Today, I am featuring author Lara Henerson whose story "Rubies" is included in the anthology "A Flash of Words," alongside my own brand-new story, "Takin' Pictures".
Q- What was the inspiration for your story? A- I’ve had so many utterly soul-sucking data-entry temp jobs that involved sitting in front of a computer for hours on end, until I was practically seeing double. On those extra long days when the hours were just crawling by, I sometimes got the sense that reality could crumble around me, and I wouldn’t even notice. I also got the sense that I was filling my precious time with meaningless busy-work. I think all of those themes worked there way into “Rubies”.
Q- Did your story turn out as planned, or were there some surprises along the way? A- Although I tend to plan out my stories, at least partially, I rarely end up actually following that original plan. I think pretending I have some sort of an idea gives me the confidence to stumble into the unknown. In the end, I fluctuate between planning and winging it, but that’s what makes the process exciting. I will say though, that for “Rubies”, I genuinely had no idea where my character was headed. I should have predicted that it would end badly—I do tend to be a bit morbid. There’s definitely a gothic teenager trying to claw her way out of me.
Q-Do you think writing flash fiction is a challenge, with the word restriction? A-I actually find flash fiction to be very liberating, because for the past few years since my Masters, I’ve been focusing on completing novels, which is obviously very time consuming. Working on a project as long as a novel is an emotional rollercoaster/boomerang/bumper-car all wrapped into one. By contrast, it’s exciting to be able to work on a flash piece and to feel the thrill of the finish line after just a handful of short drafts. Flash fiction makes me feel like I’m not stagnating, when I am working on a longer project and feeling stuck. It makes me feel like I’ve produced something, and my time on earth has not been wasted, at least not this month. (Yes, I’m sensing a theme too. It seems everything I do provokes an existential crisis.)
Q-Do you write every day? A-I wish I could say yes, but some days it’s not possible. I have a regular job as an English teacher, several freelance gigs, and I also tutor on the side. I live in the most expensive city in the country, so unfortunately, some days I have no choice but to prioritize what pays the bills. In a perfect world I would have infinite time to write. I can say, however, that I only ever feel a sense of accomplishment on days that I write, and that feeling compels me to do it as often as possible.
Q-Apart from writing, what do you do for fun? A- I am an improviser, and though I’m not currently in a troupe, I love taking classes and performing as much as I can. Improv is amazing because in addition to being another form of storytelling, (particularly long-form improvisation, which is what I like best), it also involves a shocking variety of other life skills, like confidence, public speaking, problem solving, compromise… I think anyone who wants to be a writer should try improv at least once, and anyone who is into improv should experiment with writing!
Q- What is your writing space like? A-I have a desk in my room, but I find my house distracting. My favorite place to write is the café down the street in my neighborhood. The walls are painted with murals of Parisian streets, and I like the white noise and snippets of conversation that I can hear there. If you ever need inspiration, eavesdrop! I’ve come up with so many story ideas by creepily observing strangers and blatantly judging them and creating a whole reality around my perception of who they might be! It’s not as terrible as it sounds, I swear.
Q- If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? A- Cheese. Gooey, stinky, French cheese. An entire wheel of Camembert would be ideal. And I’ll have a fresh baguette to go along with it, while we’re at it. Perfection.
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