For those of you who do not know Stephen Graham Jones, he is a professor here at CU as well as a very successful writer. I attended one of his presentations on being published and learned some really great stuff from him. His advice for anyone whose dreams are to become an author were “write, write, write, never stop writing.” His words on publishing as well as his advice inspired me to reach out to him, and in return now you guys can take a slight glance into the life of a published author.
What do you teach at CU? Mostly fiction writing. When I teach literature, it’s usually either comic books or some branch of horror. I’ve done the haunted house, the slasher, zombies, werewolves, weird fiction. I’ve also taught a course on YA novels.
What other places have you taught before? Texas Tech, University of California Riverside Palm Desert. I’ve guest taught for Naropa, for University of Utah, and I’m about to teach at Clarion West for the second time, and for Locus the first.
What do enjoy most about teaching? That my students always teach me so much. And that I get to go into a room and talk to speak, committed people about books and writing.
How did you begin writing, is it something you have always enjoyed or did you discover your passion for it later on in life? Wrote my first story at nineteen. Never planned to be a writer. Always figured I’d be a farmer, like the rest of my family.
When was your first work published, what was the title? The Fast Red Road—A Plainsong was my first novel. It came out in 2000. I had no idea how to write a novel. All I knew was to keep going.
What was the process like for you? I finished it in 1998, it got accepted in 1999, I think, and then it came out fast, won an award, pulled some lucky reviews, got me an agent, and then a job.
Other than write write write, never stop writing, what would your best advice for young writers be? Read outside your chosen genre. Keep up with the bestsellers. Read random books you find under the bench at the bus station. Read soup cans. Always be reading. Reread books you love. Reread books you don’t love. Learn from all of them.
What have you learned most about yourself since becoming a successful writer? That it’s a fine line between stubbornness and integrity.
What are some struggles you have faced? Editors going away, publishing houses folding, and general dishonesty, I guess. But I’ve been pretty lucky, too. I’ve worked with excellent editors, for great houses, and have completely trusted everyone involved.
What is one of the best experiences you have had? Feels good walking through an airport, seeing one of my books there on the shelf.
Is there any other information you would like to share with young writers reading this? My werewolf novel Mongrels is out in early May from William Morrow. Probably everybody should preorder one copy for the shelf, one for reading, and one for a gift. Unless you need more, of course. Might be possible to build a little fort with them, if you get enough copies.