We had the privilege of talking with Ej Sidle on winning first place overall in this year's Writer's Games.

WW: What encouraged you to participate in Writer's Games this year?

ES: I’m a veteran participant, I think my first Games might have been 2020? 2021? Either way, I was eagerly waiting for them to return, and as soon as this portion was announced I was ready to sign up. I love Writer’s Games, so there wasn’t anything that was going to stop me trying to participate.

WW: What were you worried or nervous about coming into this year's Games?

ES: No, not really. I only get nervous when it hits Sunday and I haven’t written anything for the Event yet! Ultimately, I try not to borrow trouble before it finds me—no point worrying about whether I’ll have time to write or what the Event will be, because whatever happens will happen regardless of if I spend the week stressing about it before hand!

WW: What kept you motivated to participate in each Event? 

ES: I love the challenge of writing for specific prompts on a short deadline, and that feeling when the idea comes together and the story starts to flow is incredibly gratifying. Looking for that feeling, and the satisfaction of completing a piece within deadline, really does keep me writing when I can’t see the end in sight. Additionally, many members of my writing group were taking part in the Games along side me, so there was a lot of cheerleading amongst us as we took on each Event. I don’t think I would have finished some of my stories if it wasn’t for that support.

WW: How did life's challenges affect your writing?

ES: In my normal life I work as a veterinarian, and that involves some weekend and on call work. Usually I end up working at least one weekend during a Games, but I managed to scrape through reasonably unscathed this time. The main ‘challenges’ ended up being the fun things like social events, so I don’t really see that as challenging, more… slightly derailing, but always worth it!

WW: Which Event did you have the most fun with?

ES: It was a tie between Event 2: Go Team! and Event 4: Aftermath. I think I enjoyed Event 2 because I was writing about a rodeo, and there was a sweet spot there between my own personal experiences and further research. It was a lot of fun to bring the story together, and walk the line between fact and fiction. My Event 4 piece was a lot heavier to write, and calling it ‘fun’ may seem odd, but it flowed and came together so smoothly I ended up having a very enjoyable (if emotional!) experience writing it.

WW: Which Event was more challenging for you than the rest?

ES: Event 3: It’s a Disaster felt like a real slog for me. I struggled to find the plot, and couldn’t seem to bring the key concepts together in a way that made sense to me. I nearly gave up a few times, restarted the story a few more, and absolutely wouldn’t have gotten the story finished if I didn’t my writing group cheerleaders going through it alongside me.

WW: Where do you find inspiration?

ES: There are so many different things that can spark inspiration, but I think the most consistent thing for me is music. I like to write to music, and sometimes that ends up either helping to create a vibe for a story, or maybe helps me have an unofficial score for a particular scene. Events 2, 3, and 4 for this Games were all written with particular songs on repeat.

WW: What's the best writing advice someone has ever given you and who said it? How did it change your perspective on writing?

ES: That’s a tough question, I feel like I’ve been given a multitude of brilliant writing advice! The idea that helps get me through the Games though is that it doesn’t have to be good, it just has to be there—you can’t edit a blank page. I’ve heard variations of it from a handful of different sources, at formal writing workshops and from critique partners, but it’s true in every format. You can make the words good (or better!) once you have them, but there’s no amount of editing that can turn nothing into something.

WW: What advice would you give to writers thinking about participating in next year's Games?

ES: Do it. Don’t let it intimidate you, don’t find reasons to worry about it. Sign up, and try your best for each Event. The Games are both far longer and far shorter than you think they’ll be, and even if you struggle for one Event, there’s another one just around the corner. Nothing will help improve your writing more than actually writing, and competitions like this are a great way to try new things and step outside your comfort zone. 

Responses are published as received.

About Ej Sidle:

Ej Sidle likes to write stories about magic and monsters. When she’s not writing, she spends her time with her dog.