We recently connected with Aaron Conaway and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aaron, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
In a general life view? My mom. But creatively? Probably from keeping my goals simple. I enjoy making up stories, no matter the format I’m playing in. When I’m creating, I’m that kid making swords out of sticks who imagines the sidewalk as a path to adventure—it’s just that the yellow bricks are strategically concealed in asphalt. Novels, short stories, comic books, or screenplays it doesn’t matter. Playing is the thing, and when I’m creating solo, I’m my only audience. Eventually, I get around to sharing with you, and while I hope you dig it, I already know that I do, so I’ve won. It’s hard not to be optimistic in that headspace.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a genre writer. Primarily urban fantasy/magical realism and horror, but I also dabble in dystopian and science fiction. I’ve written multiple comic books over the years, but in the last half-decade, I’ve begun cartooning my own comic books and strips as well.
The Timberhaven Chronicles—My prose series set in a small midwestern town that exists at the crossroads of science and magic, fiction and reality.
The Michael Gideon Collection—I pen all of my horror work as Michael Gideon and publish it under this banner. Incidentally, Michael Gideon is also a protagonist of The Timberhaven Chronicles.
Harrowed Earth—My dystopian novellas set in the ruined world of the New Vision Comics Collective, a hybrid comic book/prose books print I co-founded.
Jan The Vagabond—my all-ages comic book and strip series starring Jan (pronounced “yawn”), a small, kind-hearted barbarian boy, and Gertrude, his sentient, malevolent shield.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Curiosity. The more I became obsessed with storytelling, the more I needed to pick apart and try to understand the mechanics of stories, why they worked for me, and why they didn’t.
2. Research. I’m a voracious reader, avid movie watcher, and devotee of comic books and strips. I pore over the classics, doing my best to understand the commonality found in both mass appeal and niche audiences.
3. Study/Practice. I came to the drawing game very late; most lifelong artists have forgotten more than I understand about the art of drawing. So, I have been studying and practicing it more than my other creative pursuits lately.
And that’s what I think it really comes down to, practice. There is no quick and easy way to write a book, paint a painting, or make a movie. Training and doing the work. That’s it.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Step away from the work and focus on something else, a task that isn’t daunting for you at that moment. I’ll get out of the studio, go for a walk, play with my dog, or go out to eat with my wife—anything that isn’t work. Sometimes, I just need to fill the creative tank by watching a flick or listening to music while driving. For me, feeling overwhelmed typically means I need to take a pause.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aaronconaway.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronconawayauthor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronConawayAuthor/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuK78jxMk6Y7WMnhm_vqXhA
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
