Just One Thing with Miranda Manzano

Miranda Manzano’s story “Negative Spaces” is a rollercoaster of four parts, where teeth crumble and basketball instigates. Here, she shares just one thing about the piece:

A photograph of the author, Miranda Manzano, in her home smiling at the camera. On the grey wall behind her is a block print poster of a circus.

When Split Lip first got this story, part one and part four were swapped, and it began on the rollercoaster because that’s the order it was written in. I started this story by actually being sad on a rollercoaster. It’s possible! You really can be sad anywhere. I’ve discovered no limitations. On this ride, there was a girl who turned around in her seat to look at what happened behind us, and she reminded me of Salinger’s little girl on the plane who turned her doll’s head around, and I was cheered up. You really can be cheered up by anything. I’ve discovered no limitations. When Split Lip editors suggested putting this section at the end, it was immediately obvious that that was an improvement, and I’m so appreciative of their seeing that. Now I’m on the lookout for what other endings are really beginnings and what other beginnings are really endings.