Contest Winner - Amy Hansen

What contest was your winning entry submitted to?

The Sci-Fi First Pages Contest

How many writing contests have you entered?

One or two

Please give the title of your entry and a short summary of the story.
Galactic Wormships is set in the future where space travel is possible because of wormships, ships that are creatures that move between the pieces of space, much as microscopic nematodes move in Earth’s soil. We meet Carolyn as she returns to her ship, wearing only her underwear. She is captain of the ship, but not dressed the part at the moment. Her abuser shows up trying to kidnap her and take her back to the Burroughs.

What inspired your winning entry?
I wrote a great deal of this story as I walked during the pandemic. I dictated the ideas into my cellphone and typed it back out as I got home. I think the nature of the planet and travel comes from my moving while writing.

How has entering this contest helped your writing?
I publish mostly nonfiction, but during the pandemic I gave myself time and permission to try other types of writing. Having some place to share it and get critiqued was lovely.

How did the critique in the Winners’ Workshop help you?
Hearing Kelli Panique screech as she got to the ending of the 1,000 words and complain that she needed more, was one of the best compliments I’ve had with my stories. I will feast on the compliments of both her and Lynne Smith for a while, and continue writing fiction.

Are you a full-time writer? If not, what is your “day job”?
I am a children’s book writer as well as a newspaper editor and a playwright.

How long have you been writing?
50 years. Professionally 30.

What will you do with your piece now that it’s been recognized?
I have the story outlined, but not written. I will keep writing.

Any fun plans for the prize money?
Going to restaurants sounds novel at this point.

What do you do when you’re feeling discouraged or blocked? Do you have any tips for your fellow writers?
I play far too many computer games. But the answer to what I do about being discouraged or blocked is walking and writing by dictation. Getting moving changes my brain space.

If you could go to the yard sale of any character in the history of children’s literature, whose would you go to, and what would you buy?

I think I would like to take Eloise’s dog for a walk. It always struck me as sad that Weenie didn’t have a lot of grass to roll in.

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