LDS author James Dashner writes fantasy and science fiction for the young adult market. His four-part Jimmy Fincher saga has sold over 20,000 books–and that was through Utah-based Cedar Fort publishing, not a big national publisher. Besides being a prolific writer, James also takes time to speak about writing at various writing conferences. I’ve recieved from very useful tips from him about writing for young people.
I’ve read the first book in the Jimmy Fincher saga, A Door in the Woods, and it’s a fun adventure. While part of it does take place in Utah, it is not an “LDS novel,” because the main character is not LDS and religion does not play much of a role in the book.
I asked James if I could interview him for my LDS writer interview series, and he was kind enough to agree.
Eric: How does it feel to have written an entire young adult fantasy series?
James: It’s pretty cool, although it just makes you crazy-psycho-anxious to write another one. I had so much fun with my first series, and I’m having a ball with the things I’m currently writing.
Eric: What are you working on now?
James: I have a book called The Maze Runner* that’s with an agent right now, and I’m writing a new series about an ancient artifact that can create almost anything. Of course, it gets in the hands of a really evil dude and the whole world goes to pot. It’s called The World Sifter.
[*Note from Eric: I went to a reading James did at a convention, in which he read the first couple of chapters of The Maze Runner. It was fascinating, and I look forward to reading the whole book at some point.]
Eric: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer, and why?
James: When I was about eight, I wrote a story about a really crappy football team that somehow made it to the Superbowl. It was awful, but I caught the bug. I didn’t get really serious until after college. The main reason I love to write is because I love imagining weird things and making up stories.
Eric: Who are some of the authors who have influenced your writing?
James: Dean Koontz, Tad Williams, Orson Scott Card
Eric: What impact does your LDS faith have on your writing?
James: Nothing more than an attempt to put some morals in there. My main goal, to be honest, is to make my stories fun and exciting and full of surprises. I try to make the characters strong morally, and throw in some thematic stuff that not everyone in the world is evil and stupid. But I don’t have much interest in mixing religion with my writing.
Eric: Why did you choose to write for young adults? And why fantasy?
James: Easy answer to both questions. I fell in love with reading as a young kid, and the books I read back then still feel magical to me. It’s just the best and most fun time for reading. And I write fantasy because I have to let my imagination run wild. I could never write a lame-o detective novel about a murder at a social club. I’d rather die.
Eric: Where do you get your ideas?
James: Tough one. Two things pop into my head. First, I think a lot as I go to sleep at night, and I often stay up for way longer than I should because my mind begins churning. My latest book (The Maze Runner) was conceived from beginning to end in one burst of thinking that kept me up for hours. The other thing is driving. I love to listen to movie soundtracks like LOTR and Matrix as I drive, and my mind spurts out ideas a mile a minute.
Eric: What advice do you have for would-be writers?
James: First, write a complete book that has an actual ending. And don’t forget the beginning and middle parts, too. I get approached by many aspiring writers who haven’t even written a book yet. Can you imagine wanting to be a published artist and never having done one painting? I think once you’ve written one book, you’re on your way. You’ll have confidence, you’ll get better, you’ll get hungrier. Then just keep doing it, stay persistent, and send out at least three queries a week until you get published. Writer’s Market is a valuable book, which is available in any library.
Thanks for the interview, and if people would like to learn more about me or my books, check out my website, www.jamesdashner.com.
[Note: This interview was first posted at the Bloggernacle Times.]