Kate Bailey, LISP 2022 Short Story Finalist by 'Imagine If That Was Your Dad'

LISP 2022 Short Story Finalist, 'Imagine If That Was Your Dad' by Kate Bailey

- Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

I was born and raised in Cheshire but have not lived there for a long time. I now live in Singapore with my husband and three children, and am studying for my MA in Crime Fiction.

- When and how did you get into writing?

I have always loved writing, but kept it quite secret for fear of being ridiculed. However, a few years ago I decided to take the plunge and see what I could do with it. I applied for a Diploma in Creative Writing but was fairly sure that I would be laughed out of the interview. To my delight and trepidation they accepted me, and I spent two years studying with the most wonderful group who inspired and challenged me everyday. This gave me the boost to go on to study for my Masters where I have met another group of fantastic writers, and to submit my work to this competition.

- How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

I write in one form or another every day, whether it is working on exercises or assignments for uni, or my own projects. Some days are more productive than others. I take inspiration from anything and everything, and every time I think of something that I like I write it down on a post-it and stick it up in my office. My walls are covered with post-its with random sentences and ideas on them.

- How does it feel to have your work recognised?

Just wonderful. I battle with severe imposter syndrome, so to have my work chosen has given me the biggest boost. This is the first time I have allowed myself to enter a writing competition so to be a finalist is just wonderful. It has given me the confidence to share more of my writing.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about writing a Screenplay/Story?

Knowing when to stop tinkering with a story can be extremely challenging. I often get to a point where I am just moving fullstops and commas around, I find it very difficult to accept that a piece is finished.

The best thing is when inspiration hits, my inner critic (which can be far too loud) gets drowned out and the words just fly onto the page. It is a great feeling.

- How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

Imagine If That Was Your Dad was actually based on my own experiences of growing up with an alcoholic parent, and the feeling of loneliness and helplessness that a child in that situation feels.

- Can you please give us a few tips about writing a Story?

Write it down! Whenever that flash of inspiration hits just get it down, don’t let distractions interfere. Chances are (if you are like me) that tomorrow you will hate it and wonder why you ever wrote it, but you have to let yourself write that first bad draft. Everything that comes after that is an improvement.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions?

The waiting to hear the results - it is agonising.

- Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit their stories/screenplays to LISP?

Definitely! What is the worst that could happen?