[R.M. Archer]

I’m super late to the party, but hi! XD

How did you start writing?

I’ve been an avid reader ever since I started reading, and when I was about 6 that spilled over into “Hey, why don’t I try to write something?” We don’t speak of my first story. It was… interesting. But the second one was… sort of D&D-ish, as far as plot goes: there was a merry band of adventurers (all with awful names, oh my word XD) who set off in search of two kidnapped princesses so that they could return and claim their hefty reward from the king. XD That was when I decided I much preferred fantasy (or really any genre) to mysteries when it came to writing, lol.

Why do you write?

Well… that’s been a journey. Originally it was just for fun. I loved stories, and I wanted to make my own. I wanted to explore worlds and different scenarios and lives different from my own, so I did. It took me… kind of an embarrassingly long time, I think, to start really connecting my writing with my faith. I acknowledged it as a God-given calling, but I didn’t really involve Him in the process in any way; I was still really just writing for fun. And then at some point I started being more aware of the power fiction has to convey themes and to promote values and whatnot, and I realized how important stories about genuine struggles can be, and I started writing more intentionally. Which still wasn’t especially deep at first, but then I finally discovered the stories I really want to tell, some that feature broken characters and explore human nature and reveal grace and forgiveness, as well as stories that show the importance of community and characters who are more mature in their desire to do good and that are a lot lighter than those other stories. At this point, I write because fiction is powerful and I think that God has called me to use this art form to make an impact and to add more Christian perspective to YA fiction, in particular, and to encourage people to think about things differently. (All of which is in His power, not mine.) And I also find that I come to understand God’s nature in new and deeper ways through the process of writing, and as I reflect His creativity I come to see tiny glimpses of His perspective, in a way. So… yeah. It’s been a journey, and I think it will continue to be. 🙂

Why do you write fantasy?

I don’t like rules. XD No, that’s really only the initial reason. I decided early on that I much prefer the freedom of my own worlds to the constraints of this one, and while that still remains true I have come to also appreciate the value of stories set in our world and I’ve come to understand new benefits of fantasy, as well. For one thing, I think it gives a greater window into the idea of God as a creator. As we create our own worlds, we come to understand the complexity of things that He barely even had to think about because… He’s God. And it gives us a greater appreciation, I think, for His greatness and His power. We also, I think, come to understand a bit of His love for what He has created; I remember one time, in particular, feeling super giddy over this new facet of world that I’d built and thinking, “I wonder if this is how God feels about His creation.” So… I think it gives us a different angle on God’s character.

I also think it has value, from a storytelling perspective, in exploring themes with a freedom that real-world stories don’t always have. If you focus on an important, emotional issue like racism or abortion or discrimination against some group of people in a story set in the real-world, the reader is going to automatically feel more closely connected with that issue and will have pre-conceived ideas about it. Which may be a good thing, and that can definitely be used well! But fantasy gives a little bit of a buffer in that you can handle the same issues, but place them in an unfamiliar world, one that is like our world but different, and while some bias is unavoidable and we do want readers to connect emotionally, the issue often feels less threatening to a reader. So I think it allows us to explore worldview and deep topics with more freedom and allows us to turn them around at more different angles and allows us to prompt the reader to think from different angles with less risk. It’s easier to explore a multi-faceted issue with more freedom, I suppose.

Favorite fantasy books

The Wingfeather Saga and Lord of the Rings are definitely on the list for me, too! I adore both series. They’re both so skillful and explore themes and characters so beautifully. (I bawled at the end of The Warden and the Wolf King, and I rarely get emotional over books, so I give huge props to Peterson for that alone.) I actually just finished re-reading LOTR and there’s just so much to love about it, from the prose to the characters to the themes to the worldbuilding… It’s just a gorgeous set of books.

Speculative fiction author. Mythology nerd. Worldbuilding enthusiast. Singer. Fan of classic literature.

[Zee]

Hi, @r-m-archer! I really liked your thoughtful answer to the question “Why Do You Write?” In fact, I’m working on creating a blog series on this very subject. Would you be willing to allow me to quote you as part of the series? I’d also like to share the link to your own blog or website if you have one.

I’m giving participants a free copy of the first book in my Shards of Sevia series as a thank-you for their contributions. If interested, please email me at: btznvntATgmailDOTcom.

[R.M. Archer]

@zee Absolutely! 🙂 My blog is at rmarcher.com.

Speculative fiction author. Mythology nerd. Worldbuilding enthusiast. Singer. Fan of classic literature.

[Zee]

@r-m-archer, thanks so much! Just email me and I’ll see about getting you your book.

 

[imwritehere1920]

@r-m-archer

Hi there!  So glad you joined the conversation.  You have an amazing story on why you write.  Thanks so much for sharing!

I’m learning how to connect my writing with walking with God too.  And it’s always hilarious to visit your very first story you wrote.

I wish you the best of luck with your writing journey!  🙂

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. — Ernest Hemingway

[R.M. Archer]

@imwritehere1920 Thank you! You, too. 🙂

Speculative fiction author. Mythology nerd. Worldbuilding enthusiast. Singer. Fan of classic literature.

[Author]

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