An Interview With Ian Benke
You must have a deep love of story.
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 Melanie Dickerson.
Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Medieval fairy tale retellings, including Veil of Winter, releasing June 14th. She’s been a romantic for as long as she can remember, and she’s been writing stories to entertain herself and her friends since sixth grade.
Melanie lives in North Alabama with her husband and sometimes her two young adult children, who have (mostly) flown the nest. You’ll find her sprint-writing with her friends on video chat, hanging out with her handsome husband, watching movies with her oddly calm Jack Russell terrier, or daydreaming about her book-in-progress. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or keep up with her new releases by following her on BookBub, https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melanie-dickerson
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?
As a kid growing up in rural Alabama, I read a lot of books. And I remember writing stories in a notebook for my friends to read in fifth or sixth grade, passing it around in class. I can’t remember ever considering any other form of storytelling. I didn’t have that outgoing flare that spoken-word storytellers have, and it was much easier for me to be eloquent when I was writing than when I was talking.
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?
This is an interesting question. I think the most important character trait in any author is perseverance. When I have determined to do something, I just will not give up. I believed I was going to be published, no matter how long it took. I wrote four novels before my first novel was accepted for publication. That book got 32 rejections and it took over two years of trying to get a publisher, but I never stopped believing in that story.
Another instrumental character trait is a fascination with personality and psychology. A novelist needs to be able to get into the heads of different personality types and figure out why people do what they do. I have always loved studying personalities and psychology. I’ve read so many Psychology Today articles! I felt like I won the lottery when I discovered the Enneagram. I love it so much and I know what number every person in my life is. Ha! They all think I’m the Enneagram expert.
A third instrumental character trait is . . . I don’t think there is a third one. It all goes back to perseverance. I’ve known better writers than me who quit writing for one reason or another, just gave up. I also have people writing to me and saying that they have started half a dozen books but they never finish them, and they ask me how they can make themselves finish the book. I don’t know how to explain that or teach it. Somehow they have to find the drive inside themselves. That’s the overwhelming desire to finish what you start, and every writer needs that.
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 am currently writing my first independently published series, Imperiled Young Widows, and I’ll be starting on the 4th book soon. It’s been interesting to have complete control over all aspects of a book, and I’ve discovered I like it a lot more than I thought I would! At the same time, I’m also writing a Medieval fairy tale retelling series for my publisher, HarperCollins. The fifth book will be a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, which should be a lot of fun. I’ll be starting it within the next couple of weeks!
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?
To be honest, I’ve never read sci-fi, and I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on speculative fiction either. Fantasy is a story that has elements that are considered incompatible with our existence, as it currently stands, on our planet. But as I’m no expert, I can’t really speak to the differences.
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?
I think people are more and more fascinated with technological advances, which are affecting all of us more every day. Honestly, though, I believe the main thing people want is a good story. If we can give them a good story, the technology and other sci-fi elements are secondary.
In your opinion, what are the benefits to reading sci-fi, and how do they compare to watching sci-fi on film and television?
Sci-fi stories have been around at least since at least the 1860’s with Jules Verne and Journey to the Center of the Earth. I think reading a novel fires the imagination in a way that watching a movie does not. Reading a novel lets you experience the story in much more detail.
What authors and artists, dead or alive, inspired you to write?
Harper Lee inspired me, probably more than any other author, not only with her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, but because her own success story helped me believe that a nobody growing up in rural Alabama could dream big and accomplish those dreams. Also, Robin McKinley’s Beauty was the first fairy tale retelling I ever read, and even though I’d already started writing my first fairy tale retelling, it helped me to see that fairy tale retellings were an actual genre and a hundred authors could retell the same fairy tale in a hundred unique and interesting ways.
If you could ask your favourite Science Fiction and Fantasy author a question, what would it be?
Sorry. I’m drawing a blank on this one.
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 consider myself a no-nonsense storyteller. It’s all about the story and the characters, not the flowery descriptions. Here’s an excerpt from my new book, Veil of Winter.
He knelt beside her bed and took her hand in his. Her small fingers were cool but pliable enough to indicate she was alive. He stared at her eyelids, willing them to open, but they remained still and closed. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips surprisingly red.
He held her hand in both of his, trying to impart his warmth to her. Truly, he could not tell if she was breathing at all.
He suddenly remembered something.
He’d once seen a Saracen healer approach a knight who had stopped breathing after falling from his horse. He pounded his chest, then pinched his nose and blew into his mouth. The knight had suddenly started breathing again.
He could not bear to strike such a beautiful woman’s chest, but since Ysabeau was speaking to Sir Oswalt behind him, perhaps they would not notice if he followed the Saracen healer’s example and breathed into her mouth.
He bent over Princess Elyce’s still form and started to touch his lips to hers.
But this wasn’t right. He had to pinch her nose first and then blow. That should get some breath into her lungs, shouldn’t it? It had worked with the knight.
Still hearing Ysabeau and Oswalt talking behind him, he quickly pinched the princess’s nostrils closed, then leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.
Before he could breathe into her mouth, she sucked in an audible breath. He jerked back.
The princess was staring at him with wide, horrified eyes.
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 must have a deep love of story.
- Let your imagination go and don’t hold back, i. e. Don’t save a great idea for a future story.
I once was doing research and found a set of laws that were in place in Medieval Europe, including a law that if someone was sentenced to be executed, that condemned person could be set free if an eligible woman let it be known that she would marry him on the spot. In the moment, I thought, I need to use that for a future story. Then I immediately thought, No, I’m using that on THIS story! And it became a dramatic scene in my first published novel, The Healer’s Apprentice.
3. Give your characters deep wounds from childhood that motivate and drive them and cause them to clash with the other characters.
4. Use your own life lessons learned and ah-ha moments in your stories. This adds a level of authenticity that so many novels don’t have.
5. Don’t follow the trends, and don’t be afraid to do something that’s never been done before.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I post my latest book news on my social media, which is mainly facebook and instagram, and you can get a notice for my new releases by following me on BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melanie-dickerson
or on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Melanie-Dickerson/e/B003BAAJG6
Thank you for these excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent. We wish you continued success.
Author Melanie Dickerson On How To Create 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.