How a Story Becomes an Award Winner: The Kathryn Kulpa Interview

The first of Meg’s forthcoming interviews with writers whose stories have been rejected multiple times and go on to become award winners

Interview

Meg: “A Door Is a Secret, Revealed” from Fictive Dream is a beautiful piece. The writing seduces the reader into the narrator's unusual relationship with a depressed uncle. I so admire the way it is written in 4 sections that feel like an unreliable set-of-directions for how to go on living with memories that are too powerful to shut out. The structure and the intense emotional rush of it are wonderful. You make us care very deeply about your characters..

You mentioned in a Facebook post that your winning story had been rejected 9 times before it was accepted. I’m surprised to hear it and yet this happens often. It has happened with my story “If you Want to be Loved, Love” (from Cleaver) which made it into BSF 2023. That story too had been rejected multiple times. I’d love to hear more about the process…