Interview with Lucien Maier
I came across Lucien via the web and have found him intriguing from the start – obviously a determined character and full of fresh ideas – Lucien created the WoF (Work of Fiction) concept which he is currently trying to spread further afield. His backlash against non serious writers struck a chord with me and I wanted to know more about the man behind the voice. Over to Lucien:
Explain how the WoF concept came about
Well, I have a back ground in radio production and I wrote Storm Trooper Bob back in the day. So the concept is pretty simple. Instead of print I went directly to audio and sold directly to the fans. No middle men, no publishing company, no agents, just you the fan and me the story teller, just seems like a better way don’t it?
How would you pitch your work – why should people stand up and take notice?
I try to write what is in my heart and wants to come out. I try to write from a different point of view. I am also big into writing in genres that have been done to death and try to bring them some new life. But mostly I write what comes out whether it matches a demographic or not. By not having a publishing company to answer to I can write what I like, and my fans can take what they like and leave what they don’t. Again just a better arrangement for both sides in my eyes.
What do you think is the most important function of fiction? In your opinion, who achieves this in way you admire?
Lessons: plain and simple. We can learn from others experiences. Fiction offers us a way to have experiences we could not in real life. But I think the Author (WoFer in my case) job is to show all sides the good and the bad, and more importantly teach the lessons.
I was impressed when you openly removed yourself from writerscafé.org out of frustration – there being a lack of dedicated writers wanting to get published on the site. Tell us more.
First let me say I think Nathan has done an amazing job with WC. I have talked with him a few times and he is truly got an amazing thing going. But there was a couple road blocks in my way there I could not get past. The biggest is that I reviewed over 1500 pieces there, and people seemed to not want to improve their skill but get pats on the back about how great their writing was. Well the brutal truth is 95% of them will never make a mark as an author.
When I was attempting to become a conventional author (16-19) I read probably 100 books about how to become and author, how to submit correctly and the like. And it my opinion that many of the people on WC are not approaching being a author with any professional respect.
The second thing the really did me in was I came to WC not to promote my own work. But to get the method of WoF out to other authors, I was met with all sorts of things but never many that said holy crap how do I do this???
I was constantly accused of promoting my work, when to be honest it does fine without any WC exposure. Even better now that I left because I don’t spend so much time fighting for the WoF idea.
It works for me, and that is all the counts. I want to be known for my work, not for my methods. So I felt it was time I go and leave WC behind, And I have to be honest leaving behind the over 20 contests I won, and the badges and the friends was hard, but end the end Writers café is for writers and maybe WoFers need their own place.
What impact do you think the internet is having on the quality of writing and the general attitude to writing?
Oh boy, well I think it has no impact on the quality range. There is shit and there is masterpieces and everything in-between. Just like there has always been. The internet allows more work to get out into the public eyes but the best stuff floats to the top through word of mouth just like it always has.
I think the internet has given us a grand opportunity to bring our work to the world but maybe most authors are just not ready for that yet – which is confusing to me. Through my old talk show I know a lot of successful authors that love what I have done and wish they were not under contract and could do the same.
What’s your most important writing moment or achievement to date?
I still think that when I was 16 and when I finished my first book In The Blood (for the first time) I think that was a huge moment because at that point I had put a whole story together with all the elements to form a book (probably not a great one at the time) but still it was a book. And then I knew I could write a book. And that changed me in many ways.
Many writers speak of writing as a compulsion, an addiction, and a necessity. What does writing mean to you?
Yeah I think it is a pain in the ass! It takes up all my spare time, and no matter how many stories I tell, I keep coming up with more that want to come out. It is thankless as everyone is always willing to offer what they don’t like about your stuff. But in the end it is who I am, and I can’t and wouldn’t change it.
Publishing equals politics. Discuss!
Hummm I am getting the feeling you really want to know what I think of publishing. Well First I commend you on your questions painting me into a corner. It comes down to this. The publishing industry was created because one person could not reach masses of people. They had to be selective because the cost to bring work to market was big. Well over the years the cost of that has gone down, and now it becomes more and more possible to reach the masses without anything to do with a publishing company.
You have to have faith in your stories, and if they are not good enough they will fail somewhere on the chain in either the WoF world or the print world. So personally as a creative story teller I worry less about the world looking at my work, or selling my work, or what impact my work will have. I create the best stories I can and I will let history judge my work and wisdom.
Only time will tell if I am to be one of the best, not the size of my wallet. Many young authors think it is all about getting a movie deal or being the next JK Rowling but in the end it really comes down to how many lives you helped with your work… And will your work last longer than you do?
Where do you look for inspiration?
Well Everywhere. I get ideas from anything; the key is to be open to inspiration when it comes to you. Don’t go looking for it. You’ll never find it.
What’s your writing space? What’s the best place for you to get creative?
Depends, I have a Laptop so I am not harnessed to a desk or a spot. And that has worked out very well for me. I love working in new places because I see it affect my work. I do a lot of production on my desk early in the morning, otherwise you would hear my kids in the background 
Where do you see the WoF project heading?
I don’t know…where do you see it heading?
I am going to continue to WoF, because for me it is an awesome way to tell stories, and I am making money so…
As for the concept, again WoF is a method not a project or a company. I have no want to make money off the WoF Idea, if I did believe me I would have sold the F**k out of this thing already. But I want my stories to be what makes or breaks my fortune not the way I am putting it out there.
I want to tell stories and I am willing to work in many methods to tell those stories – except print – and the reason I won’t go that way is much like Tolkien. I am in love with nature and I think there is no reason to tear out trees to hear my words. I can do it without hurting a single tree. And the other part is I am the first WoFer and if I prove that the path can be walked without the help of the publishing company, the WoFers of the next generation will have an easier road to walk.
If someone was interested in creating a WoF – what would they need to do?
Email me, we will see where your skill level resides and I will get you with other WoFers that can help you along the way. I am always working and thinking about the WOF methd and how to make it better. But the idea is that everyone that WoFs is part of making it better and better. I can’t wait to hear WoFers that are better at it than me. Then my goal for WoF will be truly complete.
Thanks for the interview I enjoyed it
L.