Interview with Madeline Mora-Summonte: 2010 Winter Contest Runner Up

2010 Winter Contest Runner Up

Madeline’s Bio:


Madeline Mora-Summonte has written poetry, personal essays and book reviews, but her first love is fiction in all its forms, from flash to novels. Her work has appeared in over 20 publications, including Highlights for Children, Storyhouse, and Every Day Fiction. Her story, “The Empty Nest,” is included in W. W. Norton’s Hint Fiction anthology, available November 2010.

Madeline lives in Florida with her husband/best friend and their tortoises. The little hard-shelled muses are the inspiration for, and the real stars of, her blog, The Shellshank Redemption, where she talks about all things books, reading, and writing.

Visit her website at: http://www.madelinemora-summonte.com/

If you haven't done so already, check out Madeline's award-winning story "The People We Used to Be" and return here for a chat with the author!

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the 2010 Winter Flash Fiction Contest! How did you begin writing “The People We Used to Be” and did it conclude the way you thought it would when you began writing it?


Madeline: It started as a workshop exercise with the prompt, “a smile.” The essence of the piece was all right there, this wonderful little nugget of voice and character. But there was no real “story” in what I wrote. No plot, no movement. It needed to go somewhere, whether it was to the bench where the characters ended up sitting or to a different place in the characters’ minds than where their thoughts started. So, I fleshed it out some, added a few details, gave Louise her name, that sort of thing, but then I just let the story expand and grow naturally. I listened to where the story wanted to go, where it wanted to take me and the reader.

WOW: I always find it so fascinating to hear how a writer pieces together a story, so thanks for sharing your process! What are your favorite and least favorite parts of writing a story or being a writer?

Madeline: One of my favorite parts of being a writer is that feeling when everything falls into place - the characters, the plot, the language - and you just know it. It’s this internal hum, where every part of you buzzes with focus and intensity and…rightness. (Not that I would have any idea, but I imagine it’s what athletes call being “in the zone.”)

One of my least favorite parts is explaining to people that what I do is actually work. I’m not home watching TV all day. When I am laying on the couch, staring into space, I’m usually working. In fact, I’m working a lot of the time. My brain is constantly clicking and clacking, trying to make plot points fit like puzzle pieces and moving ideas around like furniture. The writer’s brain doesn’t usually shut off. It doesn’t know it’s 6 pm and it’s time to call it a day. (My poor husband has been woken up many a night because I needed to scribble something down before I lost it!) Writing is hard but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The rewards are amazing.

WOW: That is a perfect description of how the writer’s mind is constantly turning and knows no off switch. I also agree that the feeling of having everything in your story fall into place is definitely worth all of the hard work. If you could have dinner with one famous writer, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?

Madeline: Ack! Just one? I can’t choose because there are different things I’d ask different authors. Besides, if I had dinner with a famous writer, it’d be a sure bet I’d either choke on my food or spill something on myself. Maybe instead of dinner we could meet for coffee, and I could wear something dark in case I dribbled coffee on myself…

WOW: Ha ha! That sounds like a plan! How do the books/stories you read inspire your writing?

Madeline: They inspire me to be a better writer. The “okay” books make me want to learn how to craft a stronger plot, how to pick up the pacing, etc. The “fabulous” books make me jealous - I wish I had written that! - but they also make me pay attention. What was it about the story that made me cry, smile, laugh, feel like these characters were my friends? Those are the types of books that made me want to be a writer in the first place - I want to move readers, to create that sort of reaction (the amazement, not the jealousy!) in readers the way it’s been done to me, for me, hundreds of times over.

WOW: What are the best or worst criticisms you’ve received on your writing and how did you use them to improve?

Madeline: Let’s start with the good criticisms! I’ve been told I write the perspectives of kids and old people well. (Ask me to write from the perspective of an average woman my age and forget it.) I’ve learned to listen hard - who’s telling the story? Are they telling it in first person, third person? Are they telling their story or someone else’s? Listening to the characters, instead of putting words in their mouths, is something I’m coming to understand better.

On the downside, I struggle with the technical aspects, like plotting and pacing, but I’m working on it. Also, I tend to have a heavy hand with description. One of my new mantras is: “Purple prose” is not my friend.

WOW: Thank you, Madeline, for your excellent and thoughtful answers! Best of luck with your writing!

Interviewed by: Anne Greenawalt (http://www.annegreenawalt.com/)

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5 comments Anne Greenawalt, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Kelly Thompson, Runner Up Contest Winner

Kelly Thompson has been writing non-fiction for over 20 years, working as a reporter, news editor, commercial copywriter, and in government publications. She recently decided to try her hand at fiction; this is her first writing contest and she is honored to have made it to the Top 10. Whether reading or writing, she looks for a story with sharp characters, smart dialogue, and a good twist. Her fiction has appeared in River Life, and is currently looking for other publications to grace. Her recent writing projects include a nearly completed screenplay and a novel that is patiently awaiting edits. In her non-writing hours, she stays busy doing a weekly radio show, reading, camping, shooting pool, and spending time with family and friends.

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing as one of the Runners Up in our Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest! How do you feel?

Kelly: Thank you! I'm thrilled and honored to have been chosen as a runner-up, and I'm very appreciative of the positive response to my story. After reading the other Top 10 stories, I definitely feel that I'm in good writing company. The experience has helped to reaffirm my commitment to my writing. Thank you, WOW, for making these opportunities possible.

WOW: You’re welcome, and we love your reaction! You mentioned in your bio that the WOW! contest was the first writing contest you’ve ever entered. What made you decide to do it?

Kelly: Although I've been writing non-fiction for a long time, I'm fairly new to fiction writing, especially flash fiction. I have a group of family and friends that read my work and they've been very supportive and encouraging but sometimes because they want me to succeed, they're not the most objective of critics. I felt it was important to get my writing out to a broader audience, and see how I fared against other writers. I read some of the winning entries from past WOW contests and I was impressed with the variety of the submissions, as well as the diverse experiences of the writers. I liked that the Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest was an open prompt so I could write virtually anything. After years of assignment work, it was a nice change to tell a story I wanted to tell, instead of being told what to write about. I was surprised and excited to make it to the Top 100 and blown away to make the Top 10 my first time out. Entering the contest was definitely a good move!

WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, Meet Me at Dorsky’s?

Kelly: I was intrigued by the thought that sometimes the hardest people to talk to about what's going on in your life are the people you're closest to, and the way you talk to them can determine how they react to the news. Add to that the complexity of family relationships and the desire for acceptance, and you've pretty much got the gist behind "Dorsky's". When I write, I strive to create strong characters who really have something to say and are direct in how they say it. And I personally enjoy stories that have a good twist, whether it's a subtle one that you can sort of see coming or one that springs up when you don't expect it. In "Meet Me at Dorsky's", David has an important announcement to make and chooses a unique way to make it. And by doing so, his sisters don't have time to react negatively or positively; they just react.

WOW: It was a fun story that ended up packing a real punch. You've also completed a novel and “nearly completed” a screenplay. How do you fit such big goals into a busy life?

Kelly: I never sleep! I wrote the novel and the now-completed screenplay through writing challenges sponsored by the Office of Letters and Light. Both were month-long challenges: National Novel Writing Month in which you have 30 days to write a minimum 50,000 word novel, and Script Frenzy which gives you 30 days to write a 100-page television script, screenplay, stage play, etc. Having worked in and with the media for many years, I'm a person who performs better under a deadline. They were great writing exercises because to meet the word and page goals, you're really stretching your imagination for any idea or character or scenario that might work. Initially, you don't discard anything but by the time you're finished, you weed out what works and what doesn't. Because the challenges only last for 30 days, you have to make the conscious effort to sit down and write, even if you've had a long day at work or family commitments or other things that need to get done. I did a lot of writing in the middle of the night and early mornings because that's the only free time I had to do it. It was totally worth it; I'm already thinking ahead to my second novel which I plan to write during this year's challenge in November.

WOW: Another thing that must keep you busy is your weekly radio show. What’s that like? It sounds like it could be fun!

Kelly: It's a lot of fun! I got my first radio job nearly 25 years ago and have been with my current radio station for 20 years. During that time, I've done everything from being a news director to selling advertising to writing radio commercials to being an on-air announcer. I do radio as a part-time job now, and have had "The Kelly Thompson Show" for 11 years. I love radio because it's always different and it's so spontaneous; you never know what a caller or interviewee is going to say or what big story or event is going to break while you're on the air. Some of my listeners have been with me the whole 20 years so when I flip on that mic, I feel like I'm spending 4-1/2 hours with my friends, playing our favorite music and talking about anything and everything. I hope to still be doing it for a long time to come.

WOW: It’s been a pleasure getting to know you, Kelly. One final question: If there was one bit of advice you could pass on to other aspiring writers, what would it be?

Kelly: Don't get discouraged. Realize that just because one critic or reader or editor doesn't like your work, that doesn't mean it's not worthy of being read. Like anything, reading is a matter of taste and opinion - what one person doesn't like, another person may think is fantastic. Stay organized, keep good notes, and if you think you've got a good idea, nurture it and see where it goes. The stories are out there; it's up to you to bring them to life.

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For more information about our quarterly writing contest, visit:
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

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Leave a Comment flash fiction contest winner, Kelly Thompson, Runner up, Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Interview with Laura Silver - Winter 2010 Flash Fiction 3rd Place Winner

Laura works as an administrator for the Audubon Society. Thanks to the oddities of American pronunciation, she gets to explain the difference between the Audubon, a 19th century bird artist, and the Autobahn, the no-speed-limit expressway in Europe.

A Brooklynite, Laura also volunteers for the Green-Wood cemetery. She also enjoys cooking and calligraphy.

Laura earned a degree in English from Tufts University and a Master's degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. While a student at Oxford, Laura rowed for Pembroke and Exeter colleges.

If you haven't had the opportunity to read Laura's story, Sights of Brooklyn, head over to WOW! and savor her words.

WOW: Laura, congratulations on receiving third place in WOW!s Winter 201o Flash Fiction contest. I always enjoy reading the winning entries and learning from each author's writing style. Your story, Sights of Brooklyn, is no exception! One of the interesting ties I noted between your fiction and real life is that the story is set in Brooklyn and you live there. How important is it for a piece to capture a sense of place, especially within the word limit confines of a flash piece?

Laura: Although it's not essential to a piece, especially a flash piece, setting can add greatly to a story. An exercise I've used is to strip the characters from an important scene and write only about the setting while still trying to evoke what happened there. (Describing a kitchen were someone will be murdered should probably be different than describing the kitchen where your grandmother will bake cookies.)

That said, Brooklyn was an essential choice for this story. Marianne's apathy and benumbed conscience are very much New York City character traits: in real life, just this April, a man was stabbed at 144th Street and bled to death on the sidewalk while dozens of people walked by, ignoring him. (Check out the New York Times story.) It's absolutely bone-chilling, and it's not like this is the first time it's happened. Phil Ochs wrote a song about it back in the 60's, "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends." Only in cities.

WOW: What a heartbreaking story! For me, Sights of Brooklyn makes a strong statement about humanity. What does Marianne discover about herself when she helps the man on the street?

Laura: I'm glad you asked this. I wouldn't say Marianne exactly "helps" the man on the street. It's a toss up whether or not she wants him to still be alive, because the scene is more frightening for her if he is alive. She calls 9-1-1, but that's more to salve her unease with her own conscience than to help him per sae. It's the sickening realization of this - that she doesn't connect with him as a human being until the last moment, when she's almost sure he's dead; that she's not acting as she does because she IS a good person but rather because she knows what a good person would do in the situation - that leads to her realization that she can't leave the city. Her minuscule victory against apathy is too important and it's what's needed here in the city.

WOW: I agree that apathy divides and conquers, and unfortunately, wins all too often. Writing can take on its own persona and demands. Would you share your writing process with our readers?

Laura: I wish I had one. I prefer setting days aside to do nothing but write, but with the reality of working and the necessity of errands, I tend to write in fits and starts when I can. Then when I have more time I come back to the pieces and find that some of them are terrible, but hopefully some of them will spark something.

WOW: Writing definitely becomes a balancing act. Good writers also spend a lot of time reading. You earned a Master's in Victorian Literature. How has that area of expertise helped your writing?

Laura: I'm fond of long sentences and archaic vocabulary, which probably comes from reading lots of older novels. Victorian books are written at a much slower pace than modern books - Dickens can spend three pages describing the London smog, and back then his readers just lapped it up. I think there's something valuable about realizing that you don't HAVE to follow the modern conventions - writing doesn't have to be soap operaesque melodrama and action all the time.

WOW: Wonderful advice! I'm going to remember that tidbit and put it to use. You mentioned Dickens. What authors influence you and your writing?

Laura: For my comic prose, I always go to the British humorists: Max Beerbolm, Saki, P.G. Wodehouse, and more recently Terry Pratchett. When it comes to humor, I'm definitely an anglophile - I'll defend the superiority of the original British version of the TV show "The Office" to the American version any day.

More traditionally, I love Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy (Selectively - I can't stand Jude the Obscure) . . . and I never get tired of reading Hester Thrale or James Boswell.

Before writing this story, I'd been reading a lot of Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe detective novels) and Ann Patchett. Maybe the idea for the plot came from the murder mysteries, and I only wish I'd absorbed a tenth of Ann Patchett's style.

WOW: Great influences, plus a couple authors I haven't read. I will definitely check out their work. Obviously, your reading choices have paid off! What projects are you currently working on?

Laura: I just finished a novella version of a mystery ("Death in Pieces") which needs to be expanded, but I'm going to take a break from it and do some more flash/short fiction. I have a draft of a novel set in 18th century London, but I've put it in a drawer for six years like Horace advises in his Ars Poetica. (I'm not serious, but it has been a long time since I've looked at it.)

WOW: (smiles) I'm not sure I could stay away from one of my projects that long. It sounds like you have several major projects to keep your creative juices flowing. Hopefully, you'll continue entering contests. What advice would you offer someone who is interested in starting to write flash fiction?

Laura: Write something every day. 500 - 1000 words really isn't that much, and there's nothing more important than building the habit of writing. Talent is worthless if you don't sit down and make use of it. It can be hard to generate ideas from staring out the window, so have sources of inspiration handy. A dictionary of quotations or a book of paintings can get your mind going. If that fails, open a novel, pick a random sentence, and write a new story around it.

WOW: Fantastic advice, Laura. Thank you for sitting down with The Muffin and sharing your views about writing. And again, congratulations on your successful story!

Interview by LuAnn Schindler. Follow her on Twitter @luannschindler or visit her website, http://luannschindler.com

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1 comment Laura Silver, LuAnn Schindler, Sights of Brooklyn, Winter 2010 Contest, Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest