Sam A. Miller on YouTube Storytelling and Choosing Science Fiction

Ganeshananthan to talk about his debut story collection, Still Lost: Tales from the Year 2080, as well as his educational and comedic videos. Miller reflects on how he got started on YouTube a decade ago, when he was an adolescent, and amassed 4.8 million followers by developing Sam O’Nella Academy, a channel with a scrappy, homemade feel and distinct illustrations. Miller discusses the genesis of the unusual aliens who set the stage for most of Still Lost’s human-centered stories by solving potentially world-ending problems like climate change right off the bat.

He explains why he decided to self-publish the science fiction collection and how it found its way to a traditional publisher. He also shares his science fiction influences and talks about how his personal history with addiction shapes the book’s final story. He reads from Still Lost.

To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). You can also listen by streaming from the player below. Check out video versions of our interviews on the Fiction/Non/Fiction Instagram account, the Fiction/Non/Fiction YouTube Channel, and our show website: https://www.fnfpodcast.net/ This podcast is produced by Christian Barter, V.V.

Ganeshananthan, AJ Abernathy, Grace Workman, and Sienna Hoopingarner. Still Lost: Tales from the Year 2080 by Sam A. Miller • Sam O’Nella Academy – YouTube Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang • Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir • Blindsight by Peter Watts • Wheelers by Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen EXCERPT FROM A CONVERSATION WITH SAM A.

MILLER Christian Barter: Your YouTube channel also covers a wide range of topics. So, why did you choose to write science fiction? You seem like a writer who could have written in any genre.

Miller: I appreciate that. I’m not sure I’d be immensely qualified for historical fiction, if I’m being honest. I consider myself kind of a generalist, which is a nicer way of saying I don’t know shit.