Dawn Lloyd is an American who got bored and set out across the world looking for adventure. Four continents and six countries later, she teaches at St. Constantine’s International School in Tanzania. Her work has appeared (or is forthcoming) in a variety of magazines including Space and Time, Triangulation: Last Contact, and Metaphorosis. She is also the Editor in Chief of The Colored Lens speculative magazine, www.thecoloredlens.com
How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I’ve been writing since I was six or seven years old. As soon as I learned to read, I started writing. I don’t recall what got me started. I just remember it didn’t occur to me not to write. After writing Dick & Jane books, I moved on to historical fiction in middle and high school. I didn’t discover science fiction until college, which is when I started writing it.
What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
I enjoy science fiction/fantasy, but read a range of authors. I discovered Young Adult fiction after I was an adult and regretted not having found it earlier. There are also a number of mainstream authors I hold in high regard. My favorite authors range from John Steinbeck, although sadly only about half his books, and generally not the ones he’s famous for to Glendon Swarthout, who can’t figure out what genre to write, but writes them all well. I am in absolute awe of John Irving for his writing talent and ability to weave disparate plot threads together. I feel similarly about Barbara Kingsolver, but also love her way of handling themes that should be handled. In the young adult world, I’ve recently discovered Patrick Ness, but also quite like Paul Fleischman, Jane Yolan, and a number of others. In the SF/F world, the list is too long to name. Of the classics, I still enjoy Robert Silverberg. Of recent authors, I like George RR Martin, including his books outside A Song of Ice & Fire. Carol Berg’s skill with characters is exceptional.
Do you favor the traditional route or self-publishing?
I’m still old school enough that I prefer traditional publishing, although I know there are people doing quite well self-publishing, and I’m glad they’ve found something that works for them.
Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
I have only once ever written a story where I knew anything about the plot/character before writing it. Generally I start with just a specific scene in my head. “Scene” doesn’t include plot, characters, or anything like that. It’s more just the feel of a scene. Sometimes I hear or think of a phrase or sentence that catches my attention and I start writing around that. On those occasions, the phrase is usually central to the story, but if anyone heard it out of context, they would consider it absolutely uninteresting. Somewhere around halfway through the story, I figure out the core theme and conflict. Around three quarters of the way through, I figure out what the final climax will be, but not how it will resolve. I usually learn how it will be resolved about one sentence before I actually write it.
Then I do a whole lot of rewriting.
Have you attended any conferences or writing retreats? What was the experience like and do you have any to recommend?
I haven’t, in part because they would require a very expensive plane flight to get to a country where they are being hosted. I think they would be good for networking, but retreats aren’t generally my thing. If I’m going to go somewhere other than home, I go to see the sights and am too busy touring or meeting people to focus on writing. I’ve had some excellent writing groups over the years, and tend to rely on them more because they know what I’m going for with a story or idea, which is seldom what most people would do with a story.
How do you deal with rejections?
I update my submissions spreadsheet, file the rejection letter away, and go find a new market.
Do you ever get criticism from family or friends who don’t understand your passion?
My family are very supportive, but don’t understand SF/F and generally like more optimistic stories than I write. They congratulate me, which I appreciate, and just accept that my interests and theirs aren’t the same. I do appreciate their support, though.
In your opinion, how important is a writing degree or MFA when it comes to achieving success in writing fiction?
While I fully believe there are good programs out there, I don’t think they’re the least bit necessary for being a good writer. You can learn just as much by joining a good writers group and writing a lot. If someone is going to spend all the money for a degree, I’d recommend it be one with more practical applications. Unless, of course, you’re lucky enough that the cost isn’t an issue, in which case do whatever you think is the most fun.
Do you participate in any online or in-person critique or writing groups?
I’ve been an active member of the Critique Circle writers site for well over a decade and strongly recommend it. www.critiquecircle.com . I’ve also been a member of a number of in-person writing groups over the years depending on which country I’ve lived in. I had some great writing friends in the US, but haven’t spent enough time there to really settle in with the group. We do critique each other’s stories on occasion, though. In Oman, I had a long-running group composed of two writers who became my close friends, and a few other expats who came and went over the years. I couldn’t find a group when I lived in Afghanistan, so put together a group of other expats in various countries and we did skype meetings. They were also exceptional. In Tanzania, I’ve put together a small group who has given some great insights.
What book(s) are you reading right now?
I just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which I really enjoyed. I am debating on which to start next, but I think it will be Things Fall Apart. It’s being picked over Coraline because I’m going to be traveling and want something a bit longer. I’m also listening to the Mistborn series on audio.
Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
This story is a prequel to a a story published in Kzine, issue 10. (http://www.kzine.co.uk/)
I’m the Editor in Chief of The Colored Lens (www.thecoloredlens.com). We always welcome more readers and authors.
