Ran Walker’s 100 word microfiction, “Fear”, will appear in the second issue of The Centifictionist (Vol. 1, Issue 2, Fall/Winter 2020). Ran graciously answered a few brief questions for us. Read the interview below.
1. What inspired the story “Fear”?
“Fear” is inspired by the idea that the greatest monsters are not those that lurk in swamps or hide in the dark. They are human beings who know us and know exactly how to hurt us. I was curious how a horror writer might confront this idea.
2. What inspires you and your writing?
The thing that keeps me inspired to write is waking to a new day and being able to experience the diverse and enriching art of others, whether it’s discovering a new musician or a new visual artist or a new microfictionist.
3. What keeps you going when experiencing times of misery and despair?
When I wrestle with misery and despair, the thing that keeps me going is the belief that it will not always be like this, that there are better days ahead. I want to write something that my future self will appreciate, something that serves as a constant reminder that I should never quit.
4. What advice do you have for microfiction writers?
The advice I have for microfictionists is to persevere, in spite of what the landscape may look like now. Many readers out there are still making sense of what microfiction is, but know this: it is not something new. It’s been around for quite a long time, and we as its current practitioners are doing our part to carry forward this art form. I am beginning to see more literary journals and anthologies devoted to microfiction, so I believe the form will become more widely recognized and appreciated for being what it is and not how it differs from other forms.
5. Is there anything else that you would like people to know about you and/or your writing?
One last thing I’d like people to know is that it is important to write at your own pace and “do you.” If you are extremely prolific or only putting together a story a month, understand this: you are not in competition with anyone. It is okay to move at your own pace. Just keep moving.
Ran Walker is the author of twenty books. He is the winner of the 2019 Indie Author of the Year and 2019 BCALA Fiction Ebook Awards. He teaches creative writing at Hampton University and lives with his wife and daughter in Virginia. He can be reached via his website, ranwalker.com. Twitter: @ranwalker.
The Centifictionist 
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