[Interview] Ian Flynn | One Man and His Career -

The right way to write!

This week at Miketendo64, we have cooked up something extra special and its all thanks to a gentleman named Ian Flynn. As a long time writer and creative consultant, Ian Flynn’s extensive career has been an impressive story in itself and we recently had the chance to talk about with him at great length. So, strap yourselves in for a five part interview series as we go over Ian Flynn’s elaborate career, covering his involvement in the cancelled ARMS graphic novels, his extensive work with Sonic the Hedgehog and so much more.

But, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, Part 1 starts with Ian Flynn’s storied career and career advice for anyone hoping to follow suit:

Got to be Ian it to Flynn it:

Miketendo64: Before we dive right into the probing questions, we always like to begin by asking a couple of easier questions first. Therefore, would you be so kind as to introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

Ian Flynn: I’m Ian Flynn, a freelance writer and creative consultant. I’ve worked in comics, television, streaming media, video games and other published media. Done a fair bit of ad copy too. I’m best known for my nearly twenty-year stint on Sonic the Hedgehog related media and my 55-issue run on Mega Man. I grew up in Charlotte, NC and later settled in Toronto, ON. I’ve had a variety of odd jobs over the years, but my career and passion has always been in creative writing.

Miketendo64: Having been involved in the likes of ARMS graphic novels that never came to full fruition, and a couple of Nintendo IP related books, if you had the chance to be as involved with a Nintendo IP as much as you have been involved with Sonic the Hedgehog, what would be your dream IP?

Ian Flynn: StarFox. No question, no hesitation. I would love to do a robust retelling of the story that began in StarFox 64, follow that thread through StarFox Command, and then follow Marcus’s tenure as the third McCloud. I know exactly what I’d do. I have the vision.

One Man and His Career:

Miketendo64: From Freelance Writer to Creative Director, penning short stories, fact-checking for encyclopedias and so much more, you are a man of many talents but what prompted you to get into writing in the first place?

Ian Flynn: At the risk of sounding pretentious, I’ve always been a storyteller. I’ve always been dreaming up stories and characters and pouring my time and attention into them. I spent (probably, entirely) too much copy paper on my dad’s typewriter growing up. When my English class tasked us with writing a minimum 10-page short story, I came in with twenty pages of the first chapter. It’s just what I do, man.

Miketendo64: Looking back, what was the first job you got in this industry that ultimately led you to the career path you are on now?

Ian Flynn: When I got my lucky break on Sonic the Hedgehog, then under the Archie Comics imprint. I was a fan of the book since grade school, and I was looking to get hired while in college. Right around graduation, the editor at the time (Mike Pellerito) saw potential in me and gave me a shot. I was lead writer for the book within six months, and produced over 250 stories for it and its companion titles.

Miketendo64: What are some of the personal hardships you have faced during your long career and how did you overcome them?

Ian Flynn: Money’s the constant concern. Freelancing gives me a great deal of freedom with my work and life which has been crucial in many regards, but there is no financial security in it. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve seldom been without work, but there can be months between jobs or payouts. Beyond one small project, I don’t receive royalties. It’s feast or famine.

The other is critical response. Most folks are incredibly gracious and supportive. Others are staggeringly vicious or vile. Ten minutes on social media can lead to severe emotional whiplash. I’ve grown a thicker skin over the years, so the death threats don’t rankle me as much as they used to. I’m still struggling on just taking a compliment, though.

Miketendo64: If you weren’t a writer, what profession do you reckon you might have doubled down on instead?

Ian Flynn: Part of me wishes I’d followed in my father’s footsteps and focus on voice work and acting. I love to perform, and I have a few minor credits to my name. But they’re both very competitive markets and I can’t fight in those arenas and the writing spaces.

Miketendo64: At what stage in your life did you reach a point when you were writing for your own pleasure to ultimately wanting to do it professionally?

Ian Flynn: I’ve always been writing for my own pleasure, even when “writing” was scrawling nonsense with markers on drawing paper. (Never the walls – that’s for artists) It was when I was pursuing my English degree it hit me that I had to do something once I graduating. Teaching wasn’t the right fit for me, so writing seemed like my best (and only) option.

Miketendo64: From graphics novels to comics and video games, how does the writing process for you differ when tackling different formats of storytelling?

Ian Flynn: It varies from project to project, client to client. Sometimes there is a vision before I’m brought on and I’m there to bring it into focus. Sometimes there’s only a vague sentiment and I’m free to be creative. The scope of the project also impacts just how much story telling I can do, and how I can go about it. A silent, still scene conveys things differently than a voiced scene, or an animated one.

Another aspect is what the medium is. The production pipeline for a comic book is much more concise compared to that of a game or animation. I’d argue a writer has a bit more control with comics, whereas animation and games have other directors and producers weighing it. Knowing each process and how to prepare material to best fit their mechanics is a skill in itself.

Miketendo64: Given your output in recent years and diversity of your work, you are often tackling multiple projects at once. When undertaking multiple works, is it a case of sticking to the one your most in tune with at that time and then bouncing back to another project when inspiration hits or do you compel yourself to make the desired headway first before going between multiple projects?

Ian Flynn: Depends on the projects, the deadlines, my mood, the phase of the moon – there’s no real rhyme or reason to it. I may be in sync with one project, but another has the tighter deadline. In that case I may focus on meeting the deadline first, or I might knock out the “fun one” since I know I can complete it faster. Sometimes I have to put something down and walk away until it “clicks” internally.

Very rarely have a hit the honest-to-god “Writer’s Block.” When it does arrive, though, it’s transcendent. Usually my mind is like a bee in a jar, but when the block hits, there’s an eerie stillness. In those cases, you just have to close up shop for the day, because nothing is getting done. All the thinking thoughts have been thunk.

Miketendo64: Other than your writing, which is more than just your passion but clearly a passion and borderline obsession, every so often do you ever feel burned out and need to take a step back from the scene for a little R&R before diving right into the next work?

Ian Flynn: Absolutely, and it’s something I try to be conscious of more these days. Too many in my field, or in adjacent disciplines, grind themselves down to nothing just to stay relevant. Sometimes I have to schedule down-time for myself. Other times it’s not my choice and I’m just out of energy for the day. I’ve learned that when the ideas aren’t coming, you can’t force them. It’s better to step away and do something else and let things settle into place.

Miketendo64: Aside from your writing, what are some of the other passions you like to regularly pursue?

Ian Flynn: I love video games, and I wish I had more time to play. I also wish I could get more involved in the creation process, directing or producing to some degree, and end up compiling design documents for fun. Which is more writing. I can’t escape it.

I also used to draw a fair bit back in the day. I was never that impressive, but I enjoyed designing characters and drawing up my own comics. I keep thinking about getting back into it – you can only improve by doing – but I want to figure out the project first. Which means more writing. I can’t escape it.

Miketendo64: When most writers finish their latest creation, they typically have their own little way of celebrating the accomplishment. Is there any particular way you like to celebrate when a work is complete?

Ian Flynn: Not typically. Creation is the fun part itself. If I’m wrapping up something I wasn’t as fond of or was especially challenging, moving on to a fun project is the treat. If I had a blast working on something, I come off it feeling satisfied.

Miketendo64: Is there anything you haven’t written about yet but would like to?

Ian Flynn: I don’t have topics I wish I could get to so much as projects. I have so many of my own ideas I want to see realized, but there are only so many hours in the day and funding them ain’t cheap. There’s a number of properties I’d like to play with, but I also have a few toy boxes at my fingertips already. Call me greedy; I won’t argue.

Miketendo64: For our hopeful readers who wish to pursue the kind of career you’ve had, what advice can you pass on to them?

Ian Flynn: First: take a few courses in business and finances. Learn to budget your time and money. These days, a freelancer is their own accountant (as well as a slew of other things) so learn what you can now instead of being forced to learn on the fly.

Second, diversify your studies as best you can. History, philosophy, science – you can’t have a fertile creative mind if you’re just studying literature. Along those lines, consume media you’re not a fan of, even if it’s just a little bit. Try to deconstruct what it is about it you don’t like. Is it the tone? The pacing? The messaging? If you were to tackle such a project, how would you make it appealing to you? By dissecting what you love (and hate) you learn how it works and thus can build upon that knowledge for yourself.

Third, take care of yourself. Eat right (as best you can), get in that thirty minutes of cardio a day, and get your daily “me time.” A lot of life, both professional and personal, will be demanding of you. But you can’t do all that needs to be done, if you’re burned out. Be professional, be responsible, but don’t be afraid to claim time for yourself. Easier said than done, I know.

Fourth, don’t let discouragement kill your dream. I won’t say “don’t get discouraged,” because of course you will. A long string of rejections, poor deals and being ghosted will wear you down. But once you give up, that’s it. It took me four years of “no” before I got a “yes,” and that defined my entire adult career. The worst anyone can tell you is “no,” and all that does is free you up to pursue a different “yes.”

Fifth (and I’ll cut it off here before I go full Polonius on you), bring each other up. If you get the inside track on a project that you aren’t suited for, but know someone who is, make that connection for them. Recommend your fellow artists and writers and open doors for them when you can, and if they’re decent people, they’ll repay you in kind. You can help kill the cut-throat market by supporting each other. Along those lines, don’t wait to be discovered. Build your own brand, tell your own stories, and create your own networks. You’re the next generation of talent, so bring in something fresh. Carpe freakin’ diem.

While we have reached the end of today’s interview, our time with Ian Flynn is far from over as for more parts await and tomorrow we’re discussing all things Sonic the Hedgehog.