Interview with Anna Paddick: Winter 2023 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Anna’s Bio: Anna Paddick is a lifelong fantasy writer and game player who loves telling stories. She has been writing since she was a small child and got her first laptop. Since then, she has been in collaborative projects and zine compilations, all of which benefited various charities across the world. When she’s not writing, she's telling her friends about what she’s writing or looking for the next animal to befriend. 

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

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Winter 2023 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story? 

Anna: What excited me most was getting to truly reflect on how I grew up and how twisted my mindset was in relation to my body image. 

WOW: Writing is such a wonderful opportunity to reflect and learn. What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece? 

Anna: It was a really difficult piece in more ways than one, but rather than teaching me about things I've worked through a lot or even my own writing, it really taught me that I am capable of writing more honest and genuine pieces, even when my main love is dragons and sword fights and castle romances. 

WOW: That is exciting that you’ve so successfully taken yourself outside of your genre comfort zone! Please tell us more about your collaborative writing projects and zine compilations. How did you get started with those projects and what were the outcomes? 

Anna: Most of them are fanworks, I won't lie! I don't remember exactly how I first heard of them; I was looking for creative outlets I think and I happened to find my first zine. I got accepted after I applied and after that I went on a kick of writing them. They've raised a lot of money for different charities and taught me so much on honing my craft, working with others, and helped me grow exponentially. 

WOW: What a great experience for worthy internal and external causes. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it? 

Anna: I haven't been able to do a lot of reading as of late, but when I have time, I've been slowly making my way through The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski. I loved the show, I love the games, it's about time I actually read the books. 

WOW: If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why? 

Anna: First of all, use paragraphs. I never used paragraphs and it drives me mad to read old works. But more importantly, I'd say don't overburden yourself. You're going to drive yourself insane if you keep trying to do all the ideas all at once. Take it slow and simple, you'll get there when you get there. 

WOW: Patience is a wonderful skill to have. Anything else you’d like to add? 

Anna: It's been a real honor to receive an award for a piece I poured a lot of myself into, and I don't take that lightly. Thank you for the opportunity. I really didn't think I'd get this far! 

WOW: You’re very welcome. Thank you for sharing your story and your thoughtful responses with us. Happy writing! 

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes and offers developmental editing and ghostwriting services to partially fund the press. Connect on Twitter @greenmachine459.