Lori Cramer

I'm Lori Cramer, from the northeastern United States. I write mostly flash fiction, micro fiction, and prose poetry, but I also have a few novels in the drawer. An avid baseball fan, I love tucking baseball references into my stories. Links to my work can be found at loricramerfiction.wordpress.com.

Question 1: What inspired you to start writing?

The endless supply of lined paper in my third-grade teacher's classroom--and a love of words.

Question 2: What have you written that you're the most proud of?

"Adam Addiction," published February 23, 2021, by Flash Fiction Magazine.

Question 3: When did you first call yourself a writer?

When I finished the first draft of my first novel in 2010.

Question 4: What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

It depends on what I'm writing. For novels, I'm a plotter--though I usually end up wandering off in a different direction after a few chapters. With shorter forms, I rarely plot; I prefer to let the piece lead the way.

Question 5: Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?

When I'm working on a novel, I create a playlist to set the mood while I'm writing; when working on shorter pieces, I generally write in silence. The music that most inspires me is the sound of my husband playing bass in the next room.

Question 6: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

Don't compare yourself with other writers. Instead, compare yourself with the writer you were yesterday.

Question 7: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

Keep writing! Other good ways: reading, taking classes and workshops, getting feedback from writers you respect.

Question 8: Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

Definitely my husband. He reads all my published stories, and we're continually talking about writing: what I'm working on, how it's going, publications that might be a good fit, acceptances and rejections.

Question 9: If you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?

introverted, detail-oriented, hopeful