|
Antony Püttschneider is a writer from Northern Germany. You can call him Tony. Writing had never been much of a priority for him; at least not until enrolling in a creative writing course during his time at university. It quickly grew from a fun distraction and a means to improve his grades to something akin to a passion. After completing his BA in German and English Literature in 2022, he started writing full-time (as in: as much as his procrastinating brain permits) with the help of his ever supportive partner. Among his preferred genres are sci-fi and weird fiction, though his shorter works tend to be a reflection of his own past rather than fiction. So far, his short stories, micro fiction pieces, and poems have appeared in Elegant Literature, Friday Flash Fiction, Five Minutes, and ScribesMICRO. Most recently, his poem "Stargazing" has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. |
Interview with Antony Püttschneider
about his story "Every Other Sunday"
Honorable Mention for The Scribes Prize
|
What inspired this piece?
My childhood, particularly from around the ages of 8 to 12. When you feel more like a chore than a child to your divorced parents, and school is anything but a source of pleasant anticipation, you're constantly on the lookout for distractions, small sparks of comfort, and a sense of acceptance. In my case, the solution to all of those was my cat.
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
The challenge of having to cram lots of information in a tiny space. Sometimes I feel like I'm able to convey more by saying less—and I'm not saying much to begin with most of the time. In regards to nonfiction pieces, it's also a fantastic medium to reflect on past experiences. Be it failed one-night-stands, miscellaneous traumata, or coming out to your friends and family.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
T.S. Eliot, Ray Bradbury, Algernon Blackwood, Cormac McCarthy, Harlan Ellison, Jeff VanderMeer, Der Stricker (and other Medieval poets), among others. I tend to gravitate towards the weird, the grim, and the fantastic. Though as long as the writing is beautiful enough to draw me in, the story itself is secondary.
My childhood, particularly from around the ages of 8 to 12. When you feel more like a chore than a child to your divorced parents, and school is anything but a source of pleasant anticipation, you're constantly on the lookout for distractions, small sparks of comfort, and a sense of acceptance. In my case, the solution to all of those was my cat.
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
The challenge of having to cram lots of information in a tiny space. Sometimes I feel like I'm able to convey more by saying less—and I'm not saying much to begin with most of the time. In regards to nonfiction pieces, it's also a fantastic medium to reflect on past experiences. Be it failed one-night-stands, miscellaneous traumata, or coming out to your friends and family.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
T.S. Eliot, Ray Bradbury, Algernon Blackwood, Cormac McCarthy, Harlan Ellison, Jeff VanderMeer, Der Stricker (and other Medieval poets), among others. I tend to gravitate towards the weird, the grim, and the fantastic. Though as long as the writing is beautiful enough to draw me in, the story itself is secondary.