Caitlin Magnall-Kearns, LISP 4th Quarter 2020 Official Selection, Short Story

LISP 4th Quarter 2020 Official Selection, Short Story, 'Glimmers' by Caitlin Magnall-Kearns

Can you please tell us about your daily life?

At the minute I am working as a freelance writer and director, working primarily in theatre. I currently live at home in Belfast with my mum, dad and our terrier Mavis.

When did you start writing? How often do you write?

I try to write an hour or two every week day, whether that’s for fun, entering competitions or writing or editing scripts. I’ve been writing on and off since I was 18, but have really gotten back into it in the past year. I had a few knocks to my confidence, but during the first lockdown I finally plucked up the courage to start writing again, and it has made my life so much better for it.

How does it feel to have your work recognised?

It is honestly fantastic to be recognised in this way, and was a welcome boost to my confidence, especially as I’ve only been getting back into writing prose in the past few months.

What's the best thing and the hardest thing about writing a Short Story?

The best thing is when it resonates with people, that for me is all I want to do as a writer. The hardest thing is putting pen to paper and starting.

How did you come up with the idea for your LISP selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

My story originally started life in Autumn last year as a monologue, but after revisiting it I thought it could actually make the basis for a good short story. So I revised the original monologue, and adapted it into a short story. My starting point was to write about hope, even in the most dire and desperate of times, and the little glimmers of joy that make life worth living.

Can you please give us a few tips about writing a short story?

Write from the heart, and write something that you would want to read.

Lastly, do you recommend the writers to give it a go on LISP?

Absolutely give it a go. I had absolutely no expectations when I submitted, but ultimately was delighted I put my work out there.