Write Here, Write Now: Path of Least Resistance by Bernard Bleske

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming? What if you had the power to make those daydreams reality- would you? Bernard Bleske explores just those questions in “Path of Least Resistance.” Through river rafts, long lost loves, and cheap beers, Bleske weaves a story that reminds us to be careful what you wish for.

What was the impetus for your winning story? Walk us through your initial act of creation.

Most of my stories begin with some indulgent 'what if' idea that usually arrives while I'm driving or showering.  Actually, I think most of my stories get their anchoring moments when I'm in the shower.  I do a lot of story development under hot running water.  Maybe it's the shampoo. I even keep a little notebook somewhat close because shower thoughts can be as ephemeral as dreams, vanishing as soon as I start brushing my teeth or whatnot.

I also think about magic a lot, not because I truly believe in it, but because I don't, which is just depressing.

What does it take for a story to grab you? How do you grab your audience?

And so I'm drawn to the aspect of fiction that IS magic, those profound truths that can only arrive in the completely make-believe.  I don't think magic has to be of the spells and witches variety either.  Technically speaking, magic is anything that leaps the physical chain of action and reaction that yanks us through life, but it's also anything that manages to explain the chain, particularly in ways that make us change course.  I believe that a true story's meaning or theme does that, so that's the part of them that grabs me and stays with me.  And anything that has an indulgent 'what if' idea or moment, I like that too, because it feels kind of magical.  And a really good sentence has a magic as well.  A really good sentence can actually move me.  I try to achieve those things in my own stories, which I suppose is what I hope grabs my audience.

Who are your favorite writers and why?

So my favorite writers do that for me.  Neal Stephenson.  Jennifer Egan.  Andrea Barrett.  Bruce Sterling.  Neil Gaiman.  This kind of list, once it gets rolling, ends up hundreds of names long, though.  I'm really quite new to Vocal, so I haven't had the time to build a stable of favored creators.  I'm a teacher by day.  And night.  And weekends.  And mornings.  And in sleep.  This time of year is always pretty busy, as we prepare for the end of the year.  I have managed to read all the other winners of this contest, and there are some fine writers in there whose company I'm proud to be included among.

How has sharing your writing, in life and on Vocal, affected you as a Creator?

I've found it difficult to navigate on-line towards the writing I consider profound or excellent. The gatekeepers of the printed and edited world do a decent enough job of slapping away the dreadful.  But that also makes it a dreadfully difficult place to break into. I like Vocal because it seems to be making the attempt to discover and elevate really good writing through the crowd wisdom of this strange virtual world we've landed ourselves.  Maybe.  My stories don't get many reads, so I'm back to my usual conviction of being among the dreadful.  I try not to look at the numbers.

What advice do you have for other Creators?

Winning the contest certainly helps convince me otherwise, and to keep writing.  It inspires me to write more, but I don't think I wouldn't still hack away at it anyway.  I don't think I have any advice to other writers that would be new or insightful.  Keep at it.  Edit, I suppose.  Revise revise revise.  My experience - as a writer, once-upon-a-time editor, teacher of English from 5th grade to college, restaurant manager, parent - is that most of the garbage out there is only garbage because the author didn't take the time to keep polishing.  Trust the voice, I might suggest, that tells you you suck, but then set out to prove that bastard wrong.

Stay tuned for new episodes of Write Here, Write Now Season 2 launching weekly.