We had the privilege of talking with T.C. Leigh on winning third place overall in this year's Writer's Games!

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

TCL: I learned about the Writer's Games when I signed up for the "Winning Writers" newsletter, which I highly recommend-- it sends updates on literary contests and opportunities. I only started writing about five years ago, and only in novel form. I had no experience with flash, poetry, essay or short story, and I thought "hey, this would be a great way to learn more about how to write short stories!" It sounded too good to be true: a whole community of supportive writers and free, copious feedback from judges? Amazing! 

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

TCL: I was worried about finding the time to write each week, but that also was part of the allure: I love deadlines, because otherwise I find too many excuses not to sit down and write. I was a bit nervous that the judges would not like my work, as I had never written short stories before. However, as all [Writer's] Games contestants soon learn, the judges are all so thoughtful and kind and their feedback is very helpful--so that fear disappeared quickly!

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

TCL: Honestly-- the pure fun of it. It was a blast to wait for the announced topic and core concepts, unleash my imagination to toy with increasingly insane ideas, and then sit down and hammer it out. The fact that the feedback for each piece was so helpful also enabled me to use it to better each successive entry, so I felt I was on an upward trajectory. The Discord group was also great to be a part of--they were like spotters at a gym encouraging each other to keep going.

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

TCL: My family had an unexpected tragedy in January of this year. We decided to travel together in the summer, so when the Writer's Games were happening I was on vacation with them. This meant that, during the day, my brain was taken up with a lot of emotional and physical noise, especially as I have two young children I was constantly trying to corral. On the one hand, this did add to the challenge of finding the time and energy needed to write. On the other, it meant that making the time to sit down (usually at night when everyone else was asleep) felt very therapeutic. I found that writing these stories was a way to process a lot of what happened to us this year, and I learned more about the way a writer can translate their own emotions into their work.

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

TCL: Er.....all of them!! I don't think any one in particular was not fun. Perhaps the Practice Event was the most fun, because when I did that one I learned what a joy the whole challenge was.

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

TCL: The last. I was very sad the Games were over and I wanted to end with a real punch. I think I over-thought it a bit! It was less fun than the other events simply because I was focused more on writing something good and less on writing from the heart. And it didn't place! So in the next years' Games I'll remember to just have fun and not place pressure on myself.

WW: Where do you find inspiration?

TCL: On walks, especially in Nature. I find that if I want my mind to slip into the space where ideas flow, characters take shape, and plots knit together, I need to distract my brain with physical activity. It's actually a scientific fact that physical activity is beneficial for creativity! It distracts the part of your mind that deals with day-to-day stuff and external stimuli, and allows the imagination unfettered space to explore.

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

TCL: My favorite writing advice is a mish-mash of actual writing advice and a quote from Winston Churchill that is actually about fighting the Nazis. BUT! It applies to writing too. In 1941 he gave a speech saying "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing." I don't take this to mean "never give in to feedback or criticism" --on the contrary, I think it's really important to never be afraid to, as Charles Bukowski said, "write a lot of bad stuff to get to the good stuff." I interpret it as a reminder to never give up. You have to have the most insanely thick skin, because rejections will pummel the hell out of you, but every time I get a rejection I just think "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing," and I promise myself to keep trying, no matter what.

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

TCL: Heck yeah!! Do it! My advice is not to overthink it too much, but just write what gives you joy. And!! Pay close attention to the feedback! That's pure gold.

Responses are published as received.

About T.C. Leigh:

I am a high-school History teacher in Central Texas. I have my PhD in History and have written many scholarly articles (and even several textbooks) but fiction is my greatest joy: I write compulsively and constantly. I also love gardening, collecting weird antiques, growing mushrooms, getting teenagers obsessed with history, and practicing witchcraft with my plants.