It’s that time again. Time to sit down with a CTS contributor and learn a little about method and madness.
Melanie J. Cordova
Age 26
Age 26
Upstate New York
Current PhD candidate in Literature and Creative Writing
Do you have a specific writing style?
I seem to have a tendency to make stories a bit darker than I initially set out to write. There was one story that I originally intended to be about a girl and her pet cat, but it wound up in Yemassee as a story about an unstable little girl who burns the house down. Oops!
Do you see writing as a career?
That’s definitely the ideal. I just want to be around it in any way possible, whether that’s teaching creative writing, working with lit mags, things like that. Writing is kind of my emotional career, so even if it doesn’t sustain me financially, I’ll still be churning stories out.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
My greatest challenge as a writer right now is making time to write. I’m still taking classes and teaching, so it’s always exciting when those things intersect with pieces I’m working on or creative writing in general.
The Work
Tell us about your work in Crack the Spine.
The title of my story is “Kindling.” It’s about a woman whose finger is smashed in her attempt to move furniture into her attic by herself.
Is there a main theme or message in “Kindling?”
My hope is that a theme of cleansing was conveyed, and that the idea isn’t always a positive one.
What inspired “Kindling?”
In the last couple of months I’ve met several people who are missing bits and pieces of their hands. I was curious about the variety of accidents that can happen and the psychological underpinnings attendant upon them.
Tell us about another project you have published or are currently working on.
Right now I’m revising a few stories, one of which is about a young couple who are stranded at a bus junction for six or seven hours due to an oversight in ticketing.
What inspired this work?
I wanted to explore how place affects different people, particularly the negative effects space can have because of its layout, lighting, sound. The bus junction in my town has been remodeled, but it’s still only a place for people in transit, not stasis, so it was a good start.
The Methods
How many drafts do you generally go through before you consider a piece to be complete?
I do usually three drafts of revision with time away from the piece in between. That seems to work for me, at least. Though it’s hard not to keep working on a story that’s been sent out already.
How do you react to editorial rejections of your work?
I try to let it roll off my back. I work at a journal right now and I know the work that the editors put into reading submissions, so when a piece I’ve submitted is rejected, I know it’s never personal or out of malice. If they give me feedback, that’s great, but if not, I simply try to be persistent in finding a home for the piece elsewhere.
What is your best piece of advice on how to stay sane as a writer?
Keep writing! If you’re going insane because your stories aren’t getting picked up, just be persistent and devote your sanity to the piece itself instead of anxiety around rejection.
The Madness
Who is your favorite author?
Right now it’s Toni Morrison, but my favorites change frequently. There are so many amazing writers out there to read.
What makes you cry?
Authors writing stories that have author protagonists.
What’s in that cup on your desk?
Usually tap water. I’m pretty boring.
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
The wilderness of northern New Mexico by a longshot. Everything around Santa Fe and the drive northeast to Colorado is breathtaking.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate!
Beach or Mountains?
Beach.
Cats or Dogs?
Dogs.
Additional Reading about Melanie
Find me if you can! I don’t have much of a public internet presence. I do work for Harpur Palate and am listed on the masthead there, should people be interested.