Jeremiah Minihan lives in Rochester, New Hampshire with his wife Peggy and their Boston terrier, Belle. He writes short stories and essays, and has previously published short stories in Pif Magazine, Dark Dossier, Yellow Mama, Blood Moon Rising, Literally Stories, and CommuterLit.
1. How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I’ve been interested in writing since chikdhood. I began actively witing in college and have continued since, with some years more productive than others. I was an English major in college, and that helped, too.
2. What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
The best advice I could give would be to read constantly, to write daily, and to be persistent.
3. Are there any writing resources, such as books or websites, you’d like to recommend
I like The Submissions Grinder website. It is helpful in finding markets and keeping track of submissions. I like Aeryn Rudel’s Rejectomancy website, too. He has useful tips and suggestions for writers and great encouragement as well. Writers’ Weekly magazine has good leads as well.
4. How do you measure success when it comes to your writing?
I think the main things are to be honest and realistic about what you are doing. I try to revise — sometimes over-revise — but I want to always improve what I do. I look at older stories that I have written and admit that some of them are not good. Still, I am surprised sometimes by how good some stories are
5. What tips do you have for finding time to write?
I like the mornings, but I block of whatever time I can When I was commuting, When I was commuting, I tried to use whatever bits of time I could
6. Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
I am in between. I do some outlining — plot, characters, and settings, but I am often not sure, from day to day, where a story is heading
7. How do you deal with rejections?
Rejections are hard, whether they come quickly or slowly. Realistically, most things will be rejected, but I try to get stories out again promptly. Also, it helps to have a number of items out at once. I have about a dozen stories out now, That way a single rejection doesn’t sting as much.
8. Do you participate in any online or in-person critique or writing groups?
I m a member of a local writing group. We don’t do much critiquing, but it’s nice to get your work and effort exposed and validated by others
9. What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
I have several novellas that I would like to finish revising and send out. Also, I have a novel that I would like to complete. I will also continue writing and submitting short stories as well
10. What books are you reading right now?
I am working my way (slowly) through Vanity Fair. I’m also reading The Razor’s Edge and have just finished some short stories by Julian Barnes. I try to keep up with contemporary fiction and old classics that I should have ready by now.
