“Everything looks perfectly normal to me, dozens of stars up there, here at the edge of the city. Light pollution blocks out the rest, that much I know. But I’m not even sure where the north star is. I couldn’t pick out a single constellation.”
—Travis Flatt, "Too Many Stars"
Travis Flatt is our featured Prose contributor for Issue 5: Mirage! Their eerie, compelling story "Too Many Stars" charts the uncanny realizations of a family finding out that there's some things ever so slightly wrong with their hometown—you can find his story here. In this interview, Flatt offers insight into his daily writing routine, the real-life inspirations behind "Too Many Stars," the fun of open-ended endings, and more! I hope you enjoy Flatt's insightful words about his passion for storytelling.
How would you describe your writing style and process?
My process is pretty routine. I write every day. I’ll make time on weekend mornings, or during my plan time at work. Before I start writing, I read. I attack a blank word document the moment I feel fired up. That’s the point of reading. I don't have much trouble coming up with ideas, but when you write every day you find positive ways to stave off fatigue. I do, anyway. I’ll often write an entire draft in one sitting. I’ll comb over it and decide if I like it, then let the workshop I’m in (Smokelong Fitness, currently) give their thoughts. When possible, I like to write with others. Stylistically, I don’t think my work is very lyrical. I look to get my ideas across efficiently. Beginnings are important to me. Sometimes, I sit on a plot or idea for months because I can’t think of a good way to get into it, the best way to start the story. That can be very frustrating.
What inspired you to write “Too Many Stars”?
Last year, I went on a trip to Las Vegas with my wife. She had a work conference there. We took a day and drove out to Death Valley to see the stars. I’ve never seen the desert night sky before. I live somewhere with a lot of light pollution. She’s from out west and is better traveled than me; she thought this up as a sort of present. I found it awesome but creepy. The idea for the story came almost after that night, but it took multiple false starts to find the right beginning. The first draft was a couple like my wife and I, then a young couple on a date in Death Valley, and so on.
What is your favorite scene or moment in this story and why?
For the reasons I’ve been harping on, probably the beginning, how I found a way to make it mysterious and use more characters than I normally do. I like the ending as well, how it hints at a larger and more ominous picture. This is the kind of story I’d like to either turn into a series of shorts, or extend into a longer piece.
Though we don’t know much of what causes the strange events of the narrative, you nonetheless keep readers engaged throughout the uncanny events. How do you decide what pieces of information to illuminate for the reader, and what to keep hidden?
That’s a delicate question. There was a tone or vibe I envisioned from the get go and I didn’t want to break that. I wanted it to feel oppressive, like there’s something huge and mysterious hanging above the characters. That’s frightening to me, which is what I was aiming for.
The ending implies drawing attention to oneself—breaking the status quo—as something dangerous. Do you think we should stick to “Their design” in real life, whatever that might mean? Why or why not?
This is where I intentionally left things odd. I don’t think we should stick with the status quo in real life. I value creativity and individualism. But, what makes this a difficult question is that my usage of a proper noun (“Their”) has a specific meaning in my mind, one that’s supposed to be ambiguous and off-putting. That’s part of the fun.
What overarching emotions and thoughts do you wish to evoke in readers’ minds?
This one’s easier. It sounds a bit superficial or thin to say “uneasy” or “tense,” but I want the reader to be concerned for this family, to question what this family might be like on a normal day, or to think, “What would I do?” I want them to consider the parents’ worry for their son, the dark humor in the sister’s reaction. Family dynamics are a theme I enjoy.
What plans do you have for the future regarding writing?
My brother and I are working on the manuscript for a collaborative story collection or chapbook. We both write flash fiction and short stories. We’ve been talking on the phone regularly, emailing back and forth.
Anything else you would like to add about your writing?
I mean it when I say I intend on expanding this story, or writing a follow up. Obviously, I hope anyone who enjoys this story will take interest in my stuff and look out for something like that.
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