After a break during which we discussed horror TV shows and movies and Fictionate’s new subscription feature, we are back with a few more author interviews! Since the conclusion of our worldbuilding short fiction contest, fellow staff writer Heather and I have been posting interviews with various contest winners. Here are the interviews we’ve done thus far:
Author Interview: Tracy Pitts, Winner of the Worldbuilding Short Fiction Contest
Author Interview: Stargazing with Hannah Greer
Author Interview: Worldbuilding with J.P. Raison
Author Interview: Kate Seger, Prolific Multi-Award Winner
Out of the Shadows: Interview with Shadonovic, Young Author Grand Prize Winner
Heart of Ashes: Interview with 2nd Place Young Author Grand Prize Winner Sabrina Li
Today’s interview is with Katie Jordan, who won Second Place in the People’s Choice category of our contest. Her story “Bridge of Questions” had one of the shortest word counts of our contest entries and still managed to catch readers’ notice with its rich world and dynamic plot.
There is much Katie can teach us about concise writing and how to build a fantastic world. Before we get to her interview, let’s learn a bit more about her wonderful story and Katie herself.
Bridge of Questions
After his mother planet is invaded and its resources depleted, Za must find a solution to deal with the enemy or risk extinction. A letter from an unknown loved one to Za describes Planet Haro and the dangers he will face. The letter repeats over and over, “Promise me you’ll hide.”
This story is thrilling and fascinating and manages to pack so much into such a short word count. The world Katie creates is multifaceted and disturbing. Her excellent writing will keep you hooked through to the end and make you hope for a continuation or a sequel.
Author Biography
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her bonsai enthusiast husband, Brad, her two daughters, and the world’s most elegant guinea pig, Mademoiselle. Her work has been featured in Enchanted Conversation, Marrow Magazine, and 101 Words, among others. Find her online at authorkatiejordan.com.
Author Interview
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What served as the inspiration for your story “Bridge of Questions”, apart from our picture prompt?
Honestly, I just relied on the picture to inspire my story. It was hard to imagine what to write a story about, but I tried my best to tie it all together.
At what age did you start writing?
I had a particular fondness for writing starting in kindergarten but didn’t start writing stories and submitting them until a few years ago.
Who are your biggest influences on your writing and why?
Kerry Waight (who is also published in Magic We’ve Forgotten) is one of my favorite writing friends and is great about telling me to follow my gut. I also have several friends in an online writing group who provide excellent feedback and guidance.
Your story has a very short word count and manages to be so effective—what advice do you have for writers working on short or flash fiction?
Restructure and condense sentences, omit unnecessary words, and get as much feedback as possible.
You won Second Place in the People’s Choice category of our worldbuilding short fiction contest, which shows that you have an engaged following of readers. How did you grow your fandom? Do you have any tips for other writers trying to grow their audience/readership?
It’s helpful to take the leap and set up an author page on social media as early as possible. You never know when the opportunity will arise for you to post your links and grow your audience. Also, it doesn’t hurt to share your endeavors with family and friends.
What is your writing routine? Are there any special requirements for you, like music you like to listen to, or a particular place you like to work, or a drink you like to enjoy while working?
I’ll work on drinking from my Fictionate.Me writing mug when working on projects from now on!
What advice do you have for new authors just starting out?
Find a writing group that both impresses and challenges you. Swap stories. Give insightful feedback and embrace others’ comments. Be willing to put in the work.
You build an intriguing and well-thought-out world in your story. Do you have any tips for writers to help them with their worldbuilding?
Make your descriptions as rich as possible but don’t go overboard. The thesaurus is your friend, but if you pick words that no one knows then you aren’t doing yourself any favors.
Are there any writing tools you love to use that you would recommend to other authors (websites, blogs, research tools, etc.)?
I love Globe Soup, and was recently a finalist in their short story competition (placing in the top ten out of over 2,000 stories). They have contests with low entry fees as well as free contests. I appreciate their challenges.
Your work has been featured in several literary magazines. Do you have any advice for our readers who are trying to get their short stories published?
Literary magazines are hard to get into, but no one is keeping track of rejections except you. Keep subbing, don’t fixate on rejections, and celebrate your acceptances. If you want less competitive markets, sub to anthologies.
Your stories have also been included in several anthologies. Could you tell us more about them and where to find them online?
I am published in eight anthologies. Here are my favorites:
Chance On Love (Dragon Soul Press)
Magic We’ve Forgotten (Authors’ Tale)
And Man Grew Proud (Zombie Pirate Publishing)
I have a particular fondness for And Man Grew Proud, which is filled with dystopian novelettes that were written in just seven days. You can find it on Amazon.
Let’s end on a fun one. Name your favorite:
Books: Where the Red Fern Grows, The Help, and Everything, Everything
Movies: Where the Heart Is
Shows: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Resident
Many thanks to Katie for sharing her inspirations and extremely helpful bits of writerly wisdom! I hope you enjoyed this peek into such a concise writer’s routine and process.
You can find the rest of our contest’s winning entries here.
Stop by tomorrow to catch Heather’s interview with Vrisan Shah, the First Place winner (by a landslide) of our People’s Choice category, as well as the Third Place winner of the Young Author Grand Prize. And tune in next week for my interview with Lore Nicole, whose story tied for Third Place for the People’s Choice award.
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