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Autumn Bettinger is a short-form fiction writer and full-time mother of two living in Portland, Oregon. When not folding laundry or slinging snacks, she can be found writing in the wee hours of the morning before her children wake up. She is a 2024 Fishtrap fellow, has won the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, the Not Quite Write Flash Fiction Prize, and has been highly commended in the Bath Flash Fiction Awards. Her work has been audio adapted for The No Sleep Podcast and her stories can be found in The Journal of Compressed Literary Arts, The Good Life Review, On The Run, and others. |
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Interview with Autumn Bettinger
about her story "Last Light of a Dying Sun"
Honorable Mention for The Scribes Prize
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What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
Microfiction is a moment, an immediacy that is such a thrill to capture in so few words. I love this format because it really forces you to choose the right words with the biggest impact, and lose all the unnecessary adjectives or filtering. It is such a strength as a writer to be able to distill something down and there’s a little dopamine hit every time you finish, and you can finish quickly once you get the hang of writing to word count.
If you could continue writing your story after these 100 words, what would happen next?
Well, the sun would wink out completely, I suppose. I get cold just thinking about it.
What's next on the horizon for you?
I’ll be teaching a two-part online microfiction workshop through Fishtrap Writers of the West. It’s my first class and I’m terribly excited. I’m such a cheerleader for this format and it tickles me to no end that I get to introduce more people to the joy of writing small.
Microfiction is a moment, an immediacy that is such a thrill to capture in so few words. I love this format because it really forces you to choose the right words with the biggest impact, and lose all the unnecessary adjectives or filtering. It is such a strength as a writer to be able to distill something down and there’s a little dopamine hit every time you finish, and you can finish quickly once you get the hang of writing to word count.
If you could continue writing your story after these 100 words, what would happen next?
Well, the sun would wink out completely, I suppose. I get cold just thinking about it.
What's next on the horizon for you?
I’ll be teaching a two-part online microfiction workshop through Fishtrap Writers of the West. It’s my first class and I’m terribly excited. I’m such a cheerleader for this format and it tickles me to no end that I get to introduce more people to the joy of writing small.
Interview with Autumn Bettinger
about her story "Ducky"
Silver Winner in The Scribes Prize
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What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
I don't have a lot of time to write. With two small kids and a busy homelife I've found that short-form writing is just a better fit for me. Though, if I'm being honest, even if I had great swaths of time in which to write, I'd probably still write short. There's something electric about conveying emotional resonance and a story arc in such a small space. I fell in love with flash and micro pretty early on in my writing life, and I haven't had any desire to go longer.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
I mean, in the world of short fiction Kathy Fish is everything. I love her work and her personal story. Turning forty this year I find incredible inspiration in the fact that she didn't start publishing until later in life and now she's a thriving author who teaches and judges and is steeped in literary life. As for authors of longer books, my favorites will always be Ursula K. Le Guin and N. K. Jemisin. What can I say? Older women writers who are iconic. That's my wheelhouse.
What excites you most about writing these days?
I've found a home in short-form competition writing. I thrive with a quick deadline and prompts. I didn't know competition writing was a thing until just before the pandemic when I stumbled upon the nycmidnight 100-word micro contest. Since then, I can't get enough. It's much different than writing for yourself about anything you get the notion for, this is a fast-paced juggernaut of a creative kickstart. Having trouble with writer's block? Need a little space in your writing life? Try a 24-hour competition! It's a blast. And you'll meet a whole slew of other writers.
I don't have a lot of time to write. With two small kids and a busy homelife I've found that short-form writing is just a better fit for me. Though, if I'm being honest, even if I had great swaths of time in which to write, I'd probably still write short. There's something electric about conveying emotional resonance and a story arc in such a small space. I fell in love with flash and micro pretty early on in my writing life, and I haven't had any desire to go longer.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
I mean, in the world of short fiction Kathy Fish is everything. I love her work and her personal story. Turning forty this year I find incredible inspiration in the fact that she didn't start publishing until later in life and now she's a thriving author who teaches and judges and is steeped in literary life. As for authors of longer books, my favorites will always be Ursula K. Le Guin and N. K. Jemisin. What can I say? Older women writers who are iconic. That's my wheelhouse.
What excites you most about writing these days?
I've found a home in short-form competition writing. I thrive with a quick deadline and prompts. I didn't know competition writing was a thing until just before the pandemic when I stumbled upon the nycmidnight 100-word micro contest. Since then, I can't get enough. It's much different than writing for yourself about anything you get the notion for, this is a fast-paced juggernaut of a creative kickstart. Having trouble with writer's block? Need a little space in your writing life? Try a 24-hour competition! It's a blast. And you'll meet a whole slew of other writers.