We had the privilege of talking with MM Schreier on winning FIRST place overall in this year's Writer's Games... FOR THE THIRD TIME!

WW: What encouraged you to participate in Writer's Games this year? 

MMS: This was my tenth time participating, so the Games have become a well-anticipated yearly tradition for me. I’m aware from experience that it is a grueling marathon, but I respond positively to prompts and deadlines. Knowing I’ll have six new stories at the end is so satisfying.

WW: What were you worried or nervous about coming into this year's Games?

MMS: After writing 62 Games’ stories (not counting Mock Events) there’s not much left to be nervous about. It used to bother me that I would inevitably procrastinate and then churn out three thousand words on the last day, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is my process.   

WW: What kept you motivated to participate in each Event?

MMS: I like to finish what I start and typically put a lot of pressure on myself to do the thing, even when it’s hard. It’s probably not healthy, especially when I’m constantly advising my writing friends to give themselves grace. One of these days, I’ll take my own advice! But, historically, I know I have written some of my favorite stories during previous Games, so it keeps me going, knowing that the next one could be a new favorite. 

WW: How did life's challenges affect your writing?

MMS: Because my process is to wait until the last day, it can be both a benefit and a challenge. Generally, I’m only spending a few hours on any given story so that leaves me most of the allotted time to handle the rest of my life. I’m not hidden away from my loved ones and responsibilities for three full days. However, once or twice, Monday was hectic and so the submitted stories weren’t as polished as I would have liked them to be. But that’s ok--they have solid bones and I’m happy to revise them for submissions to lit mags later. (In fact, all of my stories that didn’t place in Events are already polished and out on sub!)

WW: Which Event did you have the most fun with?

MMS: I think Event 5 Life Finds a Way was the most fun for me. I wrote a stylistic story that had a very literary, formal voice in the manner of the old, classic myths. It was a fun challenge imbuing an Odyssey-style vibe while still being accessible to a modern audience. I wasn’t sure how the judges would receive it, but it definitely appealed to my inner word nerd so I just went with it. 

WW: Which Event was more challenging for you than the rest?

MMS: My piece for Event 2 Beneath the Surface really fought me every step of the way. The idea in my head was simpler than what ended up on the page. It kept getting wordier and more bloated, meandering away from the story I wanted to tell. The ending rewrote itself and didn’t have the same impact as the one I originally imagined. I’ve since gone back and rewritten it to about half the length. Bigger/longer isn’t always better.

WW: Where do you find inspiration?

MMS: For me, writing is how I process life. Even when the stories are speculative they typically explore some aspect of humanity and often begin with an emotion or a mood. Sometimes something as simple as a phrase or an image can inspire a whole complex rabbithole. The best stories come from a weird little quiet place that’s hard for me to access intentionally. Because I have a noisy brain, when the stories escape from that hidden pool of serenity, it almost feels like they magically appear out of nowhere. They don’t of course, it’s just my deep thinking place processing the world around me. 

WW: What's the best writing advice someone has ever given you and who said it? How did it change your perspective on writing?

MMS: There are so many writing “how-tos” out there. Some are brilliant; some rubbish. They often contradict each other. As a (reformed) people pleaser, I’ve spent much of my life focused on rules. Trying to adhere to the plethora of writing mandates was confusing and frustrating, especially when doing things the “right” way felt like an uphill battle. Then someone gave me permission to just do the things that worked for me. It didn’t matter how I got words on the page, only that they got there. This was remarkably freeing. I wait until the last minute. I edit as I go. I don’t have a consistent writing routine. I do a lot of the “wrong” things, but it works for me. Find what works for you.  

WW: What advice would you give to writers thinking about participating in next year's Games?

MMS: This isn’t about winning. It’s not about getting published in an anthology. It’s not even about creating amazing stories. The Games are about writing. It’s six opportunities to learn something about who you are as a writer in a low-risk environment. If you are new to the craft, it’s a good venue to practice centering fundamentals (Core Concepts). If you're more experienced, it’s a place to stretch yourself, to take a chance trying something outside your comfort zone. What do you have to lose?

Responses are published as received.

About MM Schreier:

MM Schreier is the author of two speculative collections—MONSTROSITY, HUMANITY and BRUISED, RESILIENT—as well as has numerous shorts published in a wide range of venues. In addition to creative pursuits, Schreier is on Leadership for a robotics company and tutors maths and science to at-risk youth.