Heidi Scholes graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and went on to have a wonderfully varied career. From driving a taxi to managing a technical writing department, it all encouraged her creativity. She wrote stories and poems starting in grade school, but got serious a few years ago when she became active in an online writers group. While plugging away at a novel, Heidi sharpens her skills with short stories and especially likes flash fiction. This is her first competition. Her poems have been published in an anthology.
If you haven’t done so already, check out Heidi’s award-winning story “Served Cold” then return here for a chat with the author!
WOW!: Congratulations on placing 3rd in the WOW! Winter 2016 Flash Fiction Contest! What was the inspiration for your short story, or what prompted you to write it?
Heidi: The inspiration for “Served Cold” was in response to a set of prompts from my online writing group. There were other elements that were required at the time, but I found they actually detracted from my story. I spent quite a bit of time editing out those elements and honing the story. I like to play with words, but sometimes the shortest stories can take the longest to edit.
WOW!: That’s so true! It’s great you were able to recognize what detracted from the story you wanted to tell. What about your longer works? Will you tell us more about that novel you’re writing?
Heidi: I’m actually working on two novels, and I switch back and forth whenever I need a break. One will probably be YA, and is about an unlikely friendship between two young women. It’s set in medieval times and involves magic. The other is a Sci-Fi story about brain implants.
WOW!: Oh, fascinating! It might not be long until brain implants are no longer sci-fi! What do you enjoy the most and/or the least about writing?
Heidi: I love it when the muse comes by and I can sit and the words just flow through my fingers. It’s a heady adrenaline rush. My least favorite things are when I struggle with writers block, the ideas don’t come or I paint myself into a corner and can’t find my way out.
WOW!: Very poetically stated. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?
Heidi: I just started reading The Cicada Prophecy by J. R. McLeay. And I’m almost done with listening to the audio version of the Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova.
WOW!: Thanks for the recommendations. If you could give other creative writers one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
Heidi: I’m probably not experienced enough to give other writers advice, but the best advice I’ve gotten is: Keep Writing! Just like any skill, you need to practice, practice, practice. And read! Ok, that’s two pieces of advice so I’ll stop there, but both are equally important.
WOW!: Excellent! Those are the pieces of advice I keep hearing too, and it’s great inspiration to keep hearing them. Anything else you’d like to add?
Heidi: I want to add a hearty Thank You to Judge Brooke Warner and everyone at WOW! Women on Writing for giving me this opportunity. Your kind words and encouragement mean a great deal to me.
WOW!: Thank you, Heidi, for your thoughtful responses. Happy writing!
Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, writer and writing instructor
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