A Conversation On Romance, Adventure, Social Commentary, And The Power Of Strong Characters
Walker Long discusses balancing humour and social commentary, creating powerful female characters, and blending erotic elements with meaningful narratives in his sex-positive stories.
Walker Long is a bold and unapologetic voice in contemporary literature, known for his unique blend of romance, adventure, humour, and social commentary. His works, characterised by a sex-positive outlook, invite readers into a world where both pleasure and reflection coexist. Whether exploring the intricacies of female empowerment in Planet of the Creeps or the boundary-pushing dynamics in Swapship Troopers, Long seamlessly weaves together stories that are not only engaging but thought-provoking. His characters—often strong, unpredictable women—challenge traditional gender roles and defy societal expectations, offering a refreshing take on identity, power, and self-discovery.
Raised in the American Midwest, Long’s personal experiences inform much of his writing, providing a backdrop of community and conformity that underscores the journey of his characters towards individuality. His ability to balance humour with serious social critique allows him to tackle complex themes, making his novels both entertaining and deeply resonant. In this interview, Walker shares insights into his creative process, his approach to writing intimate scenes, and the motivation behind his distinctive storytelling style. It’s a conversation filled with candour, wit, and a genuine passion for pushing boundaries.
Walker Long crafts thought-provoking narratives with humour, depth, and authenticity, challenging conventions with every page he writes.
How do you balance the integration of humor and social commentary in your novels to create engaging and thought-provoking narratives?
I think humor and social commentary really go hand in hand. The world is utterly absurd much of the time, so it’s only natural to poke fun. If you keep an eye out for those absurdities, the humor will naturally be there as you follow the story.
In “Planet of the Creeps,” you explore themes of female empowerment and inequality. What inspired you to tackle these subjects within a science fiction context?
Science fiction is an amazing vehicle for social criticism. You can take troubling current trends and extrapolate them into a dystopian future, like one of those magnifying makeup mirrors that blow up all your flaws bigger than life. It gives me a chance to shine a spotlight on things I want to criticise, but at the same time get some distance from the polarized chaos of today. It’s my hope that the story speaks to our current moment while also being relevant more generally.
Your works often feature strong female protagonists. How do you develop these characters to resonate with readers and challenge traditional gender roles?
Challenging traditional expectations is something I do instinctively. Those ideas are so limiting: for women, for men, for everybody. So in real life and in fiction I gravitate toward people who do the unexpected, who take their own path. I think a lot of readers engage with those characters too. Love them or hate them, the reader is at least engaged. For me, writing about a strong woman character begins by not thinking about her as a woman at all. Instead I picture a person with strengths, weaknesses, wants, needs that may have nothing to do with being a woman at all.
“Swapship Troopers” combines military science fiction with erotic elements. How do you ensure that the inclusion of explicit content enhances rather than detracts from the story?
In “Swapship” much of the story arc actually exists in the erotic moments. The main character gradually moves from a masculine identity to a feminine one, and his/her sexual experiences are a major motivating factor for that transition. Not every story is going to revolve around sex that way, but even so explicit content can enhance the story. There’s a temptation to write every sex scene as mind-blowing and earth-shattering, but sexual experiences are as varied and diverse as any other activity. I like to work with that, use those differences to create scenes that fit the moment, fit the characters and their journey, make explicit content a part of the narrative and not a break from it.
Your writing is described as sex-positive. How do you approach writing intimate scenes to maintain respect and authenticity while serving the narrative?
My preference is to write about sexual experiences that improve and enrich the characters’ lives. I love the idea of a character finding joy they never expected, discovering new things about themselves, and even finding love as a result of some sexual adventure. Of course, the real world doesn’t always work like that, so I’ve had to include some sexual ugliness when a story has called for it. That’s the key, I think. To have a guiding principle, a North Star to navigate by. And then to know when you need to blow it off.
“My preference is to write about sexual experiences that improve and enrich the characters’ lives…discovering joy they never expected.” – Walker Long
Given your background in the American Midwest, how do your personal experiences influence the settings and character development in your stories?
Here in the Midwest, especially the small-town environment where I grew up, community is incredibly important. That sense of belonging can be very comforting, but it often comes at a cost of individuality. There’s a powerful judgemental attitude and a deep skepticism of people and ideas that are different. You’re expected to conform, to “fit in.” Personally, I never could. I think that’s why I enjoy writing about characters who defy convention and find their unconventional place in the world.
What advice would you offer to aspiring authors looking to blend romance, adventure, and social commentary in their writing?
I don’t think I’m in any position to give advice. I’m still trying to figure it out myself. One thing I would suggest is that any writer has to start as a reader. Read, read, read. Find the authors that are already doing what you aspire to and read them all. Read everything else, too.
