During our Friday Indie Q&A we talk with Author Jordan Nishkian about her incredible award winning story In The Void. She shares with us the importance of sticking with a story, submitting often, and not giving up.
Anthropological Story
Indie: Congratulations on your 2nd place win in our Summer Short Story Writing Contest with your story In The Void. What inspired you to write this award-winning short story?
Jordan: I was watching a documentary on a dive through a cenote, and the emptiness/darkness really stuck out in my mind! I also have a BA in Anthropology, so I’ve been wanting to explore stories that are more anthropological in nature.
Stick With Your Stories
Indie: What did you learn about yourself, and the craft, while writing In The Void?
Jordan: I learned so much from writing this–it really represents a turning point in my writing! What I ultimately got out of this experience was to stick with your stories, even if they’re not cooperating with you. I was worried about sounding too technical/boring at times, and other parts of the story were not flowing at all. The whole piece took a lot of splicing, “Frankenstein-ing,” and editing, but it felt so satisfying once it all came together.
Another thing I learned was how naming a character can really bring them to life. At first, I wasn’t going to name my main character’s mother, but once I named her in the piece, she felt like a tangible person, not a plot device. The fog lifted and I could see her and get to know her, and then writing about her instantly felt more organic. I think we owe it to our characters to give them as much life as we possibly can–our stories can only benefit from it!
Submit Monthly
Indie: I know you write often and are published in many journals. Tell us how you came to writing? What is your focus/plans in regards to the craft?
Jordan: My love for stories and writing has been with me since childhood, and I would write fictional stories often. Then after completing my BA in Creative Writing, I began to write less since I was trying to find a job and all that post-college life stuff.
Fortunately, I became a professional writer in the SEO, digital marketing, and editorial fields, so my writer brain was in practice, but I hadn’t exercised the creative side in a while. I would try to dabble in it when I could find the time, but it wasn’t until this year that I made it a point to really focus on the craft of creative writing. My New Year’s Resolution for 2021 was to submit a poem or a story to a publication/contest every month, so that’s definitely fed the drive!
10 Wins, 51 Rejections
Indie: You must submit your work often. I LOVE that you do this. It’s incredibly difficult for writers to put themselves out there like that. Tell our readers what made you decide to be brave and submit frequently?
Jordan: Thank you! I really appreciate you saying that. As I’ve said before, my NYR for 2021 was to submit at least one piece a month because I needed to push and just put my work out there.
I’m really proud to say that I’ve had 10 pieces accepted into publications so far this year–but honestly, while I have those 10 wins, I’ve received 51 rejections. Rejections are a huge bummer, but once you realize that it’s not personal (or a sign of failure), it’s a lot easier to manage and bounce back. And I have to say, every single one of those 51 rejections has been nothing but kind and respectful. Be gracious with yourself and your work, and press that submit button!
4+1=5
Indie: What other work(s) do you have out there that you’d like to share with us.
Jordan: I published my first novella this year! It took five years: four years of self-sabotage and one year to actually do it, and I’m so proud of it. Definitely a silver lining to my time in quarantine last year!
Style Experimentation
Indie: Can you give us some sage advice about being a creator?
“Experiment with your style! You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you give it a shot.”
Jordan Nishkian, Author
Writing about Armenian Heritage
Indie: What is one BIG WIN that you’d like to share with us?
Jordan: I’ve been writing more about my Armenian heritage lately, and both of the pieces were accepted. It feels like a huge win to have such personal stories get published.
Shoutout
Indie: There are so many people who help us along our creative path. Who would you like to give a shoutout to?
Jordan: Shout out to Ian for encouraging me to pursue my craft, to Becky for pushing me to take risks, and to Deanna for always lifting me up.
Get Social
–You can find me on Instagram:
@wordsbyjordan!
