I went to boarding school very early and read everything available – mostly Enid Blyton, poetry anthologies, fairy stories and history written for children. I particularly remember “Seven Little Australians”, “The Magic Faraway Tree” and numerous books of black and white photos. I loved photographs of any description and explored every detail at length. When I was about 10, a friend lent me John Wyndham’s short novel, “The Chrysalids”, and I was hooked on science and speculative fiction for life.
Would you say your childhood and teenage reading has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?
My writing is mainly character-driven with large slabs of dialogue, so not too many influences from SF, I think. I’ve always needed to find out what happened beyond the story – the before and after – so I made up the details for myself as a child. Ethel Turner probably had an enduring influence because of the tragic characters and in a different way,”Peyton Place” certainly added to my street smarts when I read it at 10 (although it took me years to work out why the breasts of a virgin were different from other breasts!)
Pick one of your favourites among your fiction stories or a story which is an interesting example from your fiction. What makes this story one of your favourites or an interesting example of your fiction?
My favourite is probably “Frog Park”, 4000 words written overnight. It was a satisfying night because I started with a blank page, remembered a frightening storm and the words just flowed. When I read the story back, I changed only two words. Wish they were all that easy! “Frog Park” won the R Carson Gold Short Story Award, so that adds to the sentiment.
Who is another author whose fiction writing you admire and why?
I’ve already mentioned John Wyndham. There are many good SF writers I admire for the novelty and enigmatic situations. I enjoyed Robert Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land” as well as any novel, and I find most Australian women writers rewarding , both with novels and short story collections. Ray Lawler’s “Doll” trilogy had an influence, although it is drama. I love dialogue and enjoy characters who cause me to ruminate long after they’ve gone.
How would you summarise one of your short stories in one paragraph?
“Frog Park”: A disaffected teenage boy meets an ailing girl a couple of years older who is involved in insects and plants. His life changes, especially after a huge storm. (My stories are invariably better than the synopsis!)
How would you describe the appeal of this short story to readers?
People have told me it makes them feel for the characters, that they care what happens to them. In fact, a couple of men had tears on their cheeks during a reading I attended. One man simply told me: “I feel validated”.
How would you summarise a scene or sub-section from this short story in one paragraph?
The girl had promised Cully that frogs would appear in the dry local park after rain. He sloshed around under the Moreton Bay Figs feeling he had been cheated. All of a sudden there was noise, noise as intense as pain, and on every branch of the trees, frogs appeared, calling and calling until the park itself started to vibrate. It seemed impossible that only raindrops and frogs were the catalyst for this cacophony.
How would you describe the contribution this scene or sub-section makes to the short story?
In a way, it’s the climax. Everything changes at this point. It’s a metaphor for the characters’ lives.
Do you aspire to primarily write novels in the future, or are you more interested in writing short stories, and why?
I’m working on my second novel. Like the freedom of the form, but I’ve been drawn back to short stories this year. They’re harder to get right.
Do you read many short story anthologies, and why?
Not too many. Books are an investment of time, getting immersed in the characters, and I feel you’ve just settled in with a short story, and it’s all over. I prefer to meander with a longer work and live with the characters for a while.
What lengths of short stories do you usually write, and why?
I’ve written stories from 200 words to 6000. Usually it depends on the market or competition. However, if I’m working on something that’s too short to make the word count, I try not to pad it out just for the sake of entering at that venue. If something is going over the count, I let it. I don’t pre-plan, just go where an idea takes me. I always seem to start with a title and the final sentence. Don’t know why, it just works out that way.
Do you submit for many short story competitions, anthologies and magazines, and what are your main motivations for this?
I have sent quite a few stories off on their little journeys this year, especially to competitions which don’t cost a week’s groceries to enter and to anthologies that seem interesting. So far (it’s November) I’ve sent off about 20 stories, had 8 accepted, four rejected, and am waiting for December responses for the rest (what is it about December ?) I send things away because I like to think of someone else reading my words, I like seeing stories in print under my name as well. Financial gain is the last consideration – it’s a chancy venture. I just do it because I love to write, can’t help myself.
Author website: www.janturnerjones.wordpress.com
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