10 Questions with Matthew Konkel
Matthew is a teaching-artist, playwright and independent filmmaker. His latest film is titled Neptune. You can find his fiction and poetry at the Newer York, Paragraph Planet, Postcard Shorts, Linguistic Erosion, The Eunoia Review, Danse Macabre and Streetcake Magazine. His plays have been produced nationally and internationally by theater companies including Edmonds Driftwood Players, Pink Banana Theatre, Cupcake Lady Productions and Screaming Media Gi60. His short play Walk, Don’t Walk is published by Pennster Media.
How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I’ve been writing for the last twenty-five years at different levels of commitment and passion. I turned to writing exclusively out of a need to have a creative outlet without having to spend any money.
What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
There is no advice better than just write. Also, coffee. Drinking lots of coffee is helpful too.
Are there any writing resources, such as books or websites, you’d like to recommend?
The public library. And living life. If you try to live a balanced life and you want to write you’ll discover enough creative inspiration.
What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
I don’t really have a favorite type of fiction. I enjoy a good story told well in any genre. I have favorite horror and sci-fi stories as well as favorite romance and historical drama stories. Favorite writers include Steve Martin, Charlie Kaufman, Neil Labute, Cameron Crowe, Beckett, Raymond Carver, Russell Edson, Dashiell Hammett, Richard Brautigan and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Buk.
What tips do you have for finding time to write?
There is no tip for this. You just have to want it. Time is incidental to desire. Everyone gets 24 hours in the day. How you spend it is your choice. If have a strong enough desire to become a writer, you will find the time.
Do you prefer to outline a story in advance or write on the fly? Why?
I prefer not to outline because I get impatient about wanting to get the story out there. Unfortunately this often results in a lot of unfinished or bland stories. However, not outlining also allows me to discover some amazing surprises I wouldn’t have otherwise known. And these surprises of character and story points are enough to keep me typing by the seat of my pants.
How do you deal with rejections?
I’ve learned by now that most of my stories have to get rejected time and time again before they find a home. The rejections are just part of the process.
What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
260 submissions (along with collecting at least 150 rejection letters). Write 25 new short stories/flash fictions. Write 25 new short plays. Finish a book I’ve been working on (I’m about half way done). Complete a surreal detective serial novella.
For the next five years?
Along with writing more, within the next five years I’d like my writing to be garnering an income. Whether that’s ten bucks a year or ten thousand bucks a year, I’d like to be earning something with words.
Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
www.lasthouseproductions.com Our feature film Neptune is 99% done.
www.matthewkonkel.com Updated not nearly enough.
Follow me at @Theatraffiti
