Sixty Seconds with: Brian Creek

Ten answers to ten questions in 20 words or fewer. That’s less time than it takes to burn a match*.

(*Depending on the length of the match and your tolerance for burned fingers, obviously)

Our newest Flash! Friday winner is — FINALLY!!! — first timer Brian Creek.  Read more about him at his VERY OWN WINNER’S PAGE (FINALLY!) here, and read his winning story here. But for now: you couldn’t do better than take one minute to get to know him better below.

1) What about The Arabian Nights inspired your winning piece? I imagined sitting down with my son and reading him one of these fantastical stories. The tale grew from there.

2) You’ve been writing flash a good while but this is your first win. What’s kept you going? The support of a fantastic group of fellow writers. And a ‘Flash Points’ article written last July by yourself.

3) What do you like about flash? As someone who struggles to finish projects, Flash allows me to complete a satisfying story before my attention – squirrel!

4) What flash advice would you give other writers? There are no rules to Flash (other than the word count). Experiment with themes, styles, and formats.

5) Who is a flash writer we should follow, and why? I wouldn’t feel right just picking one of the fantastic FlashDogs. Or David Shakes. I can’t decide. ☺

6) Do you participate in other flash contests, and which? Thursdays I write over at MicroBookends, while the weekend sees me writing or judging for Flash Frenzy.

7) What other forms do you write (novels, poetry, articles, etc)? I have a folder full of unfinished short stories, novellas, and novels that I wish I could focus on more. 

8) What is/are your favorite genre(s) to write, and why? I love using Sci-Fi to step out of the normal world and see ‘what else’ and ‘what if’.

9) Tell us about a WIP. CHRIS AND MIKE vs THE WORLD – I’m currently expanding my 100 word Micro Bookends entries into novella length adventures.

10) How do you feel about dragons? Always wanted one but we never had the room.

Sixty Seconds with: David Parkland

Ten answers to ten questions in 20 words or fewer. That’s less time than it takes to burn a match*.

(*Depending on the length of the match and your tolerance for burned fingers, obviously)

Our newest Flash! Friday winner is first timer David Parkland.  Read more about him here, and read his winning story here. And now, since he’s been kind enough to take a break from world domination to chat with us, please take one minute to get to know him better below.

1) What about George Orwell’s 1984 inspired your winning piece? I wrote the first line and thought – that’s obvious! So I decided to play on it and make it literal.

2) How long have you been writing flash? What time is it now? A couple of months. I like Drabbles (100 words) so 225 words is a holiday.

3) What do you like about flash? The fact that every word matters. Editing is an intricate, complex task. I imagine it’s like repairing a watch.

4) What flash advice would you give other writers? Be proud. You’re dropping coiled springs into active minds. Not many people can do that. Don’t let anyone dismiss it.

5) Who is a flash writer we should follow, and why? @jeffnoon can pack as much imagery in a single tweet as many people manage in a chapter.

6) Do you participate in other flash contests, and which? I’ve just entered @AdHocFiction’s contest, and @Litopia Colony’s Flash Club is worth a visit (my other big win!).

7) What other forms do you write (novels, poetry, articles, etc)? My Dayjob is a proposal writer, and I write novels for kicks. Writing for business helps to train brevity.

8) What is/are your favorite genre(s) to write, and why? I love dialogue, especially if it makes people laugh. I’m all about the Sci-fi / Adventure / Romance. Story first.

9) Tell us about a WIP. Demon Bound. 19^th Century charlatans set out to swindle their fortune but discover every lie they tell comes true.

10) How do you feel about dragons? They’re okay as long as you eat them hot.

Sixty Seconds with: Sydney Scrogham

Ten answers to ten questions in 20 words or fewer. That’s less time than it takes to burn a match*.

(*Depending on the length of the match and your tolerance for burned fingers, obviously)

Our newest Flash! Friday winner is first timer Sydney Scrogham.  Read more about here here; read her winning story here; and look for an upcoming #Spotlight interview with her to celebrate her first novel, due to be published in August! But for now: take one minute to get to know her better below.

1) What about Charlie & the Chocolate Factory inspired your winning piece? More like I took what I wanted to write about and found a way to work it with the prompt. 🙂

2) How long have you been writing flash? Less than a year.

3) What do you like about flash? The challenge of using as few words as possible.

4) What flash advice would you give other writers? Write what you like. Feel the story in your body and translate that to words.

5) Who is a flash writer we should follow, and why? Foy S. Iver – she’s crazy passionate and competitive with flash.  

6) Do you participate in other flash contests, and which? Yes, MicroBookends.

7) What other forms do you write (novels, poetry, articles, etc)? Novels, blog articles for Porsche eBreak, venting poetry, blog posts for Victory Weekend Ministries, but I’m not limiting myself there. 

8) What is/are your favorite genre(s) to write, and why? Fantasy because I don’t have to know jack squat about anything when I can just make it up. 🙂

9) Tell us about a WIP. An abused young woman. A man afraid of becoming his father. Inner darkness will destroy them or drive them together.

10) How do you feel about dragons? I want my own Toothless.