Type of Story: Horror-Comedy

Synopsis: Their roommate never shuts up...but maybe that's a good thing.

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?

A stressed-out student's roommate never seems to stop talking, no matter how inappropriate or irritating the subject matter seems to be. But as much as the student longs for a moment of peace, there just might be a reason to let the constant talker keep talking.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Horror-comedy.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Talking saves!

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

The original Star Wars trilogy. You can't watch just one; it has to be all three films.

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the
most times in your life?)

"Backstreets," Bruce Springsteen

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

The best I can do is narrow this question down to two authors: Douglas Adams and Connie Willis. I'll read just about any genre, but humorous science fiction has a special place on my bookshelf.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

I have an ex as well as a friend who can talk for what seems like days, weeks, months, years, etc. on end with no pause for air. They're wonderful, generous, kind-hearted individuals (well, the friend is, anyway), but the chatter goes on and on and on to the point that I, at least, can't help but wonder if there is a secret meaning behind its consistency.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would
that be?

William Shakespeare. So many theories about so many of his works, and until we invent time travel (and come up with a mechanism for preserving the current timeline while we're visiting the past), we'll never know how many of them are grounded in reality.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Skiing is my one true love in life. I also enjoy hiking, backpacking, and bringing the house down at karaoke night.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I have put writing on the back burner for the past two years so that I could finish climbing all of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains. This contest took place two weeks after my grand finale, and a one-page competition seemed like a friendly reintroduction to writing something besides the condition updates and trip reports on my fourteener outings.

11. Any advice or tips you'd like to pass on to other writers?

Write what you know you'll enjoy writing. If the genre or form seems too long, heavy, or intimidating, it'll be too easy to talk yourself out of writing it, so make sure that whatever draws you to put letters to page gives you a sense of pleasure as you're working.