...BILL MCSTOWE!
Welcome to 7 Questions, a platform for readers to gain some insight on some rising stars of the world of online fiction. This week's 7 Questions were tackled by Bill McStowe, a writer whose journal-style fiction has been ranking the most popular on Channillo.com for months. His wit and observations keep readers coming. So, without further ado, here are his answers:
1. Name a piece of fiction that has recently made you excited about writing. Movie. Book. Sunday comic strip. Doesn’t matter what format.
The only thing that gets me excited about writing is time. Give me a block of time without interruption and I am a happy man. When my birthday comes around, I ask for time. Last year, I got a Snuggie.
2. What’s the funnest part about writing? What’s the least fun?
Finishing is fun. Losing a pen in your Snuggie is not.
3. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have a plan for what you write? Or do you just sit down and start typing?
I have a general idea. I explore it. If it doesn’t work, I literally throw unwanted pages into the fire. I love fire.
4. You’ve been hired to write Tetris: the Movie. Who's the protagonist? Who’s the antagonist? What’s the central conflict?
This is a Ben Stiller vehicle all the way. He’s a night watchman in a store like FAO Schwarz- but not FAO Schwarz, following me? The store has lost its holiday appeal because of all the online shopping so they bring in these giant Tetris blocks from some vague island. There is a story that the blocks are cursed, but the Suits don’t want to hear it. All they care about is the bottom line, you know? At night the blocks come to life and threaten to destroy the city- possibly mankind. The blocks, though, have to get by Ben before they can start wreaking real havoc. Ben discovers that if he can piece the blocks together, they’ll disappear. The only problem is that these blocks keep coming at him faster and faster. Poor Ben is up against it. I mean, these blocks go on forever, but Ben won’t quit. He needs this job.
5. Tell us about a fiction project you’re currently working on or have recently finished.
My main focus these days is my serial, Uncharted, on channillo.com. I write a weekly spot in journal form about a hapless single guy trying to navigate his way through the daily grind. He likes turkey sandwiches and pizza.
6. Any nonfiction projects we should know about? Blogs? Columns? Etc?
I’m turning my memoir into a three-act play about my time stuck in rush-hour traffic. I’m taking that Seinfeld approach where “nothing happens.” I’ve completed the first act. Nothing happened.
7. How can we find what you’ve written?
Look for Uncharted on Channillo. I also have stories all over the internet. Some are pretty good. Some I should’ve thrown in the fire.
Bill McStowe lives in New York. He is the author of Uncharted, a successful series on channillo.com. Recently, his work appeared in the Microfiction Monday Magazine Best of 2015 anthology. Bill has a website and can be found @billmcstowe.
1. Name a piece of fiction that has recently made you excited about writing. Movie. Book. Sunday comic strip. Doesn’t matter what format.
The only thing that gets me excited about writing is time. Give me a block of time without interruption and I am a happy man. When my birthday comes around, I ask for time. Last year, I got a Snuggie.
2. What’s the funnest part about writing? What’s the least fun?
Finishing is fun. Losing a pen in your Snuggie is not.
3. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have a plan for what you write? Or do you just sit down and start typing?
I have a general idea. I explore it. If it doesn’t work, I literally throw unwanted pages into the fire. I love fire.
4. You’ve been hired to write Tetris: the Movie. Who's the protagonist? Who’s the antagonist? What’s the central conflict?
This is a Ben Stiller vehicle all the way. He’s a night watchman in a store like FAO Schwarz- but not FAO Schwarz, following me? The store has lost its holiday appeal because of all the online shopping so they bring in these giant Tetris blocks from some vague island. There is a story that the blocks are cursed, but the Suits don’t want to hear it. All they care about is the bottom line, you know? At night the blocks come to life and threaten to destroy the city- possibly mankind. The blocks, though, have to get by Ben before they can start wreaking real havoc. Ben discovers that if he can piece the blocks together, they’ll disappear. The only problem is that these blocks keep coming at him faster and faster. Poor Ben is up against it. I mean, these blocks go on forever, but Ben won’t quit. He needs this job.
5. Tell us about a fiction project you’re currently working on or have recently finished.
My main focus these days is my serial, Uncharted, on channillo.com. I write a weekly spot in journal form about a hapless single guy trying to navigate his way through the daily grind. He likes turkey sandwiches and pizza.
6. Any nonfiction projects we should know about? Blogs? Columns? Etc?
I’m turning my memoir into a three-act play about my time stuck in rush-hour traffic. I’m taking that Seinfeld approach where “nothing happens.” I’ve completed the first act. Nothing happened.
7. How can we find what you’ve written?
Look for Uncharted on Channillo. I also have stories all over the internet. Some are pretty good. Some I should’ve thrown in the fire.
Bill McStowe lives in New York. He is the author of Uncharted, a successful series on channillo.com. Recently, his work appeared in the Microfiction Monday Magazine Best of 2015 anthology. Bill has a website and can be found @billmcstowe.