Third Place: Better Late Than Never by Lindsey Marks
Lindsey Marks (@bylindseymarks) is ______
What the Judges said:
"A clever premise and delightful execution. Lindsey, your snarky banter sings in this chapter, and the world-building and plot that pads it make it a must-read. A total, eternal joy."
"I absolutely love the dynamic between Prudence and Clay. You do such a great job layering in their history through hilarious banter and chemistry. The overall concept is so fun as well, and the crumb you leave about how Clay died creates just enough mystery to make me desperate for chapter two."
"'Sylvia Plath’s latest work Figs' had me laughing out loud. And the tension between Clay and Prue was so tangible, I was dying (no pun intended) to find out more about their history. You managed to create a realistic, unique world in very few pages filled with strong, fully fleshed-out characters and tons of humor. Such a fun read!"
"The concept of this story is so fantastic! I found myself laughing from the opening paragraphs, and continuing to smile throughout. I got a great sense of your protagonist and her personality from these opening pages. The humor and banter between your characters is top-notch, and I would love to continue reading to find out just why Prudence and Clay keep getting matched up!"
Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing?
My love of books and stories began as soon as I learned to read. I've been writing since I was little, starting my first long term project (it's still a work in progress) when I was twelve. Me and a group of friends came up with the idea for the story and it gradually transformed into a full series, igniting a passion for writing I didn't know I possessed. If I had to say what inspired me, I believe it would be my admiration for the depth that can be found in a story, the captivating flow of words, and how the right story can mean so much to a person. I wouldn't be a writer if not for the amazing stories I grew up with.
How did you come up with the idea for this story?
The idea was contrived by me and two of my closest friends over a decade ago, though it has become almost unrecognizable since then. Many of the major plot points developed from attempts to improve upon the story we contrived when we were twelve until it gradually became what it is today. It's been so long that it's hard to say where exactly the ideas came from. The story has been shaped by years of inspiration from the media that deeply impacted us, refined by considering the type of people our character are and the messages we want to convey through the book.
Where can readers find more of your work?
Unfortunately I don't have any work published or available online; yet. I hope that as I continue writing and produce more work, I'll find a platform to share my writing. I'm intending to begin posting content soon on my Instagram and TikTok accounts. I can be found by searching theatreghost or Clare F. Millsum on most major social media platforms (if you search hard enough, you may even find my Tumblr).
What advice would you give writers on writing a great first chapter?
My advice would be to consider where in the story the conflict really starts. I wrote this chapter several times, starting from different points in the plot. I made the decision I did because that moment felt like the best introduction to the inciting conflict and two instrumental characters, while also creating suspense and instilling interest in the reader. I tried to ensure I provided just enough information to keep readers guessing and get them invested. It would seem that worked! I suppose it comes down to figuring out where either the main plotline (or the first major plotline, at least) or a principle character's arc begins, and working it out from there. Hopefully I'll be able to give more refined advice on things like this once I complete additional projects.
A Chat with the Author:
