Author Neil A. Cohen On How To Write Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories
An Interview With Ian Benke
You need a fertile imagination, and the stomach to let that imagination go wild, without censoring yourself. If you think to yourself “I shouldn’t even be thinking this.”, then you are self-censoring and self-limiting. You need respect for the reader. Don’t ever worry about making someone angry as you cannot go through life pleasing everyone.
Science Fiction and Fantasy are hugely popular genres. What does it take for a writer today, to write compelling and successful Science Fiction and Fantasy stories? Authority Magazine started a new series called “How To Write Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories”. In this series we are talking to anyone who is a Science Fiction or Fantasy author, or an authority or expert on how to write compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy .
As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Neil A. Cohen
Neil A. Cohen is the author of three apocalyptic fictional novels and one non-fiction work. His Exit Zero Zombie trilogy, which includes Exit Zero, Nuke Jersey and Zombie Democracy, has proven extremely prophetic of current events, and as he states, we are currently only living through book two. His most recent work is about fandom fueled entrepreneurship, or as he calls them, Fantrepreneurs. The book is titled Business is Dead, Resurrecting Entrepreneurship. He lives just outside Washington DC with his wife and daughters.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share a story about what first drew you to writing over other forms of storytelling?
All of my careers involved storytelling. I was a working stand-up comic for years. My material was all about storytelling. I mastered that art early as I was not athletic, nor naturally attractive, nor particularly intelligent. If you wanted to stand out, especially to the opposite sex, you had to be good at something. I mastered the art of telling a good story. After comedy, I worked in sales, which again is just learning to tell a good story, as well as to listen to the stories of others. Transition to written story telling was the natural progression.
You are a successful author. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
When I wrote my first book, I sent the pitch to many publishing houses, who all politely told me to go pound sand. I self-published and marketed the hell out of my book. I exhibited at small press expo events, comic cons and other pop culture events. I then sent my sales numbers to the publisher who, forgive the pun, was finally sold. Once my book was released by the publisher, I again aggressively promoted. I developed the pitch and repeated it over and over, speaking on podcasts, print interviews and even some television interviews. That led to my publisher requesting two more books. So, the three traits were resilience, persistence, and consistency.
Can you tell us a bit about the interesting or exciting projects you are working on or wish to create? What are your goals for these projects?
I have an idea for a short graphic novel about a sentient AI, an author with a dark secret and a well-connected yet disgraced adult child of a powerful politician. The story has just three characters and one location but is very visual. I hope to create it soon, but I only want to release it through sequential illustration.
Wonderful. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. How do you define sci-fi or fantasy? How is it different from speculative fiction?
It is hard to delineate speculative fiction from sci-fi anymore as the pace of technology and biotech development is astonishing. In my non-author profession, I work with both military technology and biotech, so I have regular conversations with some very interesting people. My first book was about a pandemic effecting the United States during a Presidential election year. Who knew that so many elements of my sci-fi book would become reality years later? Fantasy on the other hand is easier to define, with elves and fairies and happy endings. All things that don’t really exist.
It seems that despite countless changes in media and communication technologies, novels and written fiction always survive, and as the rate of change increases with technology, written sci-fi becomes more popular. Why do you think that is?
Written sci-fi is usually prophetic. Look at Star Trek. Once we get transporters that really do “Beam us up, Scotty” then the circle is complete. They predicted everything, cell phones, iPads. People read sci-fi now not to think “imagine if”: but to ponder “I wonder when…”
In your opinion, what are the benefits to reading sci-fi, and how do they compare to watching sci-fi on film and television?
Simple. Film and TV are a shared experience. Reading sci-fi is uniquely personal and different for every reader. When you image the story in your mind, all your past experiences are reflected into that image. It is yours and yours alone. No one else will ever see what you are seeing, no matter how many thousands or millions of people read the same text. Sci-fi and fantasy gives each reader an individual experience.
What authors and artists, dead or alive, inspired you to write?
I always wanted to write apocalyptic zombie stories, and when the world embraced Max Brooks World War Z as serious fiction, it demonstrated to me there was a true audience beyond the core fandom. Also, Bret Easton Ellis who’s book Less Than Zero was a huge inspiration, as I knew I wanted to write in short snippets. I wanted to tell an overarching story, but I wanted quick bites of material that were associated, but not instrumental, to the story.
If you could ask your favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy author a question, what would it be?
How do you organize your content before you assemble it into a book? That is one of the most troublesome tasks in writing as I find I have a hundred emails to myself, text messages, note pad scribbles and even voice messages to myself with ideas, dialog, etc. and sometimes I lose track.
We’d like to learn more about your writing. How would you describe yourself as an author? Can you please share a specific passage that you think exemplifies your style?
I write like I talk and read, fast paced, stream of consciousness, and not for the easily offended. I have read about authors adding trigger warnings in their fiction. I do not offer trigger warnings. I have my characters talk and think like the people I know and deal with daily. Honest and with no filter or hesitancy.
Based on your own experience and success, what are the “Five Things You Need To Write Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories?” If you can, please share a story or example for each.
You need a reservoir to cultivate ideas. For me, I regularly check military solicitation websites where the DoD advertise their advanced research project ideas. They post problems and seek answers from industry. Those problems are what the Pentagon is thinking about and are great fodder for sci-fi.
You need a group of test readers who will tell you when your writing sucks. Don’t count on friends and family, they won’t tell you the truth. Find some brutally honest people who are willing to read your early, awful, drafts.
You need a fertile imagination, and the stomach to let that imagination go wild, without censoring yourself. If you think to yourself “I shouldn’t even be thinking this.”, then you are self-censoring and self-limiting.
You need respect for the reader. Don’t ever worry about making someone angry as you cannot go through life pleasing everyone.
You need to be outgoing and talk with people. People you know, people you don’t know, people you like and people you don’t. You need to learn about their hopes and fears for the future. You must have a very wide circle of contacts with diverse ideas and lives.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Entertainment, Business, VC funding, and Sports read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them 🙂
I have already met with President Joe Biden and provided him a signed copy of my book Zombie Democracy. (photo attached). While the elevator pitch of my trilogy is that it is an apocalyptic, pandemic, zombie story, it is also quite political, and I allow the readers to make their own determinations. I have met some of my celebrity fandoms since I became published, with mixed results. There is a saying “never meet your hero.” I would like to share a meal with Zack Snyder and Scott Gimple as they understand both the genre’ I love and the industry I covet.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
So glad you asked. My primary website is https://businessisdead.com
My social media can all be found at
Twitter/Instagram: @ExitZeroZombie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitzerozombie
My Exit Zero Zombie Trilogy can be found:
Exit Zero: http://EZzombie.com
Nuke Jersey: http://NukeJersey.com
Zombie Democracy: http://Zombie-Democracy.com
My non-fiction work can be found below:
Business is Dead, Resurrecting Entrepreneurship
Amazon: http://fantrepreneur.com
Thank you for these excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent. We wish you continued success.
About The Interviewer: Ian Benke is a multi-talented artist with a passion for written storytelling and static visual art — anything that can be printed on a page. Inspired by Mega Man, John Steinbeck, and commercials, I.B.’s science fiction writing and art explore the growing bond between technology and culture, imagining where it will lead and the people it will shape. He is the author of Future Fables and Strange Stories, the upcoming It’s Dangerous to Go Alone trilogy, and contributes to Pulp Kings. The CEO and Co-Founder of Stray Books, and an origami enthusiast, Ian is an advocate of independent, collaborative, and Canadian art. https://ibwordsandart.ca
Author Neil A Cohen On How To Write Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.