LAST PAGE: Christopher DelGuercio, 55
Local author and writing instructor publishes a book of short stories
Christopher DelGuercio, 55, released “An Unsettled Score” in October 2023, the second book of his 18-year professional writing career. In addition to writing, the 1994 SUNY Oswego graduate teaches fiction writing at the Downtown Writers Center, Syracuse
Q: Where do you live?
A: In Clay, just outside of Cicero. I grew up in Liverpool.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: I’ve been writing for almost 25 years — professionally for about 18.
Q: What’s “An Unsettled Score”?
A: It’s a collection of short stories (and a few poems) that I’d published previously and many newer stories. It’s sort of “best of” anthology from the past 10-15 years of my writing career.
Q: What genre is it?
A: Speculative fiction — a combination of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and suspense. Most of the stories have a “fantastic” element to them. I describe them as being akin to those one might find in the old Twilight Zone series. There are 20 pieces — a score — of “unsettling” fiction in the book; hence the name. It’s my second book.
Q: How’s the response been so far?
A: I just got word a few days ago that it has been nominated for the 2023 CNY Book-of-the-Year Award in the fiction category. Very exciting news for me and the book!
Q: How did this start?
A: After having written for more than 20 years and wanting to collect the best examples of my work, I decided it would be a good idea to put them all in one anthology. I have a previous relationship with the publisher [Phase 5 Publishing]. They published my first book, a novella, “Eden Succeeding,” which is included in the new book.
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: I’ve been a fiction writing instructor at the Downtown Writers Center [part of the arts branch of the YMCA] since 2009. It opened in 2001. I took classes there as a beginning writer for several years before I published my first short story in 2006. After I’d published a few short stories I thought it’d be great if I could go back and do for some of their students what the program did for me — namely, teach me valuable writing skills and instill within me the confidence to write stories and submit them to magazines, e-zines, anthologies, podcasts, etc.
Q: What’s the content of your classes?
A: My yearlong series of classes, “The Writer’s Life,” is meant to guide beginning writers through the pitfalls of writing in those beginning and intermediate stages. Part one concentrates on discovering your writing voice and helping you create work. Part two is largely concerned with the editing process of your newly created work and part three (as well as part four) introduces the student to workshopping. I’m told it’s a foundational piece of the fiction curriculum as most students start with these classes when they first endeavor to learn how to write fiction.
Q: Who are your students?
A: My students are mostly adults just getting into writing for the first time since they were kids. That first section of “The Writer’s Life” is primarily concerned with breaking the modes of thinking that adults have been in for most of their lives and tapping into the subconscious to create something that is interesting (albeit not necessarily polished). It takes a lot of practice to get our brains out of their “normal” modes and into creative thought patterns.
Q: What does it cost?
A: The classes have a cost attached to them — but if you’re a Y member, I believe you can take a certain number for free. Many students are local. But with the online format, anyone can join.
Q: Has the center spawned any professional writers?
A: I’m aware of several talented students who went on to become published authors (myself included) or make a career of their writing prowess. The first class I attended at DWC, I shared with a young woman, Jennifer Pashley, who, like me, went on to teach at the center and later became an accomplished novelist.