Interview with Julianne Pierce: Fall Contest Runner Up

Julianne’s Bio:

Julianne Pierce is a graduate of the Film and Television Studies program at California State University in Los Angeles. She lives in New York City and currently works in Television Research. An avid reader and a lover of great stories, this is her first flash fiction contest.

If you haven't done so already, check out Julianne's award-winning story "Reflection" and then return here for a chat with the author!

WOW!: Congratulations on placing in the Fall Flash Fiction Contest! How did you begin writing this story, or what was your inspiration for it?
 

Julianne: The story actually came about as an assignment in a Short Fiction class I was taking.  The instructor told us to imagine a light on in a bedroom window and what was taking place inside.  The idea just grew from there.

WOW!: It's always so fascinating to hear how ideas are sparked and to see how they grow.  What do you enjoy most about writing?
 

Julianne: I struggle a great deal through the actual process, always trying to find the perfect words to express my thoughts, but the accomplishment I feel when I’ve finished is tremendous. When I get stuck, I think of the Dorothy Parker quote, “I hate writing, I love having written.”

WOW!: Haha, very nice quote! What is the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
 

Julianne: An instructor once told me that conflict is central to any great piece of writing.  He said to always remember that if the characters were having a great time, the reader probably wasn’t.

WOW!: Excellent advice.  I'll have to remember that! What are you reading right now, and why did you decide to read it?
 

Julianne: Right now I’m reading “Breaking Out of Bedlam: A Novel” by Leslie Larson.  The main character is a spunky octogenarian in a nursing home, who is planning her escape from the facility.  I thought the idea and the character were so original, I had to buy the book. 

WOW!: If you could have dinner with one author, dead or alive, who would you choose and why? 

Julianne: I think a conversation with Agatha Christie would be fascinating.  She broke new ground in many areas, as a woman and as an author.

WOW!: Thank you for your thoughtful responses to our questions!  Congratulations again, and happy writing!

Interviewed by: Anne Greenawalt