--- Interview by Angela Mackintosh
WOW: I absolutely love your story for its action, lyricism, and creative format. What inspired “Amygdala”?
Myna: Thank you! I came up with the basic idea when my dog needed to go outside in the middle of the night. While I waited for him to do his business, I heard a weird noise at my garage door. It was only a rabbit, but I wondered: what if I really did catch someone trying to break in? Then I started to feel sorry for this hypothetical burglar, because, of course, I’d beat him ruthlessly with that garden rake my husband keeps leaving outside. Like most moms, I’d do anything necessary to prevent a bad guy from gaining access to my sleeping family. And then I realized a full-on brawl with a robber might be a foolish choice for a middle-aged woman in fuzzy slippers. I typed out the first draft of the story the next morning.
WOW: It's such a gift when life moments inspire stories! The backstory moved me—how you expertly wove it into the forward momentum/action. It’s complex, and I feel for Mrs. B, who tragically lost her husband and son. Since I have you here, I’m dying to know what the “hooligan” was doing there, breaking into Mrs. B’s house?
Myna: In my mind, the hooligan is simply trying to find shelter for the night. I think he was once friends with Mrs. B’s son, so he’s been a guest at the house before and is trying to remember the garage door code. He’s a troubled runaway, not yet a criminal, and he needs someplace safe to sleep.
WOW: That's interesting to know! Since he was a friend of Mrs. B's son, I had several possible scenarios in my mind, so thank you for sharing that. One-sentence stories are tough to write, and you just took it to the next level with “Amygdala”! I’ve tried this form before and the hardest part for me was the transitions. What are some tips you can share with writers who want to try this format?
Myna: Transitions are so hard in breathless flash! It’s tempting to string everything together with “and.” I allow myself to do just that in my first draft. Getting the rush of words on the page is the most important thing, I think, so the emotion and momentum are not lost. Then editing the transitions is where the hard work comes in. I look for opportunities to turn those “ands” into specific actions or emotions. When that doesn’t fit, I try to vary the connecting words and punctuation so it doesn’t feel too repetitive. Sometimes it works!
WOW: Well, your transitions sparkle! So hard to do, and this is why I love chatting with flash authors, to find out more about their work. I know you do that too with your fantastic blog, MicroVerse, which I subscribe to. I recommend all flash writers check it out! When did you start it and what’s your mission? Please tell our readers about some of your regular features.
Myna: You’re so kind! I’m glad you’re enjoying MicroVerse! I read a lot of stories and I love to share them with my writing friends. I thought it might be fun to formalize this sharing process with a monthly roundup of great speculative flash. I try to choose 10 or 12 flash pieces that wow me with fresh ideas, a distinct voice, or vibrant language. I feel like speculative flash doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves, so I hope MicroVerse will entice more readers into becoming dedicated spec flash fans. I also interview authors, editors, and publishers about their work in the speculative community. I want folks to find encouragement and inspiration when they visit MicroVerse.
WOW: It is very encouraging, Myna! You also created a vibrant and successful group on Bluesky called Electric Sheep. I remember in a Friday Speak Out post, you mentioned creating it because book clubs only discuss full-length novels and critique groups mostly focus on WIPs. I think it’s a fabulous idea to focus on short pieces. What is the group up to right now? Any exciting events?
Myna: We just celebrated our fourth birthday! We’ve hosted Q&A sessions with almost 100 guest authors and editors, and read hundreds of short speculative stories for in-depth discussion. Our upcoming guest list includes award-winning science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers, as well as editors from premier magazines. We also have several special topic discussions coming up, covering world building techniques, slipstream examples, and speculative poetry. Our main goal is to have fun, but we also hope to provide support for short story authors and the magazines that publish them. Our membership is capped to ensure everyone in the group can easily participate in the Zoom discussions, but we encourage everyone to read along with us and join the conversation on Bluesky.
WOW: Fantastic! You're so busy, and I’m always curious about writer’s schedules. Do you have a favorite time to write? What are some of your writing rituals?
Myna: I feel more creative early in the morning, when the house is quiet and I haven’t yet been distracted by the horrors of the daily news cycle. I’m at my best with a large cup of coffee and a large keyboard (not that dinky laptop keyboard that makes me feel like I have clumsy sausage fingers).
WOW: Ha! That's what I call my partner's fingers—sausage fingers or spatulas. Morning is also my favorite time to write. You’ve been so successful at winning contests (including first place in several WOW! contests) and have a busy publishing schedule. I’m curious about your submission practice. Do you have a submission routine? Any tips you can share for targeting contests?
Myna: I love the process of evaluating contests and magazines. Does the market have a general vibe that matches my work? Do I enjoy reading the stories they’ve published? Do the folks in charge have a strong track record of professionalism and integrity? As far as a submission routine, I have a loose goal of publishing every story I write. Of course, that’s a ridiculous goal. Lots of stories end up in my “abandon all hope” folder. But I’m willing to do significant editing and rewriting before I give up on a piece. I prefer markets that allow simultaneous submissions, and I usually have a story out to three markets at a time. When a rejection comes in, I immediately submit to the next market on my list.
WOW: Great tips, Myna! Thank you so much for sharing with our readers today, and I will be following your work, as always!
Check out the latest WOW writing contests:
0 comments:
Post a Comment