An English teacher through and through, Steve Stigler competes in short story writing contests as a hobby. “The Colt” sat down with Stigler to find out about his inspiration, experience, and advice.

The Colt: What made you begin entering writing contests?

Steve Stigler: I wanted to have real deadlines for myself along with forcing myself to practice writing under certain prompts.

TC: How do the guidelines work?

SS: They could make me write a story in a specific genre, or I must use a word of their choosing, or even include a certain action. For example there was a contest where I had to write 250 words under any type of genre but I had to include the act of overhearing and the word ‘rock’. I ended up writing about an uptight HOA member who overhears his neighbor and his son skipping rocks and I made the story a comedy.

TC: Are there any pieces you are very proud of?

SS: Well first I love all my children the same but there was a rhyming story I wrote that I was proud of. I was also in a screenwriting contest, which I know nothing about but I did learn quite a bit from that experience.

TC: How long have you been interested in writing?

SS: All my life, I started in 2nd grade and from there it’s been off and on but I can say that I have used writing in every single one of my jobs.

TC: What’s your inspiration when writing?

SS: Well I think about the prompt and there are always 100 different directions I could go but that’s where I get my inspiration from because I just have fun with the ideas.

TC: Have you won a contest or kept advancing?

SS: One time I made it into the top 50 out of more than 3,000 participants, but the highest score I’ve ever gotten was 3rd place.

TC: Do you want your writing to be published?

SS: Yes, definitely, there is actually a young adult adventure that I’ve been holding onto for 20 years but it’s never going to happen, yet I am very emotionally attached to it.

TC: What is the best advice you can give to aspiring writers?

SS: To learn from your mistakes, read a lot and get into the writer’s mind, and then to never give up.