An Interview With Ian Benke
Read — Reading will truly make you a better writer and keep you inspired. Choose not only the classics and buzzworthy titles in SFF but expand to other genres to keep yourself edgy and knowledgeable about overall trends in literature.
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 Metra Farrari.
A UW–Madison school of journalism graduate, Metra Farrari landed her dream job right out of college to become a member of the production team for the final three seasons of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Chicago proved to be fruitful; Metra picked up a husband, a big-boned (fat) cat, and lifelong friends, but the draw of family called her home to Minnesota. A self-proclaimed nap-time novelist, Metra managed to write her debut novel to the soundtrack of the everyday chaos that comes with raising three small children.
When not squirreled away in her writing nook, Metra can be found unapologetically consuming reality shows, attempting to keep up with the twenty-somethings in her spin class, and negotiating with her husband for another cat. Metra is a first generation Persian-American and resides in Minneapolis with her family.
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?
I have always been a huge reader — so much so that when I was a teenager, I’d call up my best friend and ask if she wanted to come over and read in silence together (she always did — know your audience!). When my parents went through a tumultuous divorce in high school, the warm common room of a wizarding school, the bewildering relationship between a plain girl and a vampire and the fraught adventure of restoring memories allowed me to escape a grim reality.
I got hands-on experience with visual storytelling when I was accepted into my high school’s student-run television show. After graduating from the UW-Madison with a degree in Journalism, I followed that budding passion for storytelling all the way to The Oprah Winfrey Show, working in production for the last three seasons of Oprah’s monumental show.
But as I’ve grown older, I’ve recognized that my mind works faster than my mouth. I’m better understood on paper and enjoy the process of fully fleshing out my ideas on my own timeline. After receiving unexpected praise and fulfillment when I experimented with writing a blog (Musings from a 21st Century House Cat, written in the voice of my cat, Lester), I knew that storytelling through words on a page is the medium for me.
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?
I have always had a big imagination, but there aren’t many jobs out there where you can market your greatest strength as the ability to daydream. Starting as a young kid, I’ve lovingly crafted a handful of difference storylines that I’ve played with over and over in my head. It took me nearly 30 years to realize those are books just waiting to come out, including the plot of All The Blues Come Through!
I’m also a natural-born multi-tasker. I’m a fulltime stay-at-home mom who has the thirst to succeed as an author yet has very little time to get everything done. I’ve learned to take little pockets of time, whether it be “nap time,” during preschool or post-bedtime, to plug in and get it done. Even during sleep, I’ll wake up with new idea that I’ll have to document on my phone (I know — horrible habit) or go for a run and come back with a long list of things to do.
I make friends easily. I won’t go as far as saying I’m an extrovert, but I am inherently curious and am approachable with my self-deprecating nature. My end goal, to the detriment of my career, is to build relationships. I often forget to tell people I’m an author, which makes me the world’s worst marketer, but when I do inevitably mention it, I have developed a strong bond and so when I make a book-related ‘ask,’ it’s not coming from the place of smarmy self-promotion. That gives me the ick factor.
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?
Currently, I am writing the second novel of my Heir to a Myth trilogy, as well as outlining the final book. With the success of my first book (along with the major cliffhanger!), my fans are antsy to see what happens next, so I’m working toward getting that finished as soon as possible! I am also shopping my first novel with producers. It’d be a dream to have it produced by a streaming platform!
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?
I define fantasy as anchored in the familiarity with a flourish of whimsy. That flourish can be a light flick or heavy-handed. I’d say that speculative fiction is more rooted in realism than fantasy by introducing genre-bending elements.
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?
Imagination will always evolve alongside technology; that goes for both the author and the reader. Our vision of what constitutes science fiction also evolves; there will always be material to play with as our society grows and changes.
In your opinion, what are the benefits to reading sci-fi, and how do they compare to watching sci-fi on film and television?
What I love about reading versus observing is that reading fantasy and science fiction is actually an active exercise. The author can only do so much describing the world, the characters and plot; it is the reader’s job to take the words and paint a picture in their head of what it looks like. Watching is a much more passive process; the job has been done for you!
What authors and artists, dead or alive, inspired you to write?
It would be remiss, despite ideological differences on transgendered people, if I didn’t acknowledge the influence of J.K. Rowling on my journey to becoming a writer. The empire she’s built from the whims of her imagination is astounding. Entire generations have transformed Harry’s journey from words on a page to a lifestyle, rereading the books, watching the movies, boasting about which house they’d belong to. It’s a slice of nostalgia, it’s a comfort, it’s a way to instantly bond with strangers. All spurred from her imagination. That is a beautiful example of how powerful the words of an author can be.
Maeve Binchy was an Irish author who transported me from my Midwestern mecca to the beautiful and complicated small-town life in Ireland. Her novels are deliciously thick and cover epic character arcs, making the reader feel utterly invested in each of the intricately interwoven storylines. I have been known to refuse reading the last chapter of her books, opting for denial that the book is almost finished. We lost Maeve way too soon.
David Byrne is a favorite artist of mine. From The Talking Heads to his solo work, he’s had such a full and wondrous career through reinvention. Although I don’t know him personally, I feel like he is unapologetically authentically himself, uninfluenced by the filler that can bog a person down and 100% committed to his craft. I hope to possess that confidence one day.
If you could ask your favourite Science Fiction and Fantasy author a question, what would it be?
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is one of my favorite fantasy novels and go-to re-reads. Her world-building is magnificent; I feel like I have physically visited the Night Circus on multiple occasions. For my own novel, I wrote the island in All The Blues Come Through from memory, as though I’ve visited it before. I would love to ask Erin if she felt the same way — whether the Night Cirus was a spectacle that she felt she’d somehow witnessed before.
I’d also be curious whether she feels a book or project is ever “done.” For me, I had to put my foot down to myself when it was time to go to print. I think I could forever tweak and edit a draft into oblivion. Do other writers feel that way? 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?
My voice as a female millennial really drove the prose of All The Blues Come Through; there are pop culture references, puns and wit galore, and reflections of what it means to be a millennial woven throughout the novel. My writing style is authentic, accessible and relatable — I am not pretending to be a prolific literary writer that creates these heavy, somber, life-changing reads. My strengths lie in creating a read that is light and comedic with an element of escapism.
Ryan smiled at her landlord-turned-office-manager. A fateful trip to the Shop ’n’ Save during the botanist’s first week of residency in Grayville had set their trajectory of friendship in motion. Ryan had asked one of the grocery clerks where the wasabi was located. The unmistakably local boy had scratched his head, asked her to repeat the item’s name, and then skulked over to his manager. He spoke just loudly enough for Ryan to hear him say, “Dat woman over dair is lookin’ fer wersabbey.”
Blood had rushed to Ryan’s face as she heard a fellow customer’s voice boom, “Oh, for God’s sake, Toby, she asked for wuh-sah-bi. It’s Japanese horseradish, which you do not carry, but if you’re going to take over this grocery store from your father, I suggest you invest in carrying something other than nine types of white bread and an array of bologna so we’re not forever stuck in the 1960s.”
The older woman had then turned her attention to the scrawny, awkward stranger in front of her. “I’m sorry, hun, but the most Asian product you’ll find in this store is microwavable white rice. I ordered some wasabi online for myself when I was on my sushi-making kick.” She puffed out her chest, a grave expression on her face, and said, “I’ll admit, I didn’t quite know the strength of wasabi until it was too late, and I was crying my eyes out. But now I immensely enjoy the stuff . . . in moderation.”
Her shock sliding into amusement at this grocery-shopping hurricane of a woman, Ryan had quietly replied, “I had a similar experience with its potency when I forgot to wash my hands before using the restroom.” Greta had looked at her for a few seconds with a deadpan expression before breaking into a howl of laughter.
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.
- Daydream — Thinking about your story is just as important as putting it on paper; spend time envisioning every aspect of the setting, the characters, the journey in your head. It will make outlining much easier!
- Research the Marketplace — Which books in your genre are getting a lot of attention and why? What tropes are popular, which tropes are tired and what hasn’t been done? How is your book going to set you apart from the competition?
- Know Your Audience — You need to understand who your ideal reader is, what age they are, what they’re currently devouring in the genre and what they’re going to expect when reading your novel.
- Read — Reading will truly make you a better writer and keep you inspired. Choose not only the classics and buzzworthy titles in SFF but expand to other genres to keep yourself edgy and knowledgeable about overall trends in literature.
- Enlist Beta Readers — You’ll want to choose a couple readers who are fully dedicated to the SFF genre; they know the pulse of what SFF readers expect, what works and how to make your novel stronger. I’d also throw in some beta readers who aren’t typical SFF fans to see if I could make the novel more marketable outside the standard SFF reader.
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 🙂
Hands-down, I would fan-girl over meeting Arianna Huffington. It doesn’t even have to be a meal…we could meet at the drinking fountain or share an elevator ride. If I could glean any of her business savvy, reap from her ingenuity or garner some of her confidence through osmosis, I would be thrilled. Plus, my novel celebrates Greek mythology and Arianna is Greek!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I am active on my Instagram page — @nice2meecha and update my website often at metrafarrari.com. I’m also responsive over email at metrafarrari.author@gmail.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
Novelist Metra Farrari 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.