42 Stories Anthology Presents: Glenna Turnbull Interview

 

Glenna Turnbull won the Runner Up Award Winner in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to History chapter for 

PICKING UP

A HITCHHIKER ON HER WAY TO WORK

BAM: Hi, Glenna. Where are you located?

Glenna: Kelowna, BC, Canada

BAM: Where is your writing space?

Glenna: Wherever I am with my laptop.

 

BAM: Tell me some random favorites of yours.

Glenna: My favourite authors are Michael Crummey, Michael Ondaatje, Esi Edugyan and Mirian Toews. My favourite drink is water and my favourite place and island is Newfoundland.

 

BAM: Interesting. Coffee or tea or something else?

Glenna: Tea.

 

BAM: Okay. Now, about writing. Writers, whether they realize it or not, have a message for readers. Is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing, which might appear in your writing?

Glenna: There are SO many things I wish we would stop doing, but wars and polluting the planet are key.

 

BAM: I feel like if humans dealt with pollution, many wars would end. Not all, though. What’s the best way to write?

Glenna: To actually sit and write and accept the fact you will have a shitty first draft.

 

BAM: True. How do you relax?

Glenna: Knitting and spinning wool.

 

BAM: Hmm. What's your greatest achievement in writing?

Glenna: I just had my debut novel accepted for publication by the publishing house I was hoping for.

  

BAM: Great news. Let me know when I can read it. What inspires you to write?

Glenna: It’s not so much what inspires me, it’s more like a compulsion to write. I’ve been writing since I was a child when my grandfather would take me up to his study with my brother and sister, and we’d make up funny stories.

 

BAM: A wonderful grandfather to push laughter and creativity on you. So, as a writer, what do you do to overcome writer's block?

Glenna: The best way to get over writer’s block is to do something else creative or go for a long walk in the forest with no distractions—no phone, no music, just walking in the trees. 

Biography:

Glenna’s short fiction has appeared in many literary magazines. She won the 2023 Jacob Zilber Fiction prize and has a short story in the upcoming Best Canadian Short Fiction 2025. Her novel, Finding Sally’s Cove, is due out shortly with Breakwater Press.

 

Social media:

@WriteBrainGirl on X

@glennaturn on Instagram

42 Stories Anthology Presents: S. L. Kretschmer

S. L. Kretschmer won the Runner Up Award in the Clown chapter for

THE SORROWFUL MUSINGS OF A DEJECTED CLOWN

 

BAM: S. L., could you tell readers what other pen names you used in the anthology so that they can read more of your works in the book? 

S.L.: S. Lee Kay and S. L. Briese

 

BAM: Where are you located? 

S. L.: South Australia.

 

BAM: Nice. I've got friends in Australia. Where is your writing space?

S. L.: My home

 

BAM: What are some of your favorite books?

S. L.: The Bell Jar, Boy Swallows Universe.

BAM: Just read The Bell Jar. It opened up some wounds about my sister, but it's good to get a different perspective of life. Who are some of your favorite artists?

S. L.: Margaret Preston, Frida Kahlo.

BAM: What are you go-to drinks as you write or relax? 

S. L.: Japanese, Vietnamese, Champagne

BAM: I'm making some umeshu now for the first time. It takes a year or so. By the way, what are some places you like?

S. L.: Hoi An, London, Flinders Chase (Kangaroo Island).

 

BAM: Going to remember the last one for when I visit Australia. Do you have a writer circle?

S. L.:

I’ve been a part of the most amazing online writing group for several years. It was through a writing competition that I was introduced to the group, and the support, genuine care, commiserations and cheering on have been instrumental in my writing journey. I’m excited to say there are several fellow members who also feature in this wonderfully inventive anthology.

 

BAM: Great to know. The goal of this book was to overall publish writers. Many writers struggle, and I wanted to motivate them to try. On that note, if you ever get writer's block, how do you overcome it?

S. L.:

I find entering competitions where prompts are provided is the best remedy for me to get the creative juices flowing. I don’t feel so much pressure to come up with something ‘novel’ myself, but rather let the prompt gods decide where my story should go.

 

BAM: Great advice, which I hope readers, who are writers, too, try. What was the first story you ever wrote about? 

S. L.: One of my first stories was written when I had just begun my BA in Creative Writing. It was a story for children, and the lecturer wrote (amongst other things) that I should consider sending it to The School Magazine, a periodical that goes out to public school children in New South Wales. I submitted it, and several months later found out that it was accepted. The story was illustrated and featured on the front cover of the issue. It was a rude shock to discover over the years that getting published is a lot harder than my initial first submission!

 

Biography:

S. L. Kretschmer is a Zumba loving librarian who tries hard not to confuse the two; sometimes without success. She has a BA in Creative Writing and Grad. Cert. in Museum studies. This manifests itself in a penchant for story-telling and exploring museums.

 

Social media links: instagram.com/sharonlkretsch X (formerly Twitter) @SLKay4

 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Suzanne Baginskie Interview

 

Suzanne Baginskie won the Runner-Up Award Winner in the Thriller/Suspense Chapter for

THERAPIST COUNSELING WITH VIRTUAL SESSIONS

BAM: Hi Suzanne, what are your nom de plums in the anthology? 

Suzanne: Susan Baginskie, S. A. Baginskie, Sue Baginskie.

BAM: Where are you located?

Suzanne: Hudson, Florida, U.S.A.

BAM: Where is your writing space? 

Suzanne: I write in a small home office on a roll-topped desk.

 

BAM: Let's start with some questions about you. Could you tell me what favorite film is?

Suzanne: Film, The Wizard of Oz

BAM: I've heard it was all a dream. What's your preferred drink before writing?

Suzanne: French Vanilla Coffee

BAM: Yummy. What's your favorite band? BAM: 

Suzanne: The Rolling Stones.

BAM: They're great. What's your favorite thing to do on vacation?

Suzanne: I also love cruising the islands

BAM: My fiancée and I went island hopping ing the Philippines in 2023. It was amazing. Let's talk about your writing now. So, what got you into writing?

Suzanne: My mother gave me a five-year diary.

BAM: A good gift. What's your greatest achievement in writing?

Suzanne: My four book, traditionally published, FBI Affairs Series.

 

BAM: That's on my reading list. Thanks for the reminder. 

 

Biography:

Suzanne Baginskie retired from a law firm as an office manager. She’s sold mysteries and

romance and also twenty non-fiction stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her work

appears in Woman’s World, Plan B Magazine, First Magazine and Cat Magazine, etc.

Social media: www.suzannebaginskie.com

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Renee Cronley Interview

 

Renee Cronley won an Honourable Mention Award in the Siblings chapter for 

SISTERS DON’T KEEP SECRETS FROM EACH OTHER

BAM: Where are you located, Renee? 

Renee: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

BAM: Where do you write? Do you have a preferred space?

Renee: Wherever I can! I love writing outdoors (weather permitting, of course.)

  

BAM: Who are some of your favorite authors? 

Renee: My love for literature spans across different eras and genres. Authors like Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery, Jane Austen, Marissa Meyer, Oscar Wilde, Anne Rice, and Stephen King are some of my favourites. And I will always have a soft spot for the authors that inspired me to want to be a writer, such as L. J. Smith, R. L. Stine, and Christopher Pike.  

 

BAM: I asked Stephen King if he wanted to be a judge for this anthology. His assistant replied, "Mr. King doesn't give advice." So, the writer doesn't seem to read emails. Interestingly, in his book On Writing, he says that if a writer ever has advice, they should email him. I was put off by that experience to say the least, but he's still one of the best living writers. You named some other greats. What about art? Are there any artists whose work you particularly admire?

Renee: In my childhood, my mom’s books and the beautifully illustrated vintage calendars served as my gateway into the enchanting world of classical Renaissance art. Among my favorites are renowned artists such as Masaccio, Donatello, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Agnolo Bronzino. 

 

BAM: You named the Ninja Turtles along with a few others. They're all talented. Let's turn to music. Who are some of your favorite musicians that you enjoy listening to?

Renee: My musical preferences were heavily influenced by the alternative rock era of the 90s. Bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Nine Inch Nails, and The Smashing Pumpkins dominate my favorites list. Additionally, I have a strong affinity for 80s classic rock, including Def Leppard, ACDC, Guns and Roses, Joan Jett, and Metallica.

 

BAM: Cool. Most of the ones you mentioned are often my choices for workout music. What are a few of your preferred sweet treats?

Renee: When it comes to indulging in something sweet, the allure of candy has always been stronger for me than baked goods. My favourites are purple licorice, Laffy Taffy, Caribbean Tropical Fish, Sour Grape Slices, Swedish Berries, Swedish Fish, Red Dino Sours, Wine Gums, Fuzzy Peaches, and Sour Cherry Blasters.

 

BAM: Quite a sweettooth. For novice writers, how do you handle story rejection, and celebrate acceptance?

Renee: I dedicated significant time and effort to understanding the submission process when I first began sending out my work. In doing so, I realized just how common rejection was, so I was prepared for it. Upon learning about rejections, I realized that there are multiple factors at play, such as not matching the market, competing with similar stories, not appealing to their taste, being the wrong length, not following guidelines, etc. I learned that none of these rejections should be taken personally, as there are numerous places to find a home for a piece. Of course, I can still feel a pang of disappointment when I receive an initial rejection, but I quickly move on. I have an online writers’ group where I share my victories and vent about my disappointments. The presence of fellow writers who truly grasp the range of emotions tied to both victories and rejections is incredibly significant to me.

 

BAM: A great way to look at rejection. If you could inspire thousands of writers in 42 words, what would you write?

Renee: Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that reading fiction doesn’t teach anyone anything. Fiction allows us to form emotional attachments to characters unlike ourselves and navigate the world through their perspective. This, in turn, fosters empathy and cultivates critical thinking skills.

 

Biography:

Renee Cronley is a writer who studied psychology and English at Brandon University and nursing at Assiniboine Community College.  Having stepped away from nursing to prioritize her children, she’s been channeling her knowledge and experiences into a poetry book about nursing burnout.

 

Social media:

Renee can be found at 

https://www.reneecronley.com   

https://www.instagram.com/reneecronley/ 

https://twitter.com/ReneeCronley 

https://www.facebook.com/renees.writing.page 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Jay "JC" Cannon Interview

 

(Jay  "JC" Cannon, in the Bahamas)

Jay "JC" Cannon won an Honorable Mention Award in the War chapter for 

COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS A CONSEQUENCE OF WAR

BAM: JC, what pen names did you use in the anthology?

JC: Jay Cannon, JC Cannon, Jorré
 
BAM: Where are you located? 

JC: Washington, D.C.
 
BAM: Where is your writing Space? 

JC: My couch at home.
 
BAM: Who do you write to when you picture your reader, or who is your target audience? Why?

JC: I write for myself, avoiding extreme views. I use sensitivity or SMEs for areas outside my expertise.

 

BAM: Ah, subject-matter experts. Got it. Is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing that, in a subtle way, could appear in your writing?

JC:
Stop multiplying to excess.
Stop trashing the environment.
Stop seeing large amounts of money as a career goal and seek a career that permits you to provide a positive impact on society.

BAM: The second one is a big deal for me. Smokers make me furious, for example. On another note, is there a deceased or living writer you want to meet?
JC: S. A. Cosby.

BAM: He's a southern noir writer, among other topic. JC, on editing, do you edit alone, have a friend read your work, or do you hire a professional editor?
JC: I edit my book alone twice before sending it out to friends to read. I then have a professional editor review it before having it published.
 
BAM: Nice strategy. Tell me about your story outline process.
JC:
I first attempt to understand the arc of the story and the underlining messages I want to present to the reader. I place large sheets of paper on a wall describing an overview of each chapter. I review the papers alone or with friends, changing the papers until I am happy with the results.
I use a PowerPoint to capture the notes from the sheets of paper in timeline format, using blocks to describe important, high-level moments in the story.

BAM: Tell me more.
JC: I start with a long timeline to capture the arc of the entire book.

BAM: What else?

JC: I then write a timeline for each chapter in the book. 

BAM: Then?

JC: As I write, I go back to the PowerPoint to ensure I have not missed any important points and update the timelines as needed.

BAM: Very sound strategy. If you ever get writer's block, how do you overcome it?
JC: I outline each chapter to give me a roadmap of what to write. If I get stuck within a chapter, I go back to the outline to see what is missing.
I switch to a different unfinished chapter or review another chapter in hopes of removing the block.

BAM: Cool. Anything else?

JC: I walk and think about what I feel is missing from the story. I read a book of the same genre to relax my mind and renew my creativity.

BAM: I've learned so much from you during this interview, JC. If you could inspire thousands of writers in 42 words, what would you write? 
JC: If you have a bold idea for improving the world or a horrible mental burden you wish to release or a meaningful experience you wish to persist after you are gone; write it down. Then share it with readers for their edification.
 
Biography:
Jay Cannon grew up in the projects, worked on aircraft carriers, became a programmer in the US, England, France and Sweden; ending up at Microsoft. After retiring JC, became a Congressional staffer and later moved to DC where he writes science fiction.

Social media: 

https://www.jaycannonauthor.com/
https://twitter.com/JayCannonAuthor 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Joe Kilgore Interview

 

(Thunder Mountain Sunset: Sedona, Arizona, by ChristopherChan)

Joe Kilgore won the Story of Excellence Award in the Western chapter for 

SOME DREAMS DIE 

EVEN HARDER THAN DESPERADOES

BAM: Where are you located, Joe?

Joe: Austin, Texas.

BAM: Oh? I'm originally from Houston. Where's your writing space?

Joe: My home.

 

BAM: Bet you have a large bookshelf, working from home and all. What are some of your go-to books?

Joe: The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler — Paris Trout by Pete Dexter — Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry  

BAM: The Long Goodbye brings back good memories of creative writing class in my University of Houston days. So, when you sit with a book, what's something you have near you?

Joe: Pinot Noir.

BAM: When you're not reading or writing, what are some movies you might watch to take a break? Some of your favorites.

Joe: Lawrence of Arabia — It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World. 

BAM: It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World was epic. I miss movies where they took a sad truth and made a comedy about it to show people how ridiculous the world is, and laugh. Do you have any favorite places that inspire your writing?

Joe: Sedona, Arizona.

BAM: Will check it out one day. Do you have a writer circle?

Joe: No.

BAM: Okay. Who do you write to when you picture your reader, or who is your target audience?

Joe: Me. I write what I like to read.

BAM: Perfect sense. By the way, are you always a sipping Pinot Noir, or is there something else? 

Joe: Coffee & wine.

BAM: Got it. Now a more serious question. Many writers, whether they know it or not, tell readers in a subtle way something they want to change about the world. On that note, is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing? 

Joe: Hating one another.

BAM: I'll keep that in mind the next time someone smoking a cigarette next to a no smoking sign, where children play, gets me angry. Long story short, I yelled at a smoker the other day. Anyway, back to you. What’s the best way to write?

Joe: Sitting down.

BAM: Funny. How do you relax?

Joe: Watch movies.

BAM: Movies are a great way to relax. What's the best animal on Earth?

Joe: Dog because it's God spelled backwards.

BAM: True. What's your greatest achievement in writing?

Joe: My magnum opus, A Farmhouse in the Rain.

BAM: It's on my reading list. You describe it as being about "War and peace. Crime and punishment. Love and loss. And finally, hope" during WW2. I actually just listened to Catch 22, and am eager to read something else that took place around the same timeframe. Can't wait to read your book. So, what got you into writing, Joe?

Joe: Reading.

BAM: Okay. Then, name some books you read recently.

Joe: In the Miso Soup

BAM: You've read Ryu Murakami's Miso Soup? That's another one on my reading list. Got to read it soon, then. So, when did you realize you liked writing?

Joe: When I determined I could do it relatively well.

BAM: Tell me, do you watch or listen to anything while writing? 

Joe: No.

BAM: Is anyone in your family a writer?

Joe: Only me.

BAM: All right. What deceased or living writer do you want to meet?

Joe: Graham Greene.

BAM: Oh. He died, I think, in 1991 at about 86. I should reread The Power and the Glory, soon. Graham won so many awards. On that note, what's the greatest writing award you hope to win?

Joe: A boatload of money

BAM: Well, I can give you $.42 for winning the Story of Excellence Award. It will fit on a boat, but not fill one. I digress. Are any of your friends writers?

Joe: No.

BAM: Who is the author you vehemently hate, and why?

Joe: None come to mind.

BAM: Well, are you in a writer's group part of a workshop?

Joe: No

BAM: Hmm. What's the most drafts you've written for a story?

Joe: More than 10.

BAM: Some writers do hundreds of drafts. What are your main distractors while writing?

Joe: Dogs and cats.

BAM: Speaking of pets, what is your main pet peeve in writing?

Joe: Deciding what next project to begin.

BAM: Okay. On editing, do you edit alone, have a friend read your work, or do you hire a professional editor?

Joe: Alone . . .Then professional editor.

BAM: What inspires you to write?

Joe: Reading other writers inspire me to write. The best of those writers are Graham Greene, Raymond Chandler, Malcolm Lowry, Pete Dexter, Cormac McCarthy, and Jim Thompson. I am inspired to keep writing in hopes my work will entertain others and make their lives a little more livable.

BAM: You mentioned some great authors. Many of them struggled with writer's block. What do you do to overcome it?

Joe: I get more writer's haze than block. Fogginess about where to go, how to move the plot along, etc. Nothing helps clear things up and provide more options than walking. A good two-mile walk always seems to provide actionable ideas.

Biography:

Kilgore is an award-winning writer of novels, novellas, screenplays and short stories. His work has appeared in books, magazines, creative journals, online literary publications, and anthologies. Joe lives and writes in Austin, Texas.

 Social media: https://joekilgore.com  

A reader who likes intrigue will enjoy his book Misfortune's Wake, which can be found at info@encirclepub.com

 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Christopher David Airiau Interview

 

Christopher David Airiau won the Story of Excellence Award in the Steampunk chapter for 

A BROKEN DOWN AUTOMATON SENSES ITS SAVIORS

BAM: What were pen names you used in the Anthology?

Christopher: T. Christopher David and

David Christopher Urania.

BAM: Which chapters can readers find those stories?

Christopher: Alternate Reality and Apocalyptic.

 

BAM: Where are you located?

Christopher: Alsace, France

 

BAM: Where is your writing space?

Christopher: Standing desk in home office.

 

BAM: Who are some authors you keep returning to? 

Christopher: Iain M. Banks, Octavia Butler, Samuel Delany, Ursula K. Le Guin, N.K. Jemisin, Kim Stanley Robinson, George Saunders.

 

BAM: George Saunders? One of my creative writing teachers in the 2010s was obsessed with his work. Actually, I asked Saunders to be one of the judges for this anthology. Unfortunately, he never replied. Some other well-known authors luckily did. Okay, back to you. Who are some artists you like?

Christopher: Carly A-F, Paul Enami, Holly Jencka, Daniel Locke, Patrick Loveland, Strega Wolf van den Berg, Brandon Yu.

 

BAM: I'll have to look some of them up.  Thanks. What are some foods you like?

Christopher: Une baguette fraîche et chaude, lentilles vertes au saucisses de Morteau, un vieux comté, the Gonzalez family taco recipe, Deep dish pizza 

BAM: For those who do not know, the first one is a type of sausage dish. The second is cheese. Tacos are tacos. The last one is the best kind of pizza on Earth. What about most writers' favorite momentary distraction, drinks?

Christopher: Des vins rouges de Bourgogne and IPA. 

 

BAM: I trust someone in France when it comes to wine, so I'll have to try the first drink you mentioned. What about musical interests? Who do you like?

Christopher: Talking Heads, Janelle Monáe, Parliament, Hot Snakes, Sweeps, Kamasi Washington, Waveshaper

 

BAM: What are some movies you like?

Christopher: Parasite, Au Poste !, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Memento, Star Trek.

 

BAM: A fellow Trekkie. Nice. Are there any places that inspire creativity from you?

Christopher: La taverne française, the “frisbee lawn” at l’UdS, Secret Flatrock, SOMA, #mothership-game-night, the Lost Bay, on my bike with my favorite co-pilot.

 

BAM: Cool. Speaking of co-pilots, do you have a writer circle?

Christopher: I am currently participating in a ttrpg writing circle, which includes six people over six timezones. Each three weeks, one person submits a work, during which the other writers give feedback and discuss the writing and game mechanics.

 

BAM: TTRPG, for readers unaware, means table-top role-playing game. In this context, you rotate stories. Fascinating. With so many people seeing your work, who do you write to when you picture your reader. Your target audience.

Christopher: Depends on the piece. Often, I am writing for a submission or on commission, so the audience is rather clearly defined in advance.

 

BAM: What's your sidekick-writer drink, coffee or tea or something else?

Christopher: Huge morning filter coffee, and sometimes some Earl Grey in the afternoons.

 

BAM: Some writers have a message for the world. In some cases, they don't even realize this fact. For you, is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing, which, maybe even in a subtle way, you present to the reader in your stories?

Christopher: All forms of violence against one another and the planet.

 

BAM: Totally agree. Except that I think smokers should be punched in the face for poisoning babies, animals, and the planet. Kind of joking about the violence, kind of not. At any rate, in regard to your style, could you recommend to novice writers the best way to write?

Christopher: Whatever works best for the writer. This is a process of learning the craft that is individual to everyone. Always be wary of folks who tell you they “know the way” to best do anything.

 

BAM: Makes sense. Hey, how do you relax after a long week of writing?

Christopher: HAHAAHAHAHA

 

BAM: Funny. Okay. What's your greatest achievement in writing?

Christopher: My greatest achievement has yet to come! But to date, probably my first full-length Mothership RPG adventure module, Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones.

 

BAM: Oh. Then, what got you into writing?

Christopher: I’ve always loved making up stories. As the eldest child of four, and frequently the oldest kid in the apartment complex, it sort of became my “job” to make up the games and the stories that went with them. In 4th grade, we had a creative writing assignment, and I don’t think I ever really quit writing weird sci-fi stuff since then.

 

BAM: In that case. Tell me some books you read recently.

Christopher: The Only Good Indians, by Stephen Graham Jones, The Chronicles of Morgaine by C.J. Cherryh, Babel by R.F. Kuang, Classic Traveller by Marc Miller, The Tide World of Mani by Joel Hines.

 

BAM: Well read. Do you play music, or watch anything, too?

Christopher: Instrumental-only music, picked based on vibes. Lots of dark ambience and synthwave, recently.

 

BAM: Is anyone in your family a writer?

Christopher: My ma wrote a book when she was in her early 20s.

 

BAM: Interesting. How about this question: What deceased or living writer do you want to meet?

Christopher: Never meet your heroes, right? 

BAM: Right. Although, I have a feeling Edgar Allan Poe and I would've been friends, as we share a lot of commonalities. We'd've probably complained to each other about our eyebag problem and made an eyebag club.

Christopher: I dunno. It probably would have been grand to have a pint with Iain M. Banks.

 

BAM: Quite an award-winner you named. Banks won, for example, in 1991 Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis for The Bridge. Christopher, what's the greatest writing award you hope to win?

Christopher: I try to focus on the work at hand rather than target lofty goals.

BAM: I see. Who is the author you vehemently hate, and why?

Christopher: Hate is bad for your heart.

BAM: Makes sense. Are any of your friends writers?

Christopher: My great friendships with Justin Tyler Chandler and Jeremy Allan Hawkins have been vital for me to maintain focus on the craft. Chandler has published short fiction, and written two unpublished novels, and Hawkins has published several poetry chapbooks and many poems across the literary sphere. They are both also musicians.

 

BAM: Great to have friends who understand your life. Are you in a writer's group or workshops?

Christopher: In addition to the current game writers workshop, I have been part of the Indiana University Fiction Writer’s Workshop, a co-founder of the Contemporary Anglophone Literature Collective, and founder of the Strasbourg Science Fiction & Fantasty Writer’s Workshop.

 

BAM: Okay. Random question time. What were the most drafts you've written for a story?

Christopher: CALCULATION ERROR: APPROACHING INFINITY.

 

BAM: Relatible. What are your main distractors while writing?

Christopher: Everything. ADHD be hard, yo.

 

BAM: Yeah. Well, on editing, do you edit alone, have a friend read your work, or do you hire a professional editor?

Christopher: Edit alone, have friends or a workshop read over stuff when I can, and I’ve hired pro editors for my game releases.

 

BAM: What about writer's block? How do you overcome it?

Christopher: In most cases, my writer’s block is due to my ADHD inhibiting me from starting. Details and sequencing become overwhelming, and I lose sight of that line between what the character wants and what the story needs.

BAM: Tell me more.

Christopher: The best way for me to overcome this sort of writer’s block is to change the medium. I leave the computer, or even the home office, and move my thoughts into notebook scribbles or at a café on my markdown machine. These notes tend to be a conversation with myself, an internal debate. I’m not just sitting still and trying to think, my ideas fight each other until there’s a KO or common ground is found. It’s weird, I guess, but it’s much easier to straighten out this mess in a combative manner.

BAM: Care to elaborate?

Christopher: Other times, I get tripped up with large scale settings or fictional sequencing. This is the “worldbuilding” part of speculative fiction. When the groups, planets, whatever get too big for my brain, I spend some time sketching these places—by drawing them, building thought clouds, or a timeline. Even though 99% of this writing never makes it into a story, having a solid foundation makes sf stories sing.

 

BAM: Could you tell me about how you organize writing in your life?

 

Christopher: I have a writing ritual. To start writing, I put on my writing hoody. It’s well over a decade old, ragged, and I am forbidden from wearing it outside the house. I pop on my cans, put my solar lamp, and perform guided mindfulness meditation. Next, I write a page of positive affirmations and focus goals, a step borrowed from Octavia Butler. Last, I pop on some non-vocal mood music and open the file.

BAM: What do you mean?

Christopher: The extent of the ritual depends on how difficult to the effort to start typing away has been. This process was quite long in the beginning, but through practice I can achieve an adequate level of mindfulness in about 5-10 minutes. Skipping this and the affirmations is also quite common when I’m in a good writing mood.

BAM: Got it. Sticking to your guns.

Christopher: I’m lucky enough to have at least three hours a day to work on my writing, which has mostly been for table-top roleplaying games in the past year.

 

Biography:

Christopher David Airiau holds a Master’s in English Literature from l’Université deStrasbourg, teaches English in France, and designs tabletop role-playing games as 5Million Worlds Press. Their fiction appears in Filmmakers Without Cameras, Unstamatic,and Dead Horse. Find them at chrisairiau.com.

 

Published Works:

Unstamatic, “One Man and No City” and “Torn from the Pages of a Used Android Catalogue: Phoenix”

Filmmakers without Cameras 3, “A Terminal Orbit Homeward”

Dead Horse, “Practice Makes Perfect”

Weirdo Faves of 2023, assorted prose.

 

Social Media:

https://5mwpress.substack.com

https://chrisair.itch.io

https://www.chrisairiau.com

Twitter: @ChrisAiriau

Bluesky: @chrisair.bsky.social

IG: @5mwpress

fb: https://www.facebook.com/5MWPress/