K. A. Williams lives in North Carolina and writes speculative, mystery/crime, general fiction, and poetry which has been published in various magazines including Calliope, Yellow Mama, Aphelion, Altered Reality, Bewildering Stories, Trembling With Fear, Corner Bar, View From Atlantis, and Mystery Tribune.
1. How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I used to read a lot when I was a child and started writing fiction at an early age, but I didn’t submit any stories until after I’d taken a creative writing class. I remember getting many rejections before that first acceptance. This was when there were only print magazines so I wasted a lot of time and stamps back then. Now with online submissions you don’t have to spend money on stamps and the turnaround is a lot faster (usually).
What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
Look up the magazines on The Submission Grinder and send your stories where there’s less competition.
What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
My favorite science fiction author is Isaac Asimov because of his Robot series. My favorite mystery novelist is Donald E. Westlake. His Dortmunder series were the best comic capers I’ve ever read.
What tips do you have for finding time to write?
Don’t get distracted by other things when you have any spare time to write. I play a lot of those CYOA games and should take my own advice.
Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
A discovery writer. I’ve changed many a story’s direction and ending while writing it.
How do you deal with rejections?
I send the story immediately back out to some other magazine or rewrite it.
Were you taught anything about creative writing in high school or college that just didn’t work for you?
Write stories based on personal experience and I write mostly speculative fiction.
In your opinion, how important is a writing degree or MFA when it comes to achieving success in writing fiction?
It’s not. What is important is that you can imagine characters and the worlds they live in without one.
What book are you reading right now?
I’m listening to the Librivox recording of The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung. It’s about a gentleman thief who uses disguises and plays cricket.
Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
My humorous science fiction story “Live Seafood” was published in May. Here’s the link: https://365tomorrows.com/2021/05/04/live-seafood/
