12 or 20 (second series) questions with Dan Crawley
Dan Crawley’swriting appears or is forthcoming in Lost Balloon, JMWW, BestSmall Fictions, Flash Frog, Atticus Review, and elsewhere. Hislatest collection is Blur (Cowboy Jamboree Press). Find him at https://twitter.com/danbillyc.
1 - How did your first book change your life? How does your mostrecent work compare to your previous? How does it feel different?
My first book was a novella-in-flash. I loved working on this form,linking the flashes together as “chapters” in the book, uniting all the piecesinto a solid thread that kept the story moving forward. It was challenging, buta blast to write. When it was published by Ad Hoc Fiction, I was grateful tofinally have a “book on the shelf” after decades of writing. And more readers,writers and editors were able to experience my work, which opened more creativeopportunities for me.
My latest collection, Blur,is a collection I’m very proud of. The gratitude I have is just as palpable asmy first book. In fact, when I publish any story I consider myself lucky,truly. It feels like winning the lottery.
2 - How did you come to flash fiction first, as opposed to, say,poetry or non-fiction?
In the 90s, I remember flashes were called “short-shorts” or“sudden fiction.” I’ve been a fan of this genre ever since. And even thoughI’ve written long stories, these very tiny stories are a joy to attempt. Imarvel at how you can achieve character revelations, strong conflicts, and playout a whole story in under a thousand words.
3 - How long does it take to start any particular writing project?Does your writing initially come quickly, or is it a slow process? Do firstdrafts appear looking close to their final shape, or does your work come out ofcopious notes?
Molasses slow. And I’m finding that the more I write, the processhas become slower and slower. It could take months, even over a year to developan idea of a story, then all the drafting in my mind, and finally gettingsomething on paper. Next there is revising, revising, revising. And what is inmy mind rarely is the finished product; the seed is still there, though.
4 - Where does a work of prose usually begin for you? Are you anauthor of short pieces that end up combining into a larger project, or are youworking on a "book" from the very beginning?
This recent collection came from the many flash fictions Ipublished the last few years. I wasn’t planning on putting out another bookafter my short story collection was published in 2021. The flashes in Blur just kept showing up. It is a nicesurprise all around that a book flourished from these stories.
5 - Are public readings part of or counter to your creativeprocess? Are you the sort of writer who enjoys doing readings?
I can read another writer’s work (I do this a lot in my teaching),but reading my own stories can be scary for me. I guess my own stories are tooclose, causing me to feel more vulnerable. Something like that. I’m gettingbetter, I think. Slowing down, concentrating on the words rather than my ownterror. These days, Zoom readings don’t scare me as much as reading to a livecrowd.
6 - Do you have any theoretical concerns behind your writing? Whatkinds of questions are you trying to answer with your work? What do you eventhink the current questions are?
Infidelity. Financial straits. Anything to do with familydysfunction. These concerns seem to show up most in my stories. Also, I’mconstantly wondering: why do we do whatwe do to each other? Ha. Sounds like a Carver story.
7 – What do you see the current role of the writer being in largerculture? Do they even have one? What do you think the role of the writer shouldbe?
We need to keep holding up that fucking mirror. Keep revealing, toour last breaths.
8 - Do you find the process of working with an outside editordifficult or essential (or both)?
Hugely essential! I really appreciate the suggestions I’ve receivedfrom a wide range of editors. This writing biz is a lonely, isolating deal. Ithink it is important to get outside of my own thinking about a story and getanother’s interpretation. Being a workshop teacher has made me even moreadamant about seeking out an editor’s perspective.
9 - What is the best piece of advice you've heard (not necessarilygiven to you directly)?
Listen more than I talk. Still working on this one.
10 - How easy has it been for you to move between genres (flashfiction to the novella)? What do you see as the appeal?
Since I wrote a novella entirely of flash fictions, there hasn’tbeen such a chasm between the genres you mention. I’d like to write a few morenovellas-in-flash, if I can. I find this format as one of the best ways to tella longer story.
11 - What kind of writing routine do you tend to keep, or do youeven have one? How does a typical day (for you) begin?
I tried writing to a schedule many times throughout my adult life.Sometimes I’ve been successful and other times I’ve floundered. These days, I’mtaking care of my dad, and now he is bedridden and needs hospice care. My daysand into the nights are taken up with attending to my dad, and some days aremore challenging than others. A writing schedule isn’t in the cards, so I tryto work on a line here and there, whenever I have the chance.
12 - When your writing gets stalled, where do you turn or returnfor (for lack of a better word) inspiration?
I read fiction daily. From the numerous books stacked around mybedroom to all the amazing works being published every week in journals acrossour writing community. A variety of stories have kick-started me out of mystall. And I’m grateful for all the work being published by a brilliantgeneration of writers.
13 - What was your last Hallowe'en costume?
I worked in an office once and my supervisor dressed in a verydisheveled manner. So I showed up to work one Hallowe’en all disheveled. Wildthing is: everyone acted like they didn’t notice how messy I looked! Theyprobably thought I was having a bad day. Finally, an Admin. Asst. said, “Oh,you’re dressed like _____! Nice costume!”
14 - David W. McFadden once said that books come from books, butare there any other forms that influence your work, whether nature, music,science or visual art?
I dig all music. Punk to funk to rockabilly to bluegrass/folk andeverything in between. Usually, I listen to music while writing out firstdrafts, and I need silence when finishing up the final draft, before submittinga story. But initially writing any story and/or revising, I need that beautifulnoise. Today I cranked up Cœur de pirate. Nice.
15 - What other writers or writings are important for your work, orsimply your life outside of your work?
Since I’m so obsessed with flash fiction, and microfiction, I’mexclusively reading these kinds of stories. For years now, I’ve been influencedby too many writers to list here. And I’m finding new writers, seemingly, allthe time on the socials.
16 - What would you like to do that you haven't yet done?
It would be nice not to worry. I worry a lot. Too much. To be in arelaxed state of peace would be great for a change. And sleep throughout thenight.
17 - If you could pick any other occupation to attempt, what wouldit be? Or, alternately, what do you think you would have ended up doing had younot been a writer?
I don’t know, rob! Isn’t that wild? I have no idea what else I could do for a living. Writing is all I’vewanted to do since an early age. Sure, I’ve worked at a variety of jobs in andout of higher education. And teaching seems to be something I can do. But Ican’t imagine teaching without my writing. They’re so intertwined, you see.
18 - What made you write, as opposed to doing something else?
Another stellar question. I have no idea where this drive to getstories out comes from. I know that when I don’t write, I’m the most unpleasantperson. Worse than that bear on cocaine. But even thinking about a scene, orwriting a line or two in a day helps quell my irksome ways.
19 - What was the last great book you read? What was the last greatfilm?
Book: Eleven Kinds ofLoneliness by Richard Yates (holy moley, “Doctor Jack-O’-Lantern” and “TheBest of Everything” and “No Pain Whatsoever”).
Film: The Florida Project.Seriously, the last few scenes knock me to the floor in the fetal position,bawling my eyes out.
20 - What are you currently working on?
A round of new flash fictions and micros. Trying, always trying.
