Interview: Holley Cornetto
Let’s just get this out of the way: I am a HUGE Holley Cornetto fan.
I met Holley in my first MFA workshop at Lindenwood University. Reading her story and her feedback for the others we workshopped, I felt like I had found a writer who was a kindred spirit—not to mention a writer whose critical, editorial eye was developed to such a point that they provided truly helpful feedback (because, let’s face it: some feedback just isn’t helpful). Shortly after connecting with Holley through that class, we became critique partners. Her feedback (and friendship!) has been invaluable to me; with each story she critiques, Holley helps me hone my craft and grow as a writer. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that every one of my stories she’s critiqued has been accepted for publication.
Holley’s dark speculative fiction has been published in several anthologies and magazines, with more slated for publication this year. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and the recipient of a 2020 Ladies of Horror Fiction grant. She has graciously taken time away from her many writing projects to answer the following questions:
What is your personal writing process like?
I try to outline every story, even if the outline is general and vague, so that I have an idea about the direction the story is heading in. I don’t make myself stick to the outline, but it is helpful to have. After that, I spend some time trying to develop my characters. Who are they? How do they relate to one another? What are the relationships and motivations that tie them together and drive the narrative? All of this is part of my prewriting process. Once that is done, I have to figure out how to write the actual story.
I spend time thinking about my characters and scenes, and let them play out as scenarios in my mind. This might happen while I’m driving, taking a shower, or laying in bed at night trying to fall asleep. I also try to think about the story from a reader’s perspective. If I was reading this story, what would feel satisfying to me?
Needless to say, this process takes a bit of time, and because of that, I’m not a very fast writer. Daily word counts and quotas don’t work for me, because I need time to live in the story while I’m writing it.
How big a part does reading play in your writing life?
Reading plays an enormous part. I’ve always been a reader, much longer than I’ve been a writer. I was the weird kid in high school that sat in the back rows reading horror novels while pretending to pay attention in class.
Writing without reading is like trying to have a conversation with someone, but not actually listening to what the other person has to say. You need to read as widely as possible to engage with other authors and to see what types of stories are being published.
How do you cultivate your ideas?
I spend time with them. Some people operate under the misconception that you are only writing if you are putting words down on the page, but that isn’t necessarily so. I might stop to observe a flower and try to think of the exact shade of red it is. I might look to the sky and try to find the right phrase to capture the shape of the clouds. All of these things help cultivate ideas that can be used in writing. The only way ideas grow is if you listen to them and take them seriously. Even ones you might think are bad are worth listening to, at least for a while. If you can’t advance your idea, write it down and try to revisit it later. Some stories aren’t ready to be written yet, and that’s okay.
How do you get "unstuck" creatively?
I take breaks. I need time for my creative well to fill up. I try to be patient with myself and not make unreasonable demands on myself. This is what I have to do to be a productive writer. Some people need word counts and deadlines, so the secret is doing what works for you. If I find myself in a rut, I watch movies or read for a while. When I read something I love, or watch a film that stays with me, it motivates me to write.
What's your "go-to" piece of writing advice?
Read a lot, write a lot, and then repeat. Don’t get down on yourself if your first draft isn’t good. Writing is about revision as much as it is about getting the story onto the page. Don’t take criticism or rejections personally, use them as opportunities to grow.
That was more than one, wasn’t it?
What story or book or poem inspired you to become a writer?
This is difficult to answer because there are several things that have inspired me. More than individual books or stories, I think, are characters. When I read a great character, I feel inspired to try and write a great character. To me, the important part is creating characters that the reader wants to get to know. My favorite character of all time is probably Samwise Gamgee. I think we should all try to be a little more like Sam.
Where can people find you and your work online?
I’m on Twitter, and I’m on the web at https://hcornetto.wixsite.com/mysite.
My website has links to things you can check out for free, as well as links to purchase anthologies and collections I’ve appeared in.
