A Q&A with Giancarla Aritao, Quantum Shorts finalist
Is there anything you would like readers to know about you, beyond the bio in your story?
I’ve been a freelance writer for almost 20 years. But, almost all of my published work covers fashion, both as a writer and as a fashion stylist. Aside from the—objectively speaking—terrible stories and poetry I wrote in high school, I only started writing creatively about five years ago. Although writing fiction and non-fiction both involve communicating ideas through written words, I find the experience quite different. It’s intimidating and exciting at the same time.
There’s mystery happening in your story. What was the inspiration for your story?
I have three kids so there is always something missing in the house, especially socks. I wanted to flip such a mundane event that everyone can relate to into something that was unexpected. What if instead of losing something, you found it?
What do you think of the multiverse?
I read Tina Fey’s book Bossypants and she wrote that one of the rules of improvisation is not just to agree with the person you are doing a scene with but also to add something to it. I’m paraphrasing heavily here, but she used the example that if someone says that it’s really hot and you just agree, then nothing really happens. But, she wrote that if you respond with something like, “I told you we shouldn’t have crawled into this dog’s mouth,” then it becomes an interesting scene. In a way, that’s what I think when I think of the multiverse: you can agree and add something more. I am neither a scientist nor a member of the academe, so I tend to see it from a spectator’s perspective. There’s really a sense of wonder that comes with it. There’s this universe… and another… and another…? My mind can barely grasp the concept. I think there’s a reason why the multiverse is a concept that recurs a lot in art, from comic books to more traditional forms of literature. There’s always another what if that can be explored.
What was your writing process like?
Almost all the writers I admire have the same writing advice, which is to treat it like work. Follow a writing schedule and show up even if you don’t feel like it. I try to adhere to this as much as possible. But, I would say that 90 percent of my writing happens when I am going about my daily activities. I spend a lot of time thinking about ideas before committing them to paper. The idea for Lost and Found, for example, has been with me for about two years before I wrote it down.
What is your favourite science-inspired book?
One of my favourite family activities is reading aloud to my kids. Even if the two older ones can read on their own, I still read to them before bedtime. We went through the Time Quintet by Madeleine L’Engle last year and I really fell in love with A Wind in the Door. I was fascinated by the idea of the arbitrariness of big and small, including what can be called a universe. Perhaps not coincidentally, I am in the middle of reading Ed Yong’s book, I contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life and it is absolutely fascinating.
What does being a Quantum Shorts finalist mean to you?
To receive the news that I was shortlisted was quite a shock, and I admit, I first regarded the email with suspicion. What if it was a phishing scam? That was how far removed it was from my thoughts. I really regard myself as a newcomer in creative writing, so I am both honoured and humbled. It feels like a nod of validation because it is a risk to take a step back from work that you are familiar with to try something new.
Are you working on other projects now?
I have a children’s book manuscript that has already been accepted by a publisher. Fingers crossed, it will be in production soon. Other than that, I am trying to submit to various publications to gain experience and earn my stripes.
