Rachel Prizant Kotok’s 100 word microfiction, “Contortions”, will appear in the first issue of The Centifictionist (Vol. 1, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2020). Rachel graciously answered a few brief questions for us. Read the interview below.
1. What inspired the story “Contortions”?
Court accompaniment is one way to offer solidarity and support to people struggling for their own liberation and dignity. This story stems from experience accompanying folks in immigration court proceedings.
2. What inspires you and your writing?
I’m inspired by stories with the potential to expand empathy and astonish with new insight. Human creativity abounds and astounds; the sky is vast.
3. What keeps you going when experiencing times of misery and despair?
Deep connections to beloved friends and family sustain me. Wild, natural spaces revitalize me. I learn from activists, teachers, and artists of all kinds who cultivate courage and hope. I share what I learn with students.
4. What advice do you have for microfiction writers?
No advice, just encouragement. Your imagination is a marvel and stories matter.
5. Is there anything else that you would like people to know about you and/or your writing?
After four decades writing in a secret chrysalis, I emerged, open and ready to share.
Rachel Prizant Kotok, addicted to constrained writing, writes letter-sequenced palindromic poetry, microfiction, flash, and short fiction. She was a finalist for Southwest Review’s Morton Marr Poetry Prize and the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award for Poetry. Her work has appeared in Tiferet Journal and Digital Paper. She teaches human rights-themed academic and creative writing in Northern California.
The Centifictionist 
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