Andy Weir built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. The Penguin Post spoke with him about being a lifelong space nerd, a devoted hobbyist of relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight, and his new novel, Project Hail Mary.
PP: You had what I imagine was an intense job as a software engineer when you wrote The Martian. How did you manage to make the time for writing, and how can other aspiring writers follow a similar route?
AW: The secret is to have no social life whatsoever. When I started writing The Martian I had just moved to Boston for a job and I had no friends or family within 3,000 miles.
PP: What is it about relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight that fascinates you so much?
AW: I’m not sure. I guess I just really like complex stuff. I also like clocks and watches.
PP: What kind of hands-on research experiences have you had? And what would be on your list, if you could do anything at all?
AW: I worked at Sandia National Labs when I was in my teens. I did some hands-on science there. Mostly powder metallurgy and electroplating optimization. If I could do anything I wanted, I’d love to get into energy technology. All the clever ways people are coming up with to collect and store power.
PP: Do you ever find yourself dreaming about being in some of the positions you put your characters in and, if so, is it a good dream or a nightmare?
AW: It’s a daydream. And sure – that’s how most of my story ideas start. Just me daydreaming. I guess it’s a good dream because I know the situation won’t actually be fatal.
PP: I read that you based your characters Mark (The Martian) and Jazz (Artemis) loosely on yourself; where did Ryland’s make-up come from?
AW: I’m trying to grow as a writer and get better at what I do. My biggest weakness in my opinion is character depth, complexity, and growth. So for Ryland I decided to step outside myself. I can’t just base every protagonist on me forever. So Ryland is a character who isn’t like me. His personality developed as I wrote the book, then I went back and re-wrote the earlier chapters to be more in his voice.
PP: What is the trickiest part of writing a novel?
AW: Writing the first draft. I love research and I love editing. But actually powering through the first draft is a slog.
PP: Please could you talk about the mechanisms you use to build suspense?
AW: Unfolding a mystery, bit by bit, that reveals more and more about how screwed a character is. That seems to be my trick.
PP: Do you have any pre-writing rituals or writing must-haves?
AW: Diet Coke, pretty much.
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by Andy Weir
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