Chris Cottom lives near Macclesfield, UK. His winning entry in the Off the Rails 3 Minute Story Competition was read aloud to passengers on the Esk Valley Railway between Middlesbrough and Whitby. Others have won competitions with Allingham Festival, Cranked Anvil, Free Flash Fiction, Hysteria, National Flash Fiction Day NZ, On The Premises, Retreat West, Shooter Flash, The Phare, WestWord, and elsewhere. He’s packed Christmas hampers in a Harrods basement, sold airtime for Radio Luxembourg, and served a twelve-year stretch as an insurance copywriter. He liked the writing job best. |
Interview with Chris Cottom about his story
"Arctic Terns Are Not the Only Ones to Mate for Life"
Honorable Mention for The Scribes Prize
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
The constraint, ceding the pen to the knife, and the bittersweet thrill of killing a darling.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
Alice Munro, Alice Munro, Alice Munro.
If you could continue writing your story after these 100 words, what would happen next?
I’m afraid there’s only ever going to be one winner on the permafrost.
The constraint, ceding the pen to the knife, and the bittersweet thrill of killing a darling.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
Alice Munro, Alice Munro, Alice Munro.
If you could continue writing your story after these 100 words, what would happen next?
I’m afraid there’s only ever going to be one winner on the permafrost.