Activated Authors

#044: Robert J. Sawyer – How to win awards, The Oppenheimer Alternative, & the evolving publishing approach.


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Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight writers ever to win all three of the world’s top awards for best science-fiction novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the formerly titled John W. Campbell Memorial Award. He has also won the Robert A. Heinlein Award, the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award, and the Hal Clement Memorial Award; the top SF awards in China, Japan, France, and Spain; and a record-setting sixteen Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards (“Auroras”).


Rob’s novel FlashForward was the basis for the ABC TV series of the same name, and he was a scriptwriter for that program. He also scripted the two-part finale for the popular web series Star Trek Continues.


He is a Member of the Order of Canada, the highest honor bestowed by the Canadian government, as well as the Order of Ontario, the highest honor given by his home province; he was also one of the initial inductees into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.


In this episode we go deep into:

  • How Robert cut his teeth in fiction
  • The power of the first generation of British science fiction
  • The changing landscape of audiobooks
  • Why artistic ambition is the secret to winning awards
  • The truth behind the politics of awards
  • The origin of Robert’s latest book "The Oppenheimer Alternative"
  • How Robert’s writing process has changed over the year
  • Why you don’t need to be a scientist to write science-fiction
  • Why Robert is moving into self-publishing for his latest book
  • Negotiating the rights for each market with your books
  • Adopting public domain works to promote the classics
  • How Robert manages the marketing and promotion of his author business
  • How Robert ended up receiving his Member of the Order of Canada
  • Why Robert J Sawyer writes

  • Robert answers questions from Patrons:

    • Mark McClure: Are science fiction and speculative fiction two sides of the same genre?
  • How do you reward yourself when you've completed a project?
  • What would your profession be if you weren't a writer (or writing wasn't an option OR never existed)?

  • Find out more about Robert:

    https://sfwriter.com/


    Links from the show:

    The Oppenheimer Alternative: https://books2read.com/u/bwdyZv


    Special thanks to:

    Intro vocals: Persephone Rose

    Show theme: Karl Hughes


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    Thank you to my patrons:

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    Ian J Middleton

    PT Hylton

    Michael Anderle

    Mark McClure

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    Yanni Jade

    Meg Cowley

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