Member Spotlight: Ian M. Rogers

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Humans learn to understand the world through stories, and gain insights into both their own experiences and those yet unknown by reading about them. Novelists make this process happen, and in my work, I strive to create stories that make people reflect, think, and discuss—with a few jokes thrown in for fun.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Continuing to engage with the writing even when what you’re putting down on the page isn’t quite working. You might end up throwing all or most of it away, but what you put down might ultimately lead to the work you want.

What is your favorite time to write? In the morning, after responding to texts, but definitely before checking email.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Write in a distraction-free zone—phone off, no internet searches, no browser tabs in the background, and no household chores to distract you from the fictional dream.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? Twenty years ago, people were afraid the ebook would replace the paper book, that Amazon would wipe out all the indie bookstores, and that conglomerate publishing would continue to dominate. However, nothing has been further from the truth—books aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and there are more opportunities for writers than ever before.

Ian M. Rogers’s Carcrash Parker and the Haven of Larpers is out now with ‎Vine Leaves Press.