We’re excited that you will be with us, sharing your experiences with publishing and tips on writing short stories.
How do you get ideas for your short stories?
CS: Ideas are all around. I pick up something, usually an image, and if it captures my attention, I start rolling it around in my head. Most fizzle, but some start acquiring their own mass. I start seeing people, situations, possibilities. If the notions still appeal to me, I’ll start the writing process.
Do you have a writing routine? Is there a ritual you use to get into a writing flow?
CS: I get up early every morning to give myself an hour to write. It’s quiet—everyone in the house is still asleep—and I find myself able to focus. Then in the evening, after my son has gone to bed, I write again—anywhere from a half hour to an hour. I don’t have a ritual per se, but I usually will end a session with a note to myself—a reminder of where I want to pick up next time.
Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group 