4 and 8 for the writer thing please.
4. what are some themes you love writing about?
I’m a political wonk, so there’s plenty of “how does that world work?” going on. Politics, religion, social roles. Back in my DS9 days, I was the one whipping up long treatises on how the Trill society and religion would work, as well as a plausible excuse as to why a society with such blatant inequality problems would be in the Federation. Galaxy Rangers? Oh, let’s try and figure out the history and internal politics of The Circle of Thought and why Earth’s senate seems to be flooded with isolationist morons. Star Wars? Yeah, let’s unpack why the Empire and the Sith always get their butts handed to them, even though they like to sneer at the Republic and Jedi “inefficiency?” (The reason boils down to the Empire and Sith being a great way to develop strong individuals, but absolutely pants at managing an actual society.) The Land of Oz? Sure, let’s see if I can take the Baum-Thompson “Famous Forty,” see what parts of Greg Maguire’s Wicked series don’t make me retch, try to work in any of Laumer’s stuff or the Russian versions, and set the whole thing in the era of the Tin Man series.
8. is there a character you love writing for the most? the least? why?
It’s not specific characters, but character types. The two that get my attention? First is the a jaded variety of Lawful Good who knows just how unrewarding it could be, but still goes Lawful Good anyway. Zach Foxx, Uprising!Era Tron, Wyatt Cain, Carth Onasi. It’s a hard path, they know it’s hard. They have every incentive not to go this direction. They do it anyway. The other archetype that gets my attention are characters who are very uncomfortable with power. They’d do anything to get rid of it, but they also knowing cashing it in isn’t an option; Dr. Bashir and his enhancements, Jet and User abilities, my DCU OC Fauna and her shapeshifting, my take on Revan, etc. I appreciate those because of how difficult their path is and the restrictions they place on themselves by their own choice being above and beyond what anyone else expects. Everyone expects the action hero to kick ass and take names, but the one who can walk away from power for no other reason than conscience?
As for types I have trouble with? It’s tough to write the kind of dashing rogues that everyone else seems to be able to write with ease.
