literally stories

Mason Yates only has a small number of stories on the site but we were all delighted when we were able to send his first acceptance. We have been so impressed with his tenacity, and his constant professionalism. He made a very positive impression and so we thought it would be fun to find out more about him. Thank’s Mason for these throughtful responses.

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Could you write a story with purple or lilac as the main story line?

I feel like I could write a story with anything in the title, but I’m not sure if it will be good or not.  However, I’m starting to feel like I might have to write a story with purple or lilac in the title.  It might be a good writing exercise.

Bubble baths…Why?

• Not much of a bath person… unless I’m in desperate need of relaxation.  In that case, yes, I might take a bubble bath.

Best decade for music?

• I think the best decade for music was the 1970s because of favorites of mine such as David Bowie, CCR, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Clash, etcetera.

Best decade for films?

• I have to say the 1960s had to be best decade for movies.  Alfred Hitchcock came out with a few, and Stanley Kubrick came out with some of his bests.  I especially like other director’s films such as Rosemary’s Baby, Planet of the Apes, The Great Escape, Dr. No, Andrei Rublev, and more.

What is the point of a point?

• To make a point.

‘The Exorcist’ – Hilarious or scary?

• Definitely hilarious… especially nowadays.

Would you ever try a cheese and jam sandwich?? (Any red jam!)

• Depends on the kind of cheese.

Why?

• Hell, I don’t know.

Red or White?

• What about blue?

What does a bird in the hand really do? 

• Sink its talons into your flesh?

Best song you have heard from 1986?

• “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel

Greatest 1970’s Movie

• I really like Papillon.

Trump, what does that mean?

• I’m guessing the President??

What topic(s) would you not take on?

• Racism and pedophilia.

What in your opinion is the best line you’ve written?

• There’s a handful of lines that I’ve written that have stuck with me, but for the sake of this interview, let me take a line from a story that has been published on this site before:  ‘On the contrary, there happened to be something special about the empty terrain and lonesome interstate; a grand space, no doubt, stationed somewhere underneath a cloudless sky, where the mind could wander infinite realms in search of hidden subconscious thoughts and unlock them and ponder their purpose; and perhaps his inner views or opinions or speculations would lead him to other conjectures or insane ideas, such as how his insignificance pleased him, a mere nomad on one planet out of trillions, an average man.’  This is taken from “Southbound Traveler.”

Would you write what you would consider shite for money?

• Nah. I’m a major perfectionist.  Not saying every story I’ve ever written is perfect—far from it, to be honest—but I have to make my writing as perfect as I’m able to at that time, so I couldn’t purposefully write something I deem as shitty.  

Will you ever go Woke with your writing and use pronoun / non-descript characters and explore sensitive issues in an understanding and sensitive way?

• For the individual character: maybe.  For the story’s theme: no.  I try to write what my heart feels, and carefully writing stories about sensitive issues isn’t really my thing.

Type something surprising.

• The CIA used to experiment with DMT to contact entities called the elves, and these elves basically told them plans to control humankind.

Do you see something different in a mirror that others don’t when they look at you?

• A shaggy-haired goofball faking it until he makes it.

The future – Bleak or hopeful?

• Very, very hopeful.

What would you like to like as you hate that you hate it?

• I wish I could like video games.  I only find a few enjoyable, but everyone seems to play them, so I wish I could see the intrigue.

Records? Tapes? Or CDs? or Saved on a Device?

• Records.  I like the nostalgic ambience they bring.

What genre you don’t write in would you like to try?

• I’ve never written anything with much fantasy.  I’d like to write about wizards and swords and knights and dragons and all that.

Bonus question (worth double points): What percentage of their time do Dogs spend thinking about food?

• Probably 24/7.  I know my dog does.

Who was your English teacher and did she know about your writing ambitions. 

• I’ve had a lot of English teachers.  Only a handful knew.  A couple really pressured me to better my writing, and for that, I’m thankful.

How long after you left school was it before you wrote anything aimed at publication

• I published multiple stories in college!

If you have an idea for a story in the middle of the supermarket what action do you take?

• I let it sit in my head.  Eventually, it grows into a story.

Do you find ideas come to you randomly or only when you sit down to write.

• Mostly randomly.  But sometimes ideas come into my head when I write, too.  I find it best when I wake up in the middle of the night and have ideas, almost like something downloaded into my brain in the blink of an eye.

Have you ever been on a writing retreat and if so how was it?

• Never been on a retreat, but in elementary school I went to a writing camp for two weeks one summer.  It was fun.  Got to meet lots of kids with other writing ambitions.

What is the worst film version of a book that you’ve seen?

• The Dark Tower movie was such a letdown.

What invention has been the downfall of the 20 / 21st century?

• iPhone

How do you get kids to read?

• Introduce them to actual fun books rather than shove the usual classics down their throat.  A classic here and there is fine, but for the most part, give kids intriguing books for their age.  They’ll eventually grow up to enjoy classic literature.   

If you had no bottle opener, how would you open a beer?

• Use the side of a fridge or doorframe.  Yes, it works.

How many friends and family ask how your writing is going?

• My dad and friends always ask how it’s going, and when it’s been a while since they have seen a publication, someone will always reach out and ask when the next one is coming.

Has anything you have written told you something about yourself you did not know (good or bad)?

• To be honest, no.  I’m kind of an open book.

Do you regret having a certain item published?

• Maybe some of my early stories.  They’re full of errors.

Do you have a work that has been repeatedly rejected that still means a lot to you?

• There’s a story I wrote called “Another Call” that I really like.  It’s short, but I think it hits on grief, desperation, and lost love fairly well—or well enough, at least.