Please write about the inspiration for your story, ‘The Call’?
It was a sunny autumn afternoon, the trees seemed on fire, I had just poured a glass of wine, when I got a call from a woman who was not convinced she had the wrong number. So I incorporated all of these elements into the story.
Are you a plotter or a pantser when it comes to writing, or somewhere in between?
Once in a while, it happens that I sit to write with a clear idea of where the story is going. Otherwise, I start with a character, a scene or a situation, and then I let the story find its way.
Do you find writing is energising or exhausting?
For me, it is both. It is exhilarating to write something new. Sometimes, all the elements just don’t coalesce in the story, and that is a little bit frustrating.
How do you find the editing process once you’ve finished writing?
Necessary, sometimes fun.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Listening to my father reading poems to my siblings and me. We were enthralled.
How many unfinished stories do you have?
I am currently working on two stories. The older stories are all finished, but some still need further editing.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Well, there are moments when I feel the need to recharge, to do other things rather than writing. I trust that I will go back to the desk with fresher ideas. These are usually partial blocks, though. I can’t move forward one piece, but I could work on other pieces under construction, or on a new project. A productive form of procrastination.
‘The Call’ by Lucia Orellana Damacela features in Tall Tales & Short Stories Volume One.
