Author Spotlight — August 2020
Featuring: Mark Starlin
Author Spotlight is a new monthly feature at The Friday Fix. The goal is to celebrate the many wonderful writers we have here at the publication. Each “spotlight” piece will include an interview with the author, a link to the author’s website, links to any published works outside of Medium, and a list of the author’s personal favorite stories on the Medium platform.
These posts will be free to access for everyone, forever. Enjoy!
Author Spotlight — August 2020
Mark Starlin is in the spotlight this month, and deservedly so. Mark has been submitting work to The Friday Fix for over a year, and his microfiction seems to age better than wine. If you’re new to the publication, be on the lookout for his stories. Mark is also the editor of One Minute Wit, Song Done Wrong, and he posts a lot of his work over at Mark Starlin Writes!
Interview with Mark Starlin
Q: Why do you write?
Mark: Writing is a creative outlet for me. I have learned that I need creative outlets in my life to feel fulfilled and happy. So I have several. Writing is actually my newest outlet. Before discovering Medium two and a half years ago, my writing history consisted mainly of writing humorous posts on Facebook (back when Facebook was still fun) and a few guitar method books. I never gave writing much thought. Music and playing guitar were my primary creative outlets. Then quite by accident, I discovered Medium, and the writing monster was unleashed. For better or worse [laughs].
Q: What is your earliest memory involving writing?
M: Besides learning to write my ABCs on the three-dotted lines, I had a third-grade teacher who thought math and science were a waste of time. She only taught reading and writing. We had to write a new story every day. I think that forced me to use my imagination and become a creative writer. It seemed like a difficult chore at the time, but I love writing fiction now.
Q: What is your favorite genre to write? To read?
M: My favorite genre to write is variety. Honestly, I love variety in almost everything. I would be miserable sticking to a single genre. I don’t even think about genres when I write. Although I am probably best-known (by tens of people) for writing humor, I would get bored and burned out only writing humor. I have learned to go with what interests me at the moment. If that is poetry, I write poetry. If it is fiction, I write fiction. It works for me and keeps writing interesting.
Ten years ago, I would have said my favorite genre to read was fantasy, with biography and history tied for second. But I have never been an avid reader. I was a “go outside and play” kind of kid. Then I became obsessed with music. Writing on Medium has expanded my horizons and made me into more of a reader. I read every day now.
Q: What are you currently reading?
M: I am currently reading books by some of my favorite Medium authors. The novel Introspectors by Rick Post, and a story collection, The Imposters and Other Stories, by Terrye Turpin. I think it is awesome that I can read books by writers I have interacted with on Medium. Stephen King won’t take my calls.
(Check out Introspectors by Rick Post here, and The Imposters and Other Stories by Terrye Turpin here.)
Q: Do you have any current writing projects? If so, what are they?
M: [Laughs.] Starting projects is my specialty. Finishing them is another matter. I just started on a sequel to my first novel. I have five other ideas for novels, which may turn out to be novellas or short stories. I let stories decide their own length. And I have a Scrivener file full of ideas for Medium stories.
I have tried to write a story for The Friday Fix every week since I discovered it (I have missed a few weeks) as a little bit of disciplined writing. Plus, I like the challenge of paring a story down to exactly 50 words and still make it a story.
Q: Do you have any writing rituals, routines, or quirks?
M: My writing is based on quirks. Does that count? I can’t write with television or music on (and I am a musician!) But I can block out traffic noise or nature sounds. My only writing routine is getting my best ideas when I am in the shower.
Q: Besides reading and writing, what are some of your other favorite hobbies and interests?
M: Making music (playing guitar, keyboards, bass) and songwriting. Walking and hiking. Bike riding. Making comics. Photography. Eating. Converting rotary phones into night-vision goggles. Creating murals of Shakespeare plays using Scrabble tiles. Planning my escape from planet Earth.
Mark’s Medium Publications
As mentioned earlier, Mark is the editor of One Minute Wit, Song Done Wrong, and he also posts work on his personal publication, Mark Starlin Writes! Below are links to all three.
Mark’s Website and Other Publications
To visit Mark’s website outside of Medium, click here. Mark also recently released three books on Amazon. To view them, click on the titles below.
Some of Mark’s Favorite Medium Stories
“Famous Writer Writing Advice Proven Untrustworthy”
Mark: I poke fun at advice from several famous authors. Showing how their advice was really intended to keep them at the top and other writers down. Some silly tongue-in-cheek humor geared for writers.
“I Can’t Hear You”
M: This is a recent story about a deaf writer who visits a small town and falls in love.
“One Of Thurston’s Astounding Mysteries”
M: I did a series of stories based on vintage posters. This one about a magician was one of my favorites.
“Four Old Guys Go To The Donut Shop”
M: I wrote a series of all-dialog stories about four old guys hanging out together. This one made me laugh while writing it.
“Under Pressure”
M: I am hoping The Friday Fix readers are familiar with some of my microfiction. If not, here is one I thought was witty.
“Harry Was A Newsman”
M: This story is about a grizzled veteran newsman who discovers a magic notebook that makes everything he writes come true.
“The Smart Alec Dictionary”
M: A little bit of absurdity that I had fun writing.
“The Thinning”
M: I don’t write much sci-fi, but I think this one came out well.
Mark, thank you again for all of your contributions to The Friday Fix! We all look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
