I have produced a wide range of short stories of varying lengths, engaging with a multitude of different genres: from flash fiction to novellas; from highly personal prose, to bold and experimental fiction. Although I tend to gravitate towards speculative fiction and satire, I have also written horror, romance, fantasy, and adventure short stories.

Far too many short stories these days are centred around and written by middle-class, anxious intellectuals, who ramble on without the courage to commit to a clear idea or perspective. My stories focus on a plethora of unconventional characters: crooked politicians, cybernetically enhanced sexual libertines, serial killers, and hopeless romantics. I enjoy writing from the perspective of characters with very different life experiences and worldviews to myself, whose beliefs and values are completely alien and, at times, antithetical to my own. Not only is this a lot of fun, but it is a useful tool in empathic thinking.

Many of my stories have a satirical edge, and are designed to undermine and ridicule those with power in our society, whilst exposing the hollow nature of the power that such figures try to exercise. This mockery is directed at relatively unimpressive figures, such as bigoted bigmouths with too much time on their hands, to oppressive dictators and war criminals. My stories highlight the absurdity of such figures, without undermining or diminishing the horrors that these grotesqueries are capable of inflicting on their unfortunate victims.

I typically try to avoid worn-out conventions, settings, or sources of conflict. I have always been drawn to the strange, the bizarre, or the surreal when writing short stories. For example, there are countless tales about promiscuous, drug-taking, young hedonists, whose behaviour lands them in a lot of trouble…but how many stories are there about geriatric, genetically modified hedonists doing the same thing? There are many short stories about young teenagers standing up against tyrannical oppressors, whilst cheering on or allying themselves with a resistance force…but what if the resistance are no better than the tyrants? Questions like these form the basis of my short stories.

A recurring problem that I have with a great number of short stories is the lack of even the most basic form of conflict. Often, they seem to function as a way for sensitive, arty-farty types to go on extended monologues about generational hang-ups, or difficult memories. That’s all well and good, but it’s hardly the most exciting thing to read. My stories focus on very simple, relatable forms of conflict: the desire to hook up with an old crush, the ambition to crush your enemies, the longing for power and status and pleasure…and the things standing in your way. Although many of my characters are deeply selfish or flawed, these relatable, simple, even base conflicts will provide you with an engaging read.

Unlike some writers, I have no problem with experimentation, or exploring different methods and of writing. From stream-of-consciousness, to social realism, to gross caricatures and satire. I can produce stripped-back, simple narratives, or richly detailed, complex descriptions, depending on my inclination that particular day. I enjoy testing myself with deeply unfamiliar styles and forms of writing. For example, I once challenged myself to write a short story using only monosyllabic words. Another time, I created a surreal internal monologue without any punctuation, to reflect the narrator’s emotional turmoil. Experimentation is crucial for writing: without it, the author stagnates, their styles withers and becomes repetitive.