Interview with ​Lisa Finch

Meet NUNUM's Contributor: Lisa Finch

5/14/2026

NUNUM

Blending Flash Fiction & Art

Interview with Lisa Finch

What was the first book you remember picking up and reading by yourself?

I think it was Charlotte’s Web.

What writer(s) or which book(s) influenced your decision to become a writer?

Initially it was everything Lucy Maud Montgomery ever wrote. Later, there were so many other writers and books. I’m not sure I can pinpoint which were the biggest influences.

Is there a writing craft book that you would recommend to new writers?

On Writing, by Stephen King.

Is there a writer who has influenced your current writing style?

I can’t pick just one. I haven’t landed on one particular genre--I write literary, horror, sci fi, romance, romantic comedy, and others—so I’ve had many influences. A few of them include Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Sarah Addison Allen, Carol Joyce Oates, Lori Lansen, Jennifer Weiner. The list goes on.

Why write flash fiction?

I love that you have to make every word count, and the challenge of creating that precise ending that ties it all together.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting to send their work out to journals?

Get used to rejection. If you’re lucky, there might be a nugget of constructive criticism in there that you can use. However, most often they are form letters. But don’t let that stop you. Keep reading. Keeping writing. Keep submitting.

What would you tell your younger self if you could?

Start writing and submitting stories now. Don’t wait until you think you’re good enough. Put yourself out there and don’t be discouraged by rejection. It’s part of the learning curve.

What would you recommend as a resource for other writers?

Consider volunteering as a slush reader. You learn so much by reading other writers' submissions, and from the editorial team (who are usually writers themselves).

What was your favourite editorial comment on one of your stories?

One of my stories was accepted with this comment: "It's a wonderful, concise, funny, dark, and crunchily-weird story that is exactly what I'm looking for…"

Any other projects you want to tell us about?

I’m currently seeking an agent for an upmarket vampire novel (Monsters in our Midst). Also, I have a novella (Didn’t I Love You?) that is still looking for a home.