Writing Under Pressure: An Interview with Michael Cocchiarale
Micro fiction demands precision. It leaves no room for filler, posturing, or lazy sentences—and neither does Michael Cocchiarale. In Swerving Sizes, Cocchiarale delivers a formally constrained collection of stories written in exactly 100, 200, or 300 words, proving that compression isn’t a limitation but a method of clarity. In this interview, he talks about how he started writing, what keeps him motivated, and why revising is where the real work happens.
What inspired you to start writing?
The way I remember it, my first grade teacher told us to write a story in class. On Goldenrod paper, I wrote and illustrated The Things, a little book about creatures that were pretty much eyeballs with multiple legs. Two sequels followed. After that run, I was on my way.
Do you have a writing routine or ritual? If so, what is it?
I don’t have much of an actual routine, but I do my best work in the mornings—when my brain is relatively clear. A good cup of coffee is essential.
How do you handle writer’s block?
I really don’t experience writer’s block. I’m not saying that writing is never a challenge for me. It most certainly is. What I am saying is that if I’m patient—if I just sit down and do it—the ideas will come.
Can you describe your writing space?
A bedroom with a desk in front of a window.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
Revising. More specifically, ironing out sentences and figuring out the best way to close scenes.
Do you prefer writing heroes or villains, and why?
I would say neither. I prefer writing complex characters—and that means characters with flaws.
How do you handle criticism and negative reviews?
Just move on.
What’s the most rewarding part of being an author?
The process. Sitting down at the desk and looking at what I’ve got already and then thinking: “What could happen next?”
How do you stay motivated when you don’t feel like writing?
I read, listen to music, or go take pictures in the woods.
What do you hope readers take away from your books?
That life is awful and beautiful. That it is funny and sad. That is often all of these things at once.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind?
I occasionally listen to music as I write. That said, music is a huge influence on me. Many of my characters love rock music from the last thirty-forty years. In two of the pieces in Swerving Sizes, David Bowie and Blue Oyster Cult play important roles.
What’s a fun fact about you that most of your readers don’t know?
I was on the varsity bowling team at my high school.
What are you working on next? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
I’ll soon be proofing a book comprised of two dystopian novellas, which will be published by Unsolicited Press in 2027. I’m also finishing up another collection of stories.
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Swerving Sizes by Michael Cocchiarale is available from Unsolicited Press. The collection features micro fictions written under strict formal constraints, divided into two sections—Regular and Extra—that explore realism, surrealism, and the pressure points of contemporary life.
Order your copy directly from Unsolicited Press, request it at your local independent bookstore or library, and spend time with a book that proves small stories can carry serious weight.
