Tech, Future and Cosmos with a Twist: Interview with Author James Rumpel
FreedomFiction.com presents an interview with author James Rumpel. His worlds explore unique aspects of technology, humanity and possibilities of what exists in the undiscovered universe. FreedomFiction.com has published as many as 16 stories by him since June 2016 to June 2026. A 17th story by him will be published by us on Sunday 28-June-2026.
Author Interview:
Dey: What first made you want to become a writer?
James Rumpel: I’ve enjoyed reading my entire life and often made up my own stories or situations. When I retired from teaching in 2018, I decided to try to put a few of the more interesting ideas into words. It gave me something to do and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to take a concept from my mind to paper.
Dey: Was there a particular book, author, or moment that influenced your decision to write?
James: Through late high school and college, I was an avid reader of all things Larry Niven. As a math major, I was intrigued by the fact that he was one also. His short story, “The Convergence Series,” combined math with fantasy and is still my favorite.
Dey: What kinds of stories or subjects naturally attract you as a writer?
James: I love sci-fi and humor. I am extremely fond of stories with an ironic twist.
Dey: Which themes or ideas keep appearing in your work, even unintentionally?
James: I find myself writing quite a few stories about technology and its impact on our lives. I also enjoy coming up with stories about someone or something being put into a situation that is totally out of their realm.
Dey: How would you describe your writing process from idea to finished manuscript?
James: I wouldn’t call it a process, exactly. I’m usually hit by inspiration while doing some normal mundane task and then I let it ferment in my mind for a few days. I often find myself ‘dictating’ specific paragraphs or sentences. When I do sit down to write, I try to recall the best ones and implement them into the story.
Dey: Do you write with a detailed plan, or do you discover the story as you go?
James: I usually have a general plan. I know the situation I want to create, and I know many of the details, but I let the story flow on its own. A majority of the time, I don’t know what the ending is going to be, and I am often amazed at how something comes to me as I’m sitting down at my computer.
Dey: What part of writing do you enjoy the most—and what part do you struggle with the most?
James: I enjoy the challenge of seeing an idea to fruition. I tend to treat doing so as solving a puzzle. My least favorite aspect of writing is my constant struggle with correct grammar, sentence structure, and comma usage. (Note: commas were added to this last sentence during proofreading.)
Dey: How has your writing changed over the years?
James: I think I have learned not to try to be too grandiose. Not every story has to be “War and Peace.” Sometimes it’s okay to just throw together a fun little tale that I (and hopefully others) find entertaining.
Dey: Are there writers, artists, filmmakers, or thinkers who continue to inspire your work?
James: Through writing and sometimes being lucky enough to get stories ‘out there’, I have found many different sites that publish works of other authors with varying degrees of acclaim and success. It’s difficult to name specific people, but I am greatly impressed by the number of amazing stories that are available online or in anthologies. I have the utmost respect for the people creating these works.
Dey: What role does personal experience play in your writing?
James: I find myself using personal experience in about half my stories. I might be writing a piece about an alien used car salesman, but somehow, I find myself writing the character as if it’s my neighbor or someone I know. I also find that I tend to sneak math or teaching into a disproportionate amount of my stories.
Dey: How important has discipline and routine been in your writing career?
James: I’m afraid to say, not a lot. I write for fun, and I write when I feel inspired. I can go weeks without sitting down at my computer and then turn around and write a half-dozen stories in the span of a day or two. I completely understand the importance of discipline in writing, but it all depends on your goals and attitude.
Dey: What have been the biggest challenges in your journey as an author?
James: Besides commas? I suppose the most frustrated I get is when I have what I think is a good idea, but I can’t find a way to tie the story together. Sometimes the endings write themselves, and sometimes they don’t. Working through the times that I can’t come up with a good way of closing a story is my greatest frustration and therefore my biggest challenge.
Dey: How do you deal with rejection, criticism, or creative self-doubt?
James: I think I’m too old to let these things bother me. Writing is something I do primarily for myself. Sure, I hope others like my stories, and that somebody somewhere is willing to publish my stuff, but if not, I’m okay with it.
Dey: What does success mean to you as a writer?
James: I have two criteria for success. I simply want to write stuff that I enjoy writing. However, I do also want to share my work with other people. I always tell myself that I don’t really need to submit to publishers, but that’s not really true. It feels good to know that other people are reading what I write. Of course, it is an ego boost when I hear back from my friends or anyone else that they enjoyed a story. I don’t find myself too upset over negative feedback because I know that every story isn’t for everyone.
Dey: Do you believe publication is essential for a writer, or can writing itself be enough?
James: Writing can be enough, but at the same time, if you have created something that you are proud of, it only makes sense to try to get it out to other people.
Dey: Has publishing changed your relationship with writing in any way?
James: Not to a great extent. I think I would still be putting ideas on paper even if there was no way to get them published. I’d probably be bothering my friends (if I still had any at that point) by sending them e-mails of my latest story. I’m sure they are very happy that publishing provides a different alternative.
Dey: What is your opinion of the modern publishing world and today’s reading culture?
James: I love the fact that there are so many different publishers and outlets available. If someone interest in any type of story, they can find it.
Dey: What kind of emotional or intellectual experience do you hope readers take away from your work?
James: For about half of my stories, I hope the reader gets a good chuckle out of them. I want them to enjoy what I write. I gravitate toward humor or, at least, light-hearted adventure. I’m well aware that my style isn’t going to change anyone’s life, but if I can make them happy for a little bit, I’m more than okay with that.
Dey: What advice would you give to aspiring writers trying to find their own voice?
James: Write what you enjoy and enjoy what you write. I think if you can master that, everything else will take care of itself.
Dey: Looking back on your career so far, what has writing taught you about life and/or people/society?
James: It’s taught me that I’m not alone. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I never realized how many people have similar interests. There are so many talented writers and content creators out there. Don’t be afraid to be yourself.
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You can read fiction by James Rumpel at FreedomFiction.com by visiting the below link:
https://www.freedomfiction.com/tag/james-rumpel
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Image Source: Dey from Fictom.com
