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Becca Lloyd Interview


Writewords talks to Becca Lloyd , WriteWords site expert and short fiction writer.

How, when and why did you first start writing?

I began writing in Africa between 1993 and 1995. I was posted to a remote village hospital. We often didn’t have electricity, beer, medical equipment, much in the way of food, or sanity. I had books, they ran out. People started telling me all sorts of stunning true stories of hopes, poverty and ingenuity. I couldn’t help but write them down. I kept a diary as well, which if I’d known I’d be writing from that time on, I’d have been incredibly anal about, recording everything.

What’s your writing background- please give us a brief career biog

I have written a novel about those days, but being more interested in the short story form, I haven’t pushed it hard. David Grossman looked at it and thought his agency too small to take a risk with something so genre-less and odd.

My first published story, ‘Dreaming Chairs’ was accepted by Mslexia in 1999, then in 2001 Carriage House review took ‘Egyptian Boat, and the ‘Meat Freezer’ in 2002. Danforth Review took ‘The Lobster Woman’s Luck’ in 2002. Then ‘The Splendid Plan Incommunicado’ was published in Quality Women’s Fiction about the same time, and Carriage House Review took ‘Something Mother Said’ this year.

The rejections might be interesting; I have sent out 13 stories between 1999 and now, and have had 7 rejected. One story has been rejected 3 times, three rejected twice, and three have been rejected once.

Things relevant to my writing that feed into it? I’d say my peculiar childhood must, at some level, feed into my writing. But the only time I’ve ever used anything out of it consciously was in ‘Dust’ where the girl buries the mutton in the earth. The table scene resembles how things were for my sisters and me.

What inspires you to write?

I know I am still fascinated by the oddness of humanity, by marginalized people; many writers are I think. I am very taken with the idea of beauty juxtaposed with vileness, and there are endless examples of that everywhere you look.

Who are your favourite writers, books etc and why?

My favourite short story writer remains Jane Bowles, in particular her story ‘Stick of Green Candy.’ She is just so peculiar and off-the-wall. I love the writing of people like Eudora Welty, Djuna Barnes, Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor. A more recent writer I love would be Lorrie Moore. I’ve a strange idea they’ve got something in common, but I’ve never analysed it. I read more biographies than anything else.

How did you feel when you first started sending your writing out into the world?

Dreadful. Very anxious, hoping I’d done all that was asked in the way of presentation.

What was your breakthrough moment ?

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