Interview with Lufrancia: Spring 2025 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Lufrancia’s Bio: Before she could even speak, Lufrancia was taught the alphabet by her mother—a gift which kicked off her literary journey. From that moment on, words became her world, and she dedicated time to studying seven different languages to explore it more fully. Lufrancia can't recall a time when she wasn't lost in a book, and her love of reading naturally evolved into a similar passion for writing. At eight years old, she repurposed a wide-ruled homework notebook to capture her first story. Her inaugural work featured best friends, horses who were also best friends, and (because what makes more sense?) a car crash, creating a two-page epic so theatrical it made soap operas look dull by comparison. When she isn't wandering through a library, Lufrancia enjoys writing in memoir style and experimenting with essays and screenplays. Her belief in the beauty of humanity—and in womanhood especially—forms the basis of her work. Lufrancia has come a long way since her first forays into writing, but her youthful taste for flair in storytelling has only evolved into a drive to create compelling narratives. Earlier this year, her story, “Who’s A Good Girl,” was selected as a finalist in the Next Generation Short Story Awards. 

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

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Spring 2025 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story? 

Lufrancia: I love anything related to the paranormal. I remember in third grade checking out a book of ghost stories from the school library because there’s something so delightful about that tingle of my hairs standing on end while reading an eerie tale. I also lived for several years in a house that frequently had paranormal activity, so I was excited by the idea of writing a story about an entity that lives in such a house, and exploring what view they might take of other, more malevolent visitors. 

WOW: That’s wild that you have lived experience of paranormal activity, and that you could use it to harness an award-winning story! What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece? 

Lufrancia: While writing “Atonement,” I learned just how much filler goes into my writing and how much a story can be pared down while only improving its quality! This story was initially much longer, but I distilled it down to fit within the word count of the flash fiction contest. I was concerned that the story would suffer by having all the fat trimmed off, but instead I found that the heart of the story was only strengthened by being more concise. 

WOW: Isn’t it amazing how the process of paring down a piece can really chisel it into a gem? I’m so impressed that you’ve studied seven different languages! Which languages have you studied, and in what ways do you think studying languages has affected your writing? 

Lufrancia: First, thank you! I’ve always been fascinated by words. English was my favorite subject in school, so it made sense to explore the beauty in other languages as well. I’ve studied Spanish, Italian, Croatian, Latin, Greek, Hawaiian, and most recently, Turkish. I believe the time I’ve invested in study has helped my writing because languages open up cultures. Writing, especially fiction, is all about finding the heart of people; what motivates them. And culture, or the identity of people, really plays into their goals and desires. The better I understand humanity, the more accurately I am able to get into a character’s heart and head and write from their point of view. 

WOW: Those are such interesting connections between language, culture, writing, and humanity. Thank you for sharing that insight with us. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it? 

Lufrancia: I am currently reading Schulz and Peanuts by David Michaelis. I chose to read this biography of Charles Schulz because as a writer, I am fascinated by people, and I relished the chance to learn more about the genius behind my favorite comic strip. I am inspired by how driven this man was. He always knew he wanted to cartoon, and he did not let negativity or setbacks discourage him while he worked toward that goal. His drive inspires me, since I can relate to that feeling of knowing from childhood what you want to do. Writing satisfies a deep need in me, and reading this book has helped me realize that this must be what is meant when someone says they have a calling to something. 

WOW: I have had Charles Schulz’s biography sitting on my shelf for a few years, but you may have inspired me to read that next! If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why? 

Lufrancia: I wish I had some lofty, profound advice I could give to my younger self about writing, but in reality my advice would be very prosaic. Use beat sheets! Beat sheets improved my craft exponentially. I discovered them while dabbling in screenwriting, and they changed my writing game. I use them for everything now. Beginning with a structure helps my writing process. I invariably have so many ideas when I start a project that it helps to be able to put them into a timeline. Once the story is fitted into beats—or acts—I can then bend the rules as my story needs. 

WOW: That’s such a great idea! Anything else you’d like to add? 

Lufrancia: It is such an honor to be a part of this fantastic writing contest! The critique from the editors is invaluable, and placing in the contest has been so validating to me. Thank you so much for everything you ladies do! 

WOW: You’re so welcome! Thank you so much 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. Connect on social media: @greenmachine459.

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