interview by Marcia Peterson
WOW: Congratulations on your top ten win in our Q3 2021 Creative Nonfiction essay competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?
Krista: I get your newsletter which is always so helpful with tips, markets accepting submissions, and your own competitions! I'd been tinkering with this shorter nonfiction piece for a while and thinking about looking for a home for it when I saw the call for the Q3 essay contest. I've read some of the wonderful winning essays and fiction pieces from WOW's other contest and thought my essay might be a good fit.
WOW: Your entry, “Pineapples” is of course about pineapples, but also online dating. What inspired you to write this particular piece?
Krista: I consider myself a fiction writer but lately I've been exploring creative nonfiction. My goal was to write an object lesson and when I thought of pineapples, one of the things that came to mind was this argument about pineapples on pizza that I have had more than once with Tinder matches. So I was wondering how I could explore these two things--pineapples and online dating--simultaneously.
WOW: What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?
Krista: I'm rereading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and Neverwhere is a book I've read many times, but I like to reread it when I move somewhere new (as I've just moved to San Jose, CA). The first time I reread it, I had just moved to London, but I realized the story isn't just about London, it's about finding belonging and learning the secrets that come with really knowing and loving a place.
WOW: Can you tell us what projects are you currently working on? What can we plan on seeing from you in the future?
Krista: COVID has been a time of both low motivation and low inspiration for me. I am working on several short stories, a novella, a longer essay, and a novel but the writing has been very slow and plodding. Instead of trying to force myself to write, I've been more focused on polishing some pieces I have hidden away in files on my computer and really working on sending them out to literary magazines. My very first publication was only a year ago so I'm still trying to build momentum and get my work out there. You can find out more about my work on my website and Instagram.
WOW: Keep at it and best of luck to you! Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Krista. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?
Krista: I find it helps me to have a second creative pursuit other than writing. When I feel I need to stretch my creative muscles but words just won't come and I can't focus on editing, that's when I collage. Often it can help me get unstuck in my writing even though--or perhaps because--it has nothing to do with writing. I do feel it's important to note that you don't have to be good at drawing or painting or collaging or whatever creative outlet you choose, you just have to enjoy it.
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WOW: Can you tell us what projects are you currently working on? What can we plan on seeing from you in the future?
Krista: COVID has been a time of both low motivation and low inspiration for me. I am working on several short stories, a novella, a longer essay, and a novel but the writing has been very slow and plodding. Instead of trying to force myself to write, I've been more focused on polishing some pieces I have hidden away in files on my computer and really working on sending them out to literary magazines. My very first publication was only a year ago so I'm still trying to build momentum and get my work out there. You can find out more about my work on my website and Instagram.
WOW: Keep at it and best of luck to you! Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Krista. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?
Krista: I find it helps me to have a second creative pursuit other than writing. When I feel I need to stretch my creative muscles but words just won't come and I can't focus on editing, that's when I collage. Often it can help me get unstuck in my writing even though--or perhaps because--it has nothing to do with writing. I do feel it's important to note that you don't have to be good at drawing or painting or collaging or whatever creative outlet you choose, you just have to enjoy it.
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For more information about our quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Essay contests, visit our contest page here.
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