Welcome, Sally! Your story, “Lifetime Of Love”, appears in our February 15 issue, on sale Feb 12. Do you find it helpful to write stories around a particular date or season?
Yes, enormously. A setting, both in place and time, feels like an anchor to any story and is a shortcut into the tale for the reader too.
“Lifetime Of Love” is set across-the-years. Do you set out to write to a particular timeframe, e.g. across-the-years, over a day, a week, or do you find it depends on the storyline?
I think stories tend to find their own timeframes.
It does help to have an idea of start and finish points, but these often change during the writing.
“Lifetime Of Love” is written to a word count of around 1300 words. Do you find there’s a particular word count that suits your stories? Do you find it tricky to fit everything in a tighter word count?
I really like the shorter word count. It feels very disciplined.
It’s a bit like telling a good joke, getting to the key points at the right time and tying it up neatly at the end.
Our Feb 1 issue of the “Friend” features a Poetry Competition. Do you ever enter short story writing or poetry competitions? Have you had any success?
I want people to enjoy my writing. To know that so many people read the magazine and love it is enough of a win for me!
Many of our authors describe having an inspiring teacher who encouraged their love of reading and writing. Do you have such a person, or people, in your life?
My local children’s librarian when I was a child was a gift, as was the library.
To have an endless supply of books which could be replaced every week, with recommendations and new titles, felt like heaven.
Have you ever had writer’s block, and if yes – do you have any tips to beat it?
Doesn’t everyone get writer’s block?
My top tips would be to not get hung up about it, to write something, anything, it doesn’t matter what, just exercise those writing muscles and if all else fails, go for a solitary walk or a long cycle.
Lucy Crichton Better known as “Fiction Editor Lucy”, I am always on the look-out for the very best short stories, poems and pocket novels. As well as sourcing enjoyable content, I enjoy working with our established contributors, encouraging new talent, and celebrating 155 years of “Friend” fiction!
