How did you become a writer? I’ve always loved telling stories. When I was 10 years old, I created three comic books featuring robotic bugs I’d created from drafting paper. Yet I didn’t pursue writing at first; instead, I focused on business. After college, my first job was in collections, which included repossessing cars. That made me ask myself what I wanted to do with my life. (Something I should have pondered before I graduated.) This led me to explore writing. Yet other than buying a few books on writing, I didn’t take any formal training for a number of years. That was a mistake. It was only after I began taking classes at the University of Iowa’s summer writing program that my skills as an author began to improve. I also found a partner in Robert Kerbeck, who edited my writing while I edited his. That elevated my skills. Having someone who gave blunt feedback, who pushed me to be better, helped me become the writer I am today.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.). Robert Kerbeck, who I just mentioned, is an influence both as a writer and editor. He has two nonfiction books (Ruse and Malibu Burning) which are both excellent. I’ve been influenced by the more classic science fiction authors, Robert A. Heinlein, Carl Sagan, and Isaac Asimov. My father was a big sci-fi reader, and I would read his copies of their books when I was a kid, dazzled by their stories. I’ve also been inspired by Pierce Brown with his Red Rising series. The voice of his main character is outstanding. And I’ve loved Blake Crouch’s work, with his stories centered around technology that could really happen, and how they impact the main character(s).

When and where do you write? I have an office where I do most of my writing, which at first looks very professional…until you notice the Star Wars figurines crowded under my computer monitor; the framed pictures are artists’ renditions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Flash; a lightsaber is resting on the back of the couch, and so on. I have a Surface, so I’m actually able to write almost anywhere. As far as when I write, I primarily write on the weekends, as I have a full-time job. Yet I never truly stop writing. My Notes app on my phone is filled with countless entries regarding my next book and ideas for other stories.

What are you working on now? I am working on the third book in The Price Of trilogy. The story has been mapped out, and I’m fine-tuning my notes before I begin the rough draft. Readers don’t need to read The Price of Safety before reading The Price of Rebellion. I wrote The Price of Rebellion as a stand-alone book, including the pertinent information readers need to understand Dray Quintero’s world. It’s more about the journey he and the other main characters take in this book, and how it changes their world.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? Yes, but not in the traditional sense of staring at a blank screen, as I don’t turn on the computer if I don’t know what I want to write. I know that sounds like cheating, but don’t worry, there have been many, many times where I’ve been unsure what to write, how to develop a story, and so on. With The Price of Rebellion, I knew I wanted certain events to occur in the story, but the book didn’t come fully formed. I had to work at crafting the story. To me, it’s like walking in a fog, with the “fog” being the endless choices that could be made with the story. As I define my story, the fog clears, those endless choices coalescing (over an excruciatingly long time) into the final path the story takes.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received? “Keep your day job.” This wasn’t a criticism of my writing ability. It was a harsh reality that few people can truly support themselves as a writer. Many do, but as I focus just on novels, that limits my income. As I produce more publishable work, I can build my readership and sell more books, but it’s a long process. Writers who support themselves with royalty income from their novels are few and far between. It’s not impossible, but don’t expect your first book to become a national bestseller that will enable you to quit your day job.

As far as writing, Stephen King’s advice to take your finished rough draft, stick it in a drawer for six weeks, and work on something else before editing the draft was great advice. I get a much better perspective if I step away from the book for a while. With The Price of Rebellion, after I completed the rough draft in early 2020, the pandemic hit, which forced me to put the book aside for over six months. When I was finally able to pick it back up, I was better able to see the parts that worked and the parts that didn’t.

What’s your advice to new writers? To go back to my fog analogy, there will be many times you will be frustrated and feel you won’t be able to see your story, your characters’ motivations, or even remember why you’re writing in the first place. Keep at it. Writing isn’t easy, at least not the level you need in order to get published. Take classes. Join writers’ groups. More than likely, your writing will be subpar at first. Almost everyone’s is. But just like playing the piano, snow skiing, or piloting an airplane, you don’t instinctively know how to write the first time you try. To be good at anything takes time, practice, training, and focus. The more you do it, and the more you strive to improve your writing, the better you will become. That second part is important, because if you just write without taking classes, getting feedback, reading others’ works, etc., you will just be spinning your wheels.

Michael C. Bland’s debut novel The Price of Safety, was published in 2020. Though released during a global pandemic, The Price of Safety reached #7 in Amazon’s rankings for Dystopian novels and received Finalist awards three times: by the Indie Book Awards for both Science Fiction and Thriller, and by National Indie Excellence Awards for New Fiction. The second novel in the trilogy, The Price of Rebellion, will be released on May 16, 2023. The novel recently won Best Science Fiction Novel of 2022 by Indies Today. Michael is a founding member and the secretary of BookPod, an online book support group. “Elizabeth”, one of his short stories, won Honorable Mention in Writer’s Digest 2015 Popular Fiction Awards contest, and two of the short stories he edited have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He currently lives in Florida. Website: www.mcbland.com.