SmokeLong Quarterly

How has administrating a writing community helped your own writing?

Being in touch with other writers has helped me more than I ever thought it would. You feed off each others creativity and gently push each other to greater heights. What amazes me is how helpful giving feedback is. Reading and critiquing other’s works hones your critical eye and really helps in your own writing. It’s also pushed me into new writing areas, like Flash for instance.

How do you feel about Flash versus other literary forms?

Flash is a fairly new thing for me, and I think it’s a wonderful form for a couple of reasons. One of my biggest problems with my short fiction has always been having ideas that were too big for the stories I tried to shoehorn them in. Writing flash helps me tremendously by forcing me to be succinct, to tell the story I want to in a limited amount of space. I think it helps me to get more out of my imagery. No page long descriptions allowed. By writing Flash, I’m learning to tighten my writing over all and I think that helps even on longer works. It’s also fun to read. You don’t have to invest a long time in a story, but you do have to invest a lot of thought. I’ve read three hundred word flash stories that made me think more than some novels I’ve read.

Do you think the fabled infinite number of monkeys at an infinite number of keyboards will ever produce anything of worth?

Absolutely. In fact I’d like to hire these little guys to help me finish my novel. It would save me a lot of headaches.

Can you do Flash on demand? Let’s try. The subject is honey. Tell us a story in 25 words or less.

Leather straps, sun dried and binding. Repaid for his crimes with a generous dollop of golden sweet viscosity. A sticky beacon for his tiny executioners.

You know you want to plug your site, so here’s your chance. Lure the masses! Tell us why it’s great.

We’re unique over at the Wannabees I think. We don’t take much seriously, other than the writing. It’s a very comfortable atmosphere for everyone. If it’s your first story ever or you’ve been writing since rocks were young, we’re going to treat you like part of the family. The feedback you get is honest and helpful. It’s not a clique, everyone is encouraged to jump in and participate.