Mini-Interview with Timothy Boudreau
If your writing was having a conversation with a reader, what is it trying to say? What secrets might it reveal?
It depends on the story. I hope to hint at secrets not in the text—maybe secrets the reader’s keeping from themselves? I love when a reader finds an unintended layer or interpretation.
What’s more important the writer’s intent or the reader’s discovery?
Reader’s discovery (see above!). I often have only the haziest of intents, and I’m open to and often delighted by what else a reader discovers.
What are your favorite things to write about? Those topics or items you can’t stop thinking about!
Family, friendships, loneliness, music, food, sex.
What’s your favorite point of view? Why are you drawn to this particular voice/perspective?
I’m not sure I have a favorite point of view. The only one I almost never use is third person omniscient. I don’t think I have the tools to pull that off!
What’s your favorite craft element to focus on when writing flash? Is there an element you wish you could avoid?
Dialogue for me is always a key. If I manage a couple of crackling dialogue exchanges, I feel I’m well on my way. I also love to juxtapose lyricism and black humor. And to get the details just right. I typically avoid exposition at all costs.
How do you know when a story is done or at least ready to test the submission waters?
I typically build in several “rest” periods before I submit, and after. If I come back to a story after several months and it still looks good, it’s safe to move on.
When looking for places to submit your flash, what are your priorities for finding a good home for your work?
Paying markets are important. Also whom they’ve published in the past. Diverse authors, diverse work. And the sense that they might like what I have to submit.
But so often I feel it’s a crapshoot!
What do you know now about writing flash or other forms that you wished you had known from the beginning?
You don’t have to explain everything. Especially in flash, a couple of telling details are key. If the detail isn’t important to the story, or revealing something about a character, it doesn’t need to be there. But even if I’d known this earlier, I’m not sure I would’ve had the confidence to pull it off.
What resource (a book, essay, story, person, literary journal) has helped you develop your flash fiction writing?
I’ll mention two of the first. My first flash workshop was with Kathy Fish. Kathy and her workshops are brilliant, of course, and this one also led to several lasting connections within the flash community. My connection to the flash sex writing challenges led by Monet Thomas helped develop craft, courage, and, again, connections to the flash community that helped broaden my personal and literary horizons.
What’s your favorite way to interact with the writing community? Do you have any advice for writers trying to add to their own writing communities?
This isn’t something that comes naturally to me. But writer’s groups and workshops have been hugely helpful, as well as focusing on positive social media interactions.
Finding a local, in person community is important too, and is frankly more challenging in my neck of the woods. But I find it helpful to get my face out there as often as I can. I never regret saying “yes” to an opportunity to interact with other writers and readers.
If you could recommend a few flash stories or writers, who/what would it be?
There are so many! Tara Isabel Zambrano was one of the first flash writers I was drawn to, for her work’s power and vivid concision. And I love the way Leesa Cross-Smith mixes brilliantly evocative flash pieces and longer stories in her collection, So We Can Glow.
What story of yours do you want us to read?
I haven’t written any stories this year, as I’m working on a novel. But the last one I finished, “Tribute,” which appeared in The Ghost Story, I'm quite proud of.
BIO: Timothy Boudreau lives and works in northern New Hampshire. His recent work appears in Trampset, Reckon Review, and MonkeyBicycle, and has been nominated for Best Microfiction and a Pushcart Prize. His collection Saturday Night and other Short Stories is available through Hobblebush Books. Find him on Twitter at @tcboudreau or at timothyboudreau.com.
Very nice interview, Tommy.