Watch the May 2016 Winning Short Story Reading.
MY ROAMEO, WHERE ART THOU MY ROAMEO by Michelle Assor
Performed by actor Becky Shrimpton
Get to know writer Michelle Assor:
1. What is your 1pg Short Story about?
My story is about a woman in the midst of a marriage crisis and a pending divorce. While walking her dog one morning, she receives an eerie phone call from a family member who reluctantly discloses that her husband is dead.
2. What genres would you say this short story is in?
Drama/Tragedy
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Senseless tragedy
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Nightmare before Christmas – Forrest Gump – The Unbearable Lightness of Being
5. How long have you been working on this story?
Approximately two to three hours.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
The Jungle Book – Passage to India – A Tale of Two Cities.
Many many favorites. Love the classics.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
Writer’s real life experience.
8. What artist would you love to have dinner with?
In lieu of the tragic subject matter of my short story, I would like to have dinner with ‘Prince’. I know he has passed away but I believe our souls move on to other realms. We are essentially eternal and I would love to meet him, in whatever form he appears. I admire his creativity, his originality; his eclectic mix of music fused into ‘his own thing’. I think he was a fascinating individual and I would love to learn about his darkest secrets, his visions and his views on life.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am passionate about the state of the world we live in. It is troubling in all respects, economically, politically and socially. I am passionate about education and the future of our children. I think the ever increasing rate of global illiteracy is worrisome. Being literate enables us to work things out in a practical manner without resorting to violence as the only alternative. As far as technology is concerned, I endorse it but at the same time, because of it, we will evolve into different human beings, more robotic in our thinking, without the capacity to use our imaginations to their full human extent. Very sad.
10. What influenced you to enter the 1pg. Short Story contest?
My passion is writing, no matter what form or length. I am a published author of a YA fantasy novel and am busy writing the sequel. This short story entry was encouraged by a real life event and it will probably prompt me to write a novel about this tragic incident in the future. I want to try all genres, all forms of writing.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Writing is a passion, not a past time. If there is nothing else you would rather do, then writing is the right choice for you. If you want to succeed, be tough, be think skinned. It is a challenging, saturated industry, like much else. However, if this is where you believe you belong, your talent will reach an audience, no matter how long it takes. Believe in yourself.
Novel Writing Festival 