Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?

On the surface it's about finding yourself as a trans person. It's about understanding yourself and having a support system that sees you and supports you. I think underneath that though, it's about being human. Even beyond being trans. It's about that moment that you give yourself the permission to take that step forward into the unknown. And more importantly that moment when you use that permission you've given yourself. And it's about being young, broke, and still choosing to live your life despite the hardships that come with both of those.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Fairy Tale Reimaginings/Retellings, LGBTQIA+, Coming of Age, Slice of Life.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Queer Joy

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

This is a hard question to answer. I love films and cinema so much, but I'd wager it's Scream (1996). It's the perfect horror comedy.

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I'd have to say based on vibes alone, my favorite song is "Store" by Carly Rae Jepsen. There's something so wonderful about a song that tells a story about someone who doesn't quite know how to break up with their partner so they just say they're going to the store and probably won't be back.

The song I've listened to the most times in my life is probably "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)" by LeAnn Rimes. I used to beg my mom to play it in the car whenever we went somewhere as a kid.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

I don't think I can pick a favorite novel without more parameters. I have favorites in different genres, but the novel I've revisited the most often is The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. It's for sure a comfort novel. I cry every time I read it.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

I really enjoy folklore and fairy tales. I eventually want to get a doctorate in folkloric literature ... someday. And I especially love Hans Christian Andersen tales. I was in a Russian Folklore class at the University of Arizona where we were talking about Andersen tales in comparison to some of the Russian ones we were looking at because his are considered literary tales versus oral folklore tales. There's this weird divide. I had brought up how it's important to remember that he's a queer person and his tales inherently reflect that. And then I talked a bit about how "The Ugly Duckling" in particular can be seen as this reflection of the queer experience and even more so of the trans experience. From there it was kind of just like marinating in my brain and then I wrote out the story. It actually really helped me with my own experiences as a nonbinary person. I find myself relating to Ducky in that I am in the in between somewhere. I'm not quite ready to begin transitioning, but it's on my brain a lot of the time. For me, personally, Ducky is an extension of who I might be if I ever wanted to take that next step in having my exterior reflect how I feel on the interior.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Brittany Murphy. I wish I could express to her how much I love her energy and the films she made.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Cinema. I love the movie going experience. I love watching films. I'm actually taking a screenwriting course through NYU online right now so I can see a different side of the whole thing. I think movies are such a wonderful form of storytelling.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I've been telling myself to do more submitting and taking chances for a few years. I saw the submissions open for the performance. I thought it was such a cool way to be part of the oral storytelling traditions in the modern age. It was really one of those "f**k it, we ball" moments.

11. Any advice or tips you'd like to pass on to other writers?

Write whatever it is inside your brain. Just put it down on the page, whether that's your notes app or a Google doc or a journal with a pen. Just write. I try to write once a week because that's what works for my life. I know people who try to write 10 minutes a day because that's what works for them. But, the point is we try to write. Whether that's working on a story or just writing a little something as an exercise in craft that no one will ever see. I try to think of it like working out my body. I can't get stronger physically unless I'm actively trying to get stronger by working out. Same with writing.

That and find yourself a community to write with. Writing doesn't have to be solitary and confined. Share your writing with other writers. Read their writing. Give each other feedback. Be open to taking that feedback. Be open to leaving that feedback behind if it doesn't work for you. I guess the gist of it is to be open in general. Especially to building a community of other writers around you (whether that's physically and you meet up or digitally and you hop on discord and/or zoom calls with them).