Interview with Author Caitlin Woodford

Caitlin's Woodford's story "Pillars of the Salt God" brought us to a mental landscape of detailed and sensorial imagery. We loved encountering her fantasy-rich piece and knew the Weird Lit community would too. Enjoy this short interview with Caitlin below.

What makes you keep writing, even when it's hard?

Trying to take a break from writing ends up making me angrier than trying to write, even if it’s just staring at a blank page. One must pick their battles.

What other creative activities do you like to do?

Ballet is the best for getting in sync with your body. I take classes off and on and listen to ballets all the time. The music is designed for movement, so it’s great to write to as well! I find it really propels forward motion.

Do you consider yourself an organized or chaotic writer? 

I used to annoy my workshop group by submitting drafts with half-finished sentences cut off by “ADD SOMETHING MORE HERE.” I’ll leave that up to interpretation.

Advice on creating that you’ve learned by trial and error?

In my experience, trying to write what you think will come across as very important and serious just leads to getting bummed out by your own work. Strangeness and playfulness are important and serious too!

What is one unbelievable thing that happened to you that you can't prove to anyone else?

Just before a 5:30 am meeting a squirrel calmly tapped on my window until I looked over, and placed a full ciabatta loaf on the sill like an offering. I’m not sure I can even prove to myself that it wasn’t a dream.

Describe your workspace.

When I want to write, I usually go to a coffee shop or sit outside, but I think I actually do my best work on the floor in my closet.

Does your day job affect your writing topic or approach?

Absolutely! I work with lots of scientists, and their obsession is contagious. If someone can write me a strongly worded (and deeply entertaining) email about drama in the worm research community, I can write about anything and someone will find it interesting.

What's your favorite obscure novel or short story (a work you never hear anyone else talking about)?

I adored “The Great Reclamation” by Rachel Heng, which is about land reclamation in Singapore and a boy growing up throughout that time period. Maybe this isn’t as obscure as I think it is, but I should be hearing more people talk about it.

What is your least favorite word? 

Breakfast. But only in a Southern accent. I have no logic to explain why this makes me cringe.

Do you have a favorite book on writing or creating that's been a helpful resource?

“A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” by George Saunders remains my favorite book on writing. 

What are your long-term writing goals? 

I’d love to cobble together a short story collection. Or a novel. Did I mention I was a chaotic writer?

Pigs or chickens?

Chickens! My mother worked on a farm with loads of chickens, and they were all named Jolene. Shout out to Dolly and my mom.

Caitlin Woodford is a Pushcart-nominated writer of strange and speculative fiction from central Virginia. Her work has appeared in The Foundationalist, The Charlottesville Fantastic Anthology, Creation Literary Magazine, and elsewhere. When not writing fiction, Caitlin writes and edits for science publications, and frequently escapes to hike the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can find more of her work through her website: https://caitlinwoodford15.wixsite.com/caitlinwoodford.