Saturday, 21 December 2024

Mike Wilson talks to us about his involvement with 'Good news ...?'

 


How did you hear about the Good News...?  anthology? 
I heard about the anthology through Duotrope.
 
How did you become interested in writing short stories?
 
I like the process of creating a world that is largely inferred from details in a narrative.
The constraints of doing so in a short story is different than doing it in a novel or in poetry.
 
How did you interpret our theme?
What appears to be good news has a hidden surprise.
 
Do you often  enter writing competitions?
I send work out for publication often, and have been fortunate in placing most of my stories, but
I don't enter contests that often.
 
Do you have any advice for those who would like to write short stories?
Write them. Ray Bradbury said you should write a story a week because nobody can write
52 bad stories in a row. You learn a lot about writing just from writing.
 
The other advice, which all the successful writers recommend, is read other people's writing.
It costs too much to buy all the collections of stories that are published, but you can access a lot
through public libraries. In terms of who to read, research what's recommended in new publications
or read collections from writers who win awards. As you read, notice what you like, what works, 
and figure out why. Writing is a craft and we can learn from how other people write, even if the
subject matter or genre is not one we think we're drawn to. 
 
 
Do you write in other genres?
Yes. I write novels, a lot of poetry, and memoir, as well as stories. 
 
Are you working on a projects at the moment?
I have a novella I need to finish. 
 
Do you have any events planned?
Not at the moment. I have a collection of poetry, Arranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic,
that I sometimes plug at local events. I have some prose manuscripts under consideration.
I probably won't have an event just about me until I have another book to promot.
 

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