Holley Cornetto was born and raised in Alabama, but now lives in New Jersey. To indulge her love of books and stories, she became a librarian. She is also a writer, because the only thing better than being surrounded by stories is to create them herself.
How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I’ve always loved to tell stories. For me, this didn’t translate into writing until about a year ago. That’s when I started writing seriously, and sending works out to markets for publication. I started writing in part because I love books and stories. I always have. I wanted to try and create stories like the ones I enjoy reading.
What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
Read. I’ve been in creative writing classes with students who don’t read. There are many reasons for this, but how can you expect people to want to read your writing when you don’t read yourself? It’s like going into a room and talking to people, but never listening to what they have to say. You don’t learn and grow that way.
If you could go back and find yourself five years ago, what advice would you give yourself?
Keep doing what you are doing. Be patient and go at your own pace. Trust yourself.
What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
I gravitate toward short stories. Some authors I’ve enjoyed reading lately are: George Saunders, Kelly Link, Aimee Bender, and Karen Russell. I do enjoy classics like Shirley Jackson, Poe, and Lovecraft as well. My favorite things to read are usually labeled as horror, fantasy, or weird fiction.
How do you measure success when it comes to your writing?
For me, success means telling a story that someone will enjoy. More than commercial success or recognition, I want someone to read my stories and enjoy them. If I can do that, then I’ve succeeded as a writer.
What tips do you have for finding time to write?
You don’t find time to write, you make time to write. It isn’t going to happen if you don’t make it happen. Create a habit, and make it a part of your day just like breakfast or showering.
Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
Both. I like to have an idea of where the story is going before I start writing. If I don’t, I often find myself stuck, but I also find that I have to be willing to change the outline or throw it out if the story changes and it doesn’t seem to fit anymore.
Sometimes your writing and characters will take someplace that you didn’t expect when you started writing, and you have to be able to adapt.
How do you deal with rejections?
I usually give myself a few minutes to let them sting. No matter how many rejections you receive, they always hurt a little bit. I give myself a little time to be disappointed, and then I start looking for other places that the story might be a good fit.
What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
To keep doing it. Stay focused, and not give up. Writing can be hard, particularly when you deal with things like rejection, criticism, or lack of motivation. It can be easy to decide not to do it anymore. But if you quit or give up, you automatically fail.
What book(s) are you reading right now?
I’ve been reading back through some of the “Best of” and “Year’s Best” anthologies for horror, dark fiction, and fantasy fiction. A lot of magazines ask writers to read their magazines before submitting, but for many people, that just isn’t financially possible. I find these anthologies usually have a wide range of stories from a variety of magazines to give writers an idea of what venues are looking for.
