Lou Antonelli started writing fiction in middle age; his first story was published in 2003 when he was 46. He’s had 105 short stories published in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, India and Portugal in venues such as Asimov’s Science Fiction, Jim Baen’s Universe, Tales of the Talisman, Andromeda Spaceways In-Flight Magazine, Greatest Uncommon Denominator (GUD), Daily Science Fiction, Buzzy Mag, and Omni Reboot, among many others.
1. How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I’ve been writing 15 years. It started submitting and writing when I realized it was something on my “bucket list” that I had never gotten around to doing.
2. What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
Don’t wait for inspiration, write every day, and submit what you write.
3. If you could go back and find yourself five years ago, what advice would you give yourself?
Don’t accept being on the Sad Puppy slate in 2015.
4. What do you think the publishing industry will look like twenty-five years from now?
It will all be online, and very small, because thanks to the internet and media the next generation will have an attention span of 144 characters.
5. Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
I’m a complete pantser, I found outlines make me nervous and cramp my style.
6. How do you deal with rejections?
Shrug them off. Everyone gets them, even the best of writers. It just comes with the territory.
7. Were you taught anything about creative writing in high school or college that just didn’t work for you?
Outlining. Like I said, it doesn’t work fort me.
8. In your opinion, how important is a writing degree or MFA when it comes to achieving success in writing fiction?
Not important at all. In fact, most MFA programs crank out people who write pretentious, unreadable bullshit.
9. What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
Write a sequel or follow-up to my first novel, published earlier this year, “Another Girl, Another Planet”.
10. Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
Another Girl, Another Planet. I’m proud of it, and it’s been getting excellent reviews. You can find it on Amazon.
