly with anti-socials, I guess you could say the criminal-minded. When I took a job at an agency that serves people with developmental disabilities, I wasn’t sure at all if my skill set was right at first. I was immediately amazed by what I observed. Individuals with developmental issues are supposed to have all-encompassing deficits, but they seldom have problems when it comes to attaching to their peers and forming meaningful relationships with their family, friends and the staff. The particular agency I worked for, Putnam County Comprehensive Services, based in Greencastle, Indiana, has the benefit of having chosen a group of incredible staff members who are completely devoted to improving the quality of life for their clients. Anyone who joins that staff and doesn’t exhibit a caring attitude is gone in a hurry.
WOW: Your professional experience really helped create a compelling story. What do you enjoy about flash fiction writing versus the other kinds of writing that you do?Debbi: Entering contests that entail writing short pieces has been extremely helpful. By the way, the responses and e-mails I’ve gotten from WOW have been more supportive than I can describe. I was a therapist for many years and every d
Suki Michelle is the co-author of the young adult urban fantasy,
The Apocalypse Gene (Parker Publishing, Inc. 2011), on which she collaborated with her husband, Carlyle Clark. Their current co-project is a collection of speculative fiction stories set in the town of Redemption, Arkansas in the 1930s. Suki has two novels in progress and is a published poet. She owns a medical transcription company and works as a ghost-blogger for a Chicago celebrity. Suki is most proud of her beautiful daughter, Bree, who will soon complete her nursing training. Her passions include people-watching and chocolate.
Learn more about Suki’s co-written debut novel at:
http://www.TheApocalypseGene.comThe Apocalypse Gene Fan Page:
http://www.Facebook.com/TheApocalypseGeneVisit Suki’s blog:
http://storymavens.wordpress.com/Follow Suki on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Suki_Michelleinterview by Marcia PetersonWOW: Congratulations on winning first place in our Fall 2011 writing contest! What inspired you to enter the contest?Suki: Thank you so much for the congratulations. The win was quite a thrill!
I wrote this piece as an exercise to see if I could express the feelings of a highly creative but lonely child. While the facts of the story mostly fictional, the atmosphere and emotional elements are real. Also, I had previously earned an Honorable Mention in an earlier WOW! Flash Fiction Contest, and I wanted to try again after another year of learning the craft. I was happy with the piece after at least a zillion edits (mostly deletes).
WOW: We're so glad that you decided to try again! Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, "No One Told Me Stories? "
Suki: I was trying to pinpoint the driving force behind my desire to be a writer. It began with a love of stories. My father was indeed a surgeon with an eidetic memory, though he behaved much better than the father in the story. My mother was very engaging, unlike the fictional mother. I was always encouraged to read and had many books. My grandmother often told me stories about her life in Russia during the pogroms and her experiences as an immigrant landing on Ellis Island as a young girl. Those stories were probably the first to both terrify inspire me.
WOW: What do you enjoy about flash fiction writing versus the other kinds of writing that you do? Suki: Flash fiction poses a specific challenge. Every word must earn the right to live on the page. If you write some scintillating prose, the best ever, but it doesn’t contribute powerfully to the piece, DELETE! If it’s fluff, DELETE! If it’s repetitive or dull, DELETE! What remains must have voice, a message, subtext, imagery, texture, rhythm--all the elements of solid writing, but economical and concentrated. Flash fiction is closest to poetry in that regard--the fewest words for the most i
Hey dude, do you remember being twelve? Liz does, and she takes us back to that awkward time in her story “
Smoke Rings.” In this flash-fiction piece our two main characters share an unspoken understanding; but like any true story teller, Liz just couldn’t leave the story. After you read Liz’s
flash-fiction entry, skip on over to her blog site to read the “
novel excerpt” version. Then, come on back for an interview with Liz Tucker, writer and poet.
Liz is a graduate of the San Francisco State University Creative Writing program. Her short stories can be found in
Transfer Magazine and soon in
Tahoe Blues, an anthology to be published by Bona Fide Books at the end of 2011. Her poetry can be found in
Red River Review and soon in the 2011 issue of
The Aroostook Review. Liz is a sixth-generation Californian who lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe where much of her writing takes place. When she is not writing, she can be found anywhere outside with her husband and two children or hacking away at the cello when the weather isn’t cooperating. To read more of her works please visit Liz at her blog,
http://liztucker.wordpress.com/WOW: Hello Liz, congratulations on placing in the WOW! Spring 2011 Flash Fiction Contest! I have to say, I skipped on over to your site and lost all sense of time. You have quite an impressive selection of offerings there; your love for fiction is obvious. When did you first begin writing?
Liz: It was in 2002; one of those rare epiphany moments that we get to experience in our lives and then actually seize upon. One spring day over breakfast I decided that after briefly dabbling in the art form, fiction writing was going to be my gig. Trouble was, I had only a faint idea of how to craft a proper story. Instead of playing around with the writing process, I knew I needed a solid foundation in the craft. I needed discipline. So by that afternoon I submitted my application to San Francisco State University’s Creative Writing department and started writing in earnest that summer. I have been writing ever since, but many days still feel I have only the faintest notion of how it’s done.
WOW: You write both poetry and fiction; share with us a little about your relationship to both forms.
Liz: I consider myself primarily a fiction writer, but I am particularly interested in the intersection of poetry and fiction; how powerful language, imagery, symbolism, voice, themes, etc...is used to propel a story forward. Perhaps I will get lambasted by more established, professional poets, but I believe the two forms essentially strive for the same outcome--to evoke fresh, powerful emotions in our readers; to make our readers think.
Whether you are talking about poetry, flash fiction, short stories, novellas, novels, they all lay on the same continuum of story telling. Poems, in my mind, are the tightest of these forms. Each word, each image must count. There cannot be any excess. We fiction writers, however, are given more opportunity as we move up the story-telling
Please meet Jacinda Little, a talented writer and ghostwriter whose story "
Love in a Snow Globe" truly was one of the best stories we have received. The tangible emotions and carefully placed details make for a haunting tale that will stay with you long after the reading.
Jacinda is a resident of South Central Pennsylvania with a penchant for organic vegetable gardening, music and dancing, rumpus good times, and of course, the written word. By day, she works as a professional non-fiction ghostwriter, but after the sun sets, she’s off to meet her imagination in a dimly lit corner for a little fun with fiction.
Jacinda owes her success to her dear husband, Jeff, who politely smiled and chewed his pork chop when she told him that all she wanted for her thirtieth birthday was his blessing to quit her office manager job so that she could pursue her dream. The pork chop was swallowed and since then, her short works of fiction have been published in
The Painted Door and G.W. Thomas’
Flashshot. She’s guest-blogged about silk flowers, labor pains, and romantic love. She’s ghostwritten hundreds of articles and media pieces. Currently, she’s working as staff writer for
http://www.all-famous-quotes.com/; has just completed
The Body Language of Dating, a book by body language expert Tonya Reiman that’s due out in 2012 and written specifically for women; and has just undertaken a new creative non-fiction book project for an oh-so-clandestine personality.
Jacinda is currently working as a contractor for hire, and may be reached at JacindaLittle[at]comcast[dot]net or through her site
The Creative Ghostwriter Soul, Spirit, and Story. Please take a moment to read “
Love in a Snow Globe,” and then come back for our interview.
WOW:
Hello Jacinda, congratulations on placing in the WOW! Spring 2011 Flash Fiction Contest! I’ve read some of your writing and love your playful way with words; I’m excited for the rest of our wonderful WOW! audience to get to know you.We hear from many women who leave the nine-to-five (or the six-thirty-to-eight) with the intent to finally pursue their writing ambitions. Tell us about your own career transition.Jacinda: I’ve always had a voracious appetite for reading. I love the smell of a book, the way that the pages sound when they brush against each other, the places my mind goes…and at a very young age, I realized that I could score a similar thrill with the creation of my own scenes.
Some very well-meaning people encouraged me to get a “real job” after school, so I chalked up writing as a folly of youth. Then I turned 30. I knew that I had to give it a shot before any more time slipped away.
Two weeks after I made that decision, I was pounding away on a used laptop at my dining room table. It would be three years before I made a penny. However, I wouldn’t trade the rejections and the criticisms that I received in those three years for any dollar amount. I learned from every one of them.
WOW
Jody Rathgeb has been a journalist and freelance magazine writer for many years, but she was inspired to start writing fiction when she lived for four years in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her short stories have been in The Battered Suitcase, Ink-Filled Page and Tongues of the Ocean, and her novel, Fish-Eye Lens, is due from Belle Isle Books this fall. She now divides her time between Richmond, Va., and North Caicos Island. Her weekly blog and information about the novel and stories can be found at
www.jodyrathgeb.com.
interview by Marcia PetersonWOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in our Spring 2011 competition! What inspired you to enter the contest?Jody: Whenever I finish a story, either flash or longer, I begin looking for a proper “home” for it. The character’s dilemma in “
Slave Hands,” plus its flash form, seemed to make it a match for WOW.
WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story? Jody: All of my stories deal in some way with the islands and their people, and one issue that’s been rattling around in my head is the ambivalent relationship today’s islanders have with their history of slavery. I wanted to show that people can in some way “own” the past, even if they were slaves. Joseph, who is on the verge of adult thinking, seemed a fitting character for that.
WOW: It's an excellent story. After living for four years in the Turks and Caicos Islands, you now divide your time between Richmond, Virginia and North Caicos Island. What led to this living arrangement, and can you describe the Caicos Islands for those of us who haven’t been there?Jody: Quite frankly, it’s because my husband flunked retirement! We were doing a two-phase move to the islands, with me as the advance guard … but after Tom arrived he decided that he missed his work. When his former boss indicated that he would like to see Tom return, I knew that’s what he wanted to do. Living apart no longer made sense, so I came back to the U.S. But we still have a home on North Caicos, and I spend chunks of time there several times a year.
The Turks and Caicos Islands have spent the last 15 or so years emerging as a tourist destination, but the results have been ragged. Some islands,
especially Providenciales, are deep into the “tropical paradise” marketing game, but other places such as North Caicos are quieter, less developed and more connected to cultural traditions and the old ways. Think of the Bahamas in the 1950s. This makes it an interesting place, poised between the past and future.
WOW: It sounds like a fascinating place to live. Your novel, Fish-Eye Lens, is coming out this fall. You must be very excited! What has your novel writing journey been like?Jody:
Molly Van Norman lives in Rochester, MN with her husband and Small Munsterlander, Afton. She just celebrated her 25th anniversary working in a clinical laboratory at the Mayo Clinic. Last fall she became an “empty nester” when the older of her two sons left to go to school at the University of Utah. Her youngest son joined the Marines last summer and is currently deployed in Afghanistan.
Although she has written several children’s Christmas programs and many clinical laboratory procedures, this is her first submitted piece of fiction. She is currently working on two novels, both are women’s fiction, and hopes to complete them now that she has found some extra time.
Molly would like to dedicate
“The Burr Oak” to her aunt who passed away in February. It was the Burr Oak at her aunt’s cabin and the experience of moving this aunt into an assisted living complex that inspired the story.
interview by Marcia PetersonWOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in our Winter 2011 writing competition! What inspired you to enter the contest, especially since this is your first piece of submitted fiction? Molly: I had my story roughed out when I found your web site. I hadn't even heard of flash fiction, but I was so impressed by the stories that were posted from previous contests, that I thought I would like to give it a try. It was hard to click the send button, especially since I’m pretty inexperienced as a writer, but what impressed me about this contest was that you could purchase a critique on your submission. The feedback was excellent and I will use the advice to make this story and future ones even stronger.
WOW: How great that you went ahead and gave it a shot! Describe how you’re working on two novels at the same time. Anything you can share about the process? Molly: The first novel is something that I've been working on forever. This is the "I have this story in my head" route that a lot of us fledgling writers take. I started by hashing out several chapters, clueless to what I was doing. Then, frustrated, I put the story aside for awhile, only to come back to it, rewrite and hash out some more. Finally I was brave enough to take a writer's workshop and since it was the only thing I'd ever really written, I submitted a chapter to the group. I received some positive comments and some great critique and decided to try to take this writing thing more seriously.
Last fall, a member of my writing group convinced me to try Nan-No-Wri-Mo. Naively, I decided to start a whole new story. My personal challenge was to try to write straight through without going back and perfecting every paragraph. I didn't succeed, but I spent the time developing my characters and working on my plot.
So now I have two works in progress. I find when I've reached a dead end on one, it's good to put it aside for awhile and work on the other one, and then I can come back to each with a fresh perspective.
WOW: We’d love to know more about your writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going ?
0 Comments on Interview with Molly Van Norman, Runner Up in Our Winter 2011 Flash Fiction Contest! as of 1/1/1900
Congratulations to Judy Beaston for placing third in WOW!’s Winter 2011 Flash Fiction Contest! If you haven’t had a chance to read Judy’s prize-winning story, Chance Encounters, head on over to the winner’s page then hurry back to enjoy an interview with Judy.
Judy Beaston lives in Beaverton, Oregon, drawing inspiration from the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Retired, as much as any parent can be, she now spends her days penning tales short and long. Chance Encounters is her first flash fiction publication, though WritersType recently published her short story, Jason’s Triumph.
Judy hones her flash fiction skills in an online workshop at Writers Village University. In addition to short fiction works, she has a YA novel in process and enjoys spending hours on poetic compositions. When not lost in the words of her stories and poems, Judy enjoys the creative connections found playing tenor saxophone. Two grandchildren help round out her enjoyment of life.
WOW: Hi Judy, congratulations! Flash fiction is a new form for you; what are your thoughts on winning third-place in our Winter 2011 contest?
Judy: First words out of my mouth: “WOW!” I put a lot of hours into editing and revising this story. I’m delighted by the strong response Chance Encounters generated, and inspired to continue sending my writing into the world.
WOW: The time and care you put into the entry was apparent and really paid off; well done! Will you share with us the inspiration behind Chance Encounters?
Judy: I was not consciously aware of a specific inspirational spark for this story, though it did take form the day before Valentine’s Day, a day given over to special relationships. Over the years, I have grieved the loss of several close relationships. Where those relationships were intensely intimate, the grief at times manifested with an intensity that baffled logic. So, I think you could say that grief and love inspired the unfolding of this story.
WOW: I enjoyed your description of Amy’s physical sensation while being in the presence of Connor’s apparition as an “embracing stillness.” How did you come to choose that particular sensation?
Judy: In my own life, I have experienced many moments when I just knew something enveloped me, or walked with me. The sensation varies though the sense of being embraced, held, connected beyond and within is always present during those moments. I wanted to convey this energy to my readers without telling them precisely what to experience. I wanted my readers to draw from their own grief experiences and with the power of emotional energy to project those emotions on current circumstances. I believe what we most want projects upon our present reality.
WOW: Very effective, it alludes to a universally recognizable experience. Tell us how you came to the
Janel Gradowski is a wife and mother who lives among the farm fields in Freeland, Michigan. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the last 12 years, but has an Associate in Desktop Publishing from Delta College. She decided she wanted to be a writer in the fifth grade after her story about a talking car received glowing reviews from her classmates and an A grade from her teacher.
After the birth of her second child she began making jewelry. Soon after she began designing beadwork and had her first pattern published in an international beadwork magazine in 2004. Since then she has had over a dozen patterns published in magazines and online. In 2010 she switched her writing focus back to her first love, fiction. She enjoys writing micro, flash and short stories. She can often be found writing with her Golden Retriever, Cooper, napping nearby. You can find pictures of Cooper and observations on life as a writer at her blog: http://janelsjumble.blogspot.com/.
If you haven't had the opportunity, do read Janel's winning entry, A Relationship with Food, then join us for our interview with her.
Interview by Jill Earl
WOW: Hi Janel! Welcome to the Muffin and congratulations on your win! How did you develop the idea for A Relationship with Food?
Janel: I am thrilled to be a runner-up! It’s an honor to be recognized with so many other fantastic writers. A Relationship with Food came about because of a combination of two things. I love culinary fiction. I actually have a bookshelf, which happens to be overflowing, dedicated to culinary fiction books. I decided to try my hand at writing a food-centered story. At the same time I had also read a story where lists played an integral part in the plot. I loved the list idea and challenged myself to incorporate grocery lists into a story.
WOW: As a die-hard foodie, I loved reading your piece and enjoyed how the grocery lists showed the course of the character’s relationship. A clever way to create a story, and you definitely rose to the challenge! Can you tell us what your daily writing routine looks like?
Janel: During the school year, I write while my kids are in school. I’m working at setting up a writing space in the basement that I can retreat to this summer. I find that I write best in the late morning and early afternoon, after my morning coffee has kicked in. The weekends are family time, so I usually take the time off from my writing.
WOW: It’s so important to have a dedicated place to write, so here’s hoping you’ll get that writing space finished. Looks like you’ve got a good work-life balance going, too. And I’m there with you on the coffee jump-start---love that miracle liquid! Moving on to writing influences, what tools, books, authors or styles inspire you?
Janel: I am a wr
Kelly Stone Gamble holds a BA in History and Business Administration, a MA in Humanities with a Literature emphasis and is currently working toward a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications including
Alive Magazine, Family Fun, Family Digest, Family Digest Baby, Gay Today, Ladybug and
Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her fiction has won awards from
Writers Weekly, Writers Courtyard and the Ground Zero Literary Project. She has just completed the first draft of
Ragtown, a historical fiction novel set during the building of the Hoover Dam. Kelly resides in Henderson, Nevada with her husband and two sons.
To learn more about Kelly, or just to say hello, visit her at
http://www.kellystonegamble.blogspot.com/ or on facebook.
Interview by Marcia PetersonWOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in our Fall 2010 writing competition! What inspired you to enter the contest?Kelly: One of the other students in my MFA program received an honorable mention in the Summer 2010 contest. After reading the stories and the information about the contest, it sounded like fun!
WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, December?Kelly: I have a friend who is writing about her experiences in Baghdad as a Master Sergeant in the US Army and I have been deeply moved by her stories. I have never been in the Armed Forces and after reading one of her essays, I began to imagine what role I might have played had my life taken a different path. I love historical fiction, enjoy writing surprise endings and I am a Nurse, so I put it all together and came up with
December.
WOW: It's a terrific story with a twist! Since you’re currently working toward a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, maybe you could share a bit about that experience, and why you chose to pursue that path.Kelly: I hope to one day teach, and feel the MFA is an important step toward that goal. I work with an amazing group of accomplished writers-our faculty. The value of their input and critique of my work has far exceeded the cost of the education. Additionally, the SNHU program offers a real sense of community. I have made friendships that will last forever. We are a diverse group with a common interest in writing. My family is very supportive of my work, but they don’t always understand how I can spend days stressing over one sentence or one word. My friends do get that. They have become family.
WOW: We’d love to know more about your writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?Kelly: I like to write in the middle of the night and have adjusted my sleep patterns to allow for a lot of night writing time. I sometimes turn on music that is speci
Jan’s Bio:
Jan Ackerson is a retired high school teacher living with her husband and Sophie, the Demented Cat in rural Michigan. She was first published in 1962, when her poem I Like Deer appeared in her elementary school’s literary anthology. After that, she took a long break from writing, until a family crisis in 2000 drove her to find solace in the scratch of pen on paper.
Her short stories and poetry have been seen mostly on FaithWriters.com, where she has earned dozens of weekly awards. Her stories Sniggles and The Suit Jacket of Grace and her poem A Poet Rests in the 131st Psalm have placed in that site’s yearly ‘Best of the Best’ competition.
Jan is spending her retirement years traveling, playing with her granddaughter, and freelance editing. Her short stories and poetry can be found at http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=11626.
Don’t forget to check out Jan’s winning entry here, then settle in for our interview with her below.
WOW: Jan, thanks for taking time to chat with us today, and congratulations for placing in our contest! What are your thoughts about it all?
Jan: I was astounded! I have a hard time thinking of myself as a real writer; unlike most of my writing friends, I’ve never sought publication. Writing is just a hobby to me, and I entered the contest as a whim. Maybe, in some dim corner of my brain, I was hoping for some validation of my scratchings—but I never expected to do so well against accomplished writers. This feels absolutely marvelous!
WOW: Glad to hear that, you did a fantastic job with your entry! Speaking of which, how did your story ‘A Kind Woman Lives Here’ develop?
Jan: I happened across a website that showed dozens of the ‘hobo signs’ used during the Great Depression. I imagined a sweet old tramp scrawling a primitive sign on a woman’s front gate—and working backward, the story of this brief and grace-filled encounter formed itself. I’d like to imagine that my grandmother might have served such a homely meal in the same circumstances.
WOW: That’s a good example of how writers can be inspirited by just about anything, including an aspect of Depression-era society some might not be familiar with. Besides grace, I also felt a sense of peace as I read your delightful story. Well done!
Let’s turn to your writing background. Now your bio mentioned your return to writing in 2000 after a long break. Can you tell what happened to bring that about?
Jan: In October of 2000, my eighteen-year-old daughter suffered a spinal cord injury in a horseback riding accident. I’m a person who internalizes emotions, but this particular event was so earth-shattering that I really needed an outlet. I started to blog, and I found a website, FaithWriters.com, where I could post my writings in a supportive environment. The funny thing is—I’d intended to write out my rage at God, but writing became a means of emotional healing.
WOW: Thank you for sharing this with us, it must have been quite a difficult time for you and your family. I’m in agreement with you in experien
Congratulations to Madeline Mora-Summonte for placing in the Spring 2009 Flash Fiction contest with her story, "Poster Child."
Here's a little information about Madeline:
She has written poetry, personal essays, and book reviews; but her first love is fiction in all its forms--from flash to novels. Her work has appeared in over twenty publications, including Highlights for Children, Storyhouse, and Every Day Fiction. Her story, “The Empty Nest,” will be included in W. W. Norton's upcoming Hint Fiction Anthology. She attends mystery author Blaize Clement's weekly writing workshop where the talent and creativity of the group continues to amaze her. Madeline is currently busy writing and revising her women's fiction manuscript. She lives with her husband/best friend in Florida. You can visit her website at www.MadelineMora-Summonte.com.
WOW: Congratulations, Madeline, on being a runner up in the flash fiction contest. What was your inspiration for "Poster Child?"
Madeline: I’d glance at the “Missing” posters on my way into those big box discount stores, but I’d never really see them, you know? I think for many of us they do start to seem like wallpaper like the woman in the story whose own child is safe and sound and playing beneath them. One day, I just stopped and looked at them, really looked at them. Then I just kept asking myself questions: “Who else is stopping and looking?” “Why?” “What if?” And that’s when Megan appeared.
WOW: Great points. It is interesting how your story came out of something that we see every day, but only when you really stopped to think about it. Your description is amazing in "Poster Child," from the coin-operated kiddie rides to the actual description of the old MISSING posters. Was it difficult to describe everything you needed to with such few words available?
Madeline: Thank you! It’s a constant balancing act. Too much description overloads the story, and the plot and characters get lost; but too little makes the story seem set in limbo. It’s tricky, finding just the right detail and then the right amount of it. I wanted people to know that store, to have been in that store, without me naming it or describing it brick by brick. I hope I accomplished that.
WOW: You definitely did describe well for me and obviously the judges, too! Why do you enter contests? Would you suggest entering contests to most fiction writers?
Madeline: I tend to enter mostly flash fiction contests because they give me a nice, tight word count; a deadline; and sometimes, a theme. When I’m working on a novel, I’m in this murky place that seems to have no discernible framework or an end in sight. Flash fiction generally, and contests in particular, give me a structure to work within and a finish line I can see.
I think contests are a great way to stretch that writing muscle, but you also have to be aware of the scams out there. Make sure the contest is legit. Read the fine print about rights, etc. before entering.
WOW: I agree with you that contests are a great way to maybe try something new without investing a ton of time in it. It is nice to focus on more than one project at a time. I think that helps writers' block! You attend Blaize Clement's weekly writing workshop. Can you tell us a little about this? Is it like a critique group, mini-conference, writing/brainstorming time?
Madeline: I am extremely lucky to be a part of this workshop. It’s like a haven for creativity and expression. We are a diverse group: different ages, different backgrounds, different goals. But one of the things we have in common is this desire to create and to play with words and to tell stories.
Blaize, who is the author of the Dixie Hemingway mystery series (St. Martin’s Press), has created this safe place for all of that to happen. We usually do timed writing--Blaize gives a word or a phrase, anything from “a room” to “an omen”--and we write for about five minutes. Then we take turns reading aloud what we wrote. NO critiquing allowed! We can only mention something that strikes us--a great line or a vivid turn of phrase or an interesting character. If nothing strikes us, then we just move on to the next reader.
Blaize also talks about craft, and she gives us some insight into the world of publishing. We all sometimes talk about great or not-so-great books we’ve read or movies or TV shows. But it always starts and ends with the writing.
WOW: That group sounds awesome and like a lot of fun. Your description might encourage others to start a group like it in their communities! Congratulations on your publication success. What are some goals you have for yourself and your writing career?
Madeline: Thank you! Well, one of my goals is to break into the top three of a WOW! Flash Fiction Contest! Don’t get me wrong. I was thrilled to previously make Honorable Mention twice and now the Top Ten twice, but to rank higher has become a personal challenge of sorts. Although, maybe I should change my goal to be the person who makes it into the Top Ten the most times!
My writing goals are pretty much the same as they’ve always been. I want to keep writing stories and hopefully one day, novels, that move people the way I’ve been moved by the many wonderful books I’ve read, and will continue to read, in my lifetime.
WOW: (laughs) Madeline, I love your writing goals and the fact that you are going to keep entering WOW!'s flash fiction contest. Think of how many interviews you could accumulate! (smiles) Seriously, we are glad you took the time with us today to share your thoughts on writing. Good luck in your future endeavors.
Interview conducted by Margo L. Dill, http://margodill.com/blog/
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I have to admit my fiction writing skills aren't as honed as my non-fiction,so I read your entry with one eye towards the story and another towards your technique. It was a lovely story with rich detail and imagery and a heart. Well done for so few words! Let us know when you get that blog up.