What themes do you find yourself returning to in your writing?
childhood traumas, dysfunctional families, death.
What can make or break a flash story?
Beginnings are crucial! The reader should be able to hear the tone/voice of a story within the first two sentences. If it’s not there, the writer has some work yet to do.
What is the best (or worst) piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
I used to fret over the purpose of my writing, about its place in the world. These two quotes set me free of all of that:
“When the book leaves your hands, it belongs to God. He may use it to save a few souls or to try a few others, but I think for the writer to worry about this is to take over God’s business…” ~ Flannery O’Connor
“The work is larger than the writer. It’s smarter and truer than the writer. It can go in more mysterious places than the writer could ever go in his brain.” ~ Andre Dubus III
Both quotes suggest that the writing is beyond the writer, and I would agree with that. I don’t think that most writers know exactly how the magic works or why. We just need to trust it and not worry so much about process, purpose, or achievement.
What kind of story would you love to find in your queue this week?
I’m a sucker for magical realism and child narrators. I also have a soft spot for figurative language, but I’m open to anything. Surprise and delight me!
