An Interview With Ian Benke
Powerful — Any story needs to mean something, drama is emotion and because Science Fiction can be more fantastical than the other genres but it doesn’t mean there can’t be humor, romance or any other powerful human emotions involved.
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 Laura Sansom.
Laura Sansom is a creative writer and script writer who has had work featured on her own YouTube channel, Film Freeway and Script Revolution sites as well as published works and full portfolio, and she once delved into acting by playing the lead in Alice in wonderland.
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 was only recently aware of being a Science Fiction fan — on studying media and finding more about genres I unintendedly analyzed my viewing and reading list and found there was a definite Science Fiction vibe and all things fantastical.
Later I found out about more about being a “fan” or “shipping” of Science Fiction, the geekdom of it and found myself being more involved than ever, there’s a memory of being on a London train station wondering if I was in the right place, right train line then the next train pulls in and a hundred off Harry Potters poured out — I was assured I was most definitely heading towards Comic Con. It was only a matter of time, an evolution, that I was going to be involved in writing my own Science Fiction projects.
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?
Time management is definitely a practical thing, my work in progress has been a long time coming but along the way I was on that learning curve, learning other skills, not just creative but also producing, directing and copyrighting and business minded skill sets, I am now aware of what needs to be done when the project completes (that it includes the cloak and dagger world of funding) which leads to the last trait, confidence.
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 finally found some time to sort my old project and give it the new spin to make it more relevant to the current issues of climate change although the actual “moral” of the impact on the world caused by its inhabitants was already part of the plot in the first place. Looking to creating a writing room to assist with getting the project finally completed, learnt a lot but as a Science Fiction fan I want to get this book and possible film out there and if there’s any chance it can support the climate change campaign all the better.
I now have those connections missing from when I first sat to scribble the idea, now it’s time to make perfect of something that essentially was my first adventure into writing, Science Fiction writing.
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?
Science fiction to me is something where it’s not likely in our current timelines / our current story already told but not entirely impossible. If the events from the 80’s and 90’s films, and the novels far before the films have now happened, mainly technology advancements but not always, then yes Science Fiction is fantastical but not entirely out of this world. There’s the all too common trope about the mad scientist saying something is possible and being ignored because we can’t be open minded enough to believe they may be right.
Climate change is a current problem, could the answer be scientific possibly? Could the answer be found in our past also, very possibly? Is the answer simple, never? So there lies the plot twist, the dramas of problem solving and advancement in a world in which a group or set of life forms inhabit.
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?
Pure escapism, perhaps a little more thought provoking than the Romcom genres and I think we are so much more knowledgeable and intrigued by things.
In your opinion, what are the benefits to reading sci-fi, and how do they compare to watching sci-fi on film and television?
I think the readers imagination is the key here, there’s nothing more exciting that letting the reader have a little part in the story. On the page they get to fill in and add their own twist, a novel can be such a more personal thing to be involved in.
What authors and artists, dead or alive, inspired you to write?
Difficult to say with regards to Science Fiction, I very much enjoyed the usual generic Science Fiction shows such as Buffy the vampire slayer, Fars cape and Stargate but learning about how a written piece can be emotional, scary, amazing, thought provoking and entertaining can come from many other writers of other genres also. My aim has always been to blur these using what I have learnt the last 25 years.
If you could ask your favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy author a question, what would it be?
Stephanie Meyer did well in her Twilight series of books, I enjoyed reading the book and never thought it would be a movie for no other reason than I enjoyed the book, obviously someone saw how entertaining and how it would work as a film with a bigger audience reach. I would love to ask her or any other author what made them agree to the film rights?
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 am always aware that the rule of clichés is a bit of a no man’s land, you should use them, should not use them! Clichés can be as formulaic as iconography of the genre. Could you write about a vampire without garlic, crosses, and holy water, probably not. It’s difficult to know what ingredients to use or not when telling your story and I am still learning that. Hopefully my writing is balanced enough. Any writer would obviously be happy if it was read or viewed as groundbreaking, if there’s such a thing?
I also try and make sure my writing isn’t too patronizing. Challenging the world of those who know the science and those that don’t but happy to learn, can be very difficult.
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.
- Physical — Creating worlds can be challenging but Science Fiction doesn’t have to be off world. It can be here, right now or with challenges to the old world or the current way we live, the normal being at risk here on earth.
- Probable — The human race in the real world will always be at risk from one challenge or another. All those plots with a virus breaking out was all very real.
- Possible — The whole wave of equality means that the plot twists of new versions needs to be all inclusive and so it should be. Doctor Who’s main plot twist is that this alien can regenerate into whatever it needs to be. Be it Scottish or female. Its possible that regeneration wouldn’t necessarily take human form, it is alien after all.
- Patriarch — Often the plot is to test the luddites against those in power. A tale as old as time, revolution, and uprisings.
- Powerful — Any story needs to mean something, drama is emotion and because Science Fiction can be more fantastical than the other genres but it doesn’t mean there can’t be humor, romance or any other powerful human emotions involved.
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 would love to chat to Amanda Tapping or Stephanie Meyer about Science Fiction in a woman’s world and non Science Fiction related who wouldn’t want to share a croissant and cappuccino with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and chat creative projects and the world as it is or how it could be? As a Brit I would love to chat to any author or creator about Science Fiction in the British publishing / media climate.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Check out my website www.sansom.weebly.com , my blog www.fayed.wordpress.com , obviously social media @louboop and more. Soon to be on IMDB.
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
Script Writer Laura Sansom 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.