Hello Christine

Me – My first question is

Which aspect of the writing process do you enjoy the most? And why?

Christine - The best times are when a story takes off almost without you, and you can barely keep up with the hand-writing or typing (luckily, I can scribble furiously and still be able to read it afterwards, and also, I’m an old touch-typist from last century). Such a happy place to be in my head and heart.

A brand new experience is writing poetry. Absolutely loving experimenting with forms and genres... had only played with parodies of famous Aussie ballads and a Christmas carol or too, beforehand. I’m achieving some success, so it appears a hidden talent was hiding beneath my other writerly pursuits!

Me – How I wish I’d learned touch typing, and my handwriting is dreadful at speed. I also love that heady rush when your fingers cannot move fast enough to keep up with the story but what a mess it leaves on the page.

What distracts you when you are in writing flow? Is there anything you do to counter this?

Christine - Husband who sits about three arm widths away at his desk, on his mini-laptop computer and must share news and weather and gossip and requests for my ‘techie’ help, dog who knows how to rock a brick on the sill below the full-length window of our office to gain my attention, cat who does the same, and when indoors, must discuss much with me about needing food, going out again, and generally telling me she loves me and would really prefer my full attention. I am a hopeless reactor to all of these... and more.

I’ve basically found resistance is useless, and adapted myself into further multi-functioning modes.

Me – ‘chuckling.’  I think many writers will be nodding their heads at this answer. What a brilliant description.

What is it about flash fiction and short stories that appeals to you?

Christine - I love the variety and the challenge of making a story out of a word or phrase, and if I’m brutally honest, my butterfly brain demands and adores constant change.

Then there’s this memory problem. I choose to tell anyone who will listen, it’s a case of ‘memory full’ (my first computer used to say that... now I understand), comparable to an over-stuffed filing cabinet. It can take some time to get to the files at the back.

Me – I too love writing flash fiction from a prompt for the challenge and variety.

What aspect of writing a memoir has been the most difficult? Why?

Christine -At first it was finding some order in the chaos of my ‘crowded house’ (alias my so-called brain). No lack of ideas (especially when hubby and I combine our shared moments and memories), but sequencing was a problem. Solved this by making a ‘table’ of sorts of significant happenings over the years, then expanding these into places we’ve lived. Under each of these I would start with disjointed words/phrases that triggered a memory and come back and expand... and expand.

For me, this made my decision to write some of our farm experiences easy and ‘do-able’.

Me – What a brilliant way of organising a memoir. Great writing tip. Thank you.

How do you decide which story to write next?

Christine -Uhrr... guilt decides it for me!?! I kid you not. At any given moment, I have more ‘irons in the fire’ than I will admit to anyone. That &#%!@ ‘butterfly’ dominates... again!

Me – That’s the first time anyone has answered with guilt, but I do understand. I have a scatter brain when it comes to ideas.

What part of the story comes to you first? Story premise, character, setting, plot, ending?

Christine - Ahh, wouldn’t it be lovely if I could answer this question with a glowing, inspirational thought to set writers’ hearts beating faster, creating the best ‘AHA!’ moment? (nodding head wistfully and wishfully; then sadly shaking self back into reality!) Truthfully? I’m such a ‘pantser’ of a writer, no ONE single thing comes first on a constant basis... my words simply roll and the story just ‘grows’.

Me – I think we are receiving some ‘aha’ moment from your previous replies and there are many ‘pantsers’ who are nodding their heads now.

What is the strangest observation from the real world that has made it into one of your stories?

Christine - Due to my insatiable curiosity about everything, and the number of ‘flash fictions’ I write, there is a constant stream of strange observations and tales that develop from their research. Strangest of these? Maybe a story I’m playing with developing, made up of a series of funny tales about two Aussie ‘ocker’ mates. I have been revisiting them and their antics for some time in one of my regular prompt word challenges. I’ve strung them together on my Scrivener writing program, and an amazing back story is hovering – a serious reason behind the shenanigans of one of my ‘Bar Flies’. The ‘strange’ aspect is that I have little knowledge or experience of this situation, so time will tell what happens there.

Me – I’ve loved some of the strange and bizarre happenings in your flash fiction stories, I eagerly await the tales of the ‘ocker’ mates.

Of all the stories you have written, which have you learnt the most from?

Christine -My kiddy book (still a WIP), ‘Bizarre Wee Beasties’ continues to fascinate and challenge me, having much personal reality behind the ‘story within a story’. Through the many characters (hand-knitted ‘toy’ children), I try to promote happy and helpful values without moralising. I learn as I try to subtly teach.

Me – Getting the balance between a subtle message and moralising is tricky, especially in children’s stories.  I sniggered at your Rabbit Joke podcast. What do you enjoy about podcasting?

Christine - I LOVE making silly voices and trying to improve the expression of the feelings of my characters. Much of this has involved humour, but recently I did a recording of one of my most serious stories—a true story about a Vietnam veteran—and I cried again.

No deliberate intention. It just happened, and was unintentionally most effective, I’m told.

Me – It sounds like expressing all emotions is your strength. I love hearing you read your stories. This last question is purely because I’m curious as to how author’s kickstart their brains and fuel their writing. What do you like to eat for breakfast?

Christine - I’ve always liked a mug of coffee before anything, and never a cooked or large breakfast.

For years now, my preference is rolled oats soaked in a little milk and a couple of prunes soaked in fruit juice (to keep the inner and outer Christine smiling whilst on strong medication), with a generous helping of dried-fruit-laden crispy health cereal. (Having been good first thing, the day is mine to be bad as... !?!)

Me – Ohh, not so different from mine. I like the idea of a healthy breakfast being an excuse for misbehaving the rest of the day.

Thank you so much for your answers, Christine.  I’ve chuckled and learnt some great writing tips.

Readers, if your appetite is whetted and you’d like to find out more about Christine Larsen and her books please visit -

websites: 

ceedee moodling - www.cdcraftee.com

ceedee4kids - http://ceedeekids.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/christine.larsen.3386/

Author page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ChristineLarsenAuthor

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/ChristineLarsen/e/B00B8COMJ4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_10&qid=1610209278&sr=8-10

Wattpad- for free reading - https://www.wattpad.com/user/cdcraftee