The Five Standard Questions

Question One:

What inspired you to research and write the tough topic(s) that your novel centers around?

What inspires me to write about the tough topics that No Seriously deals with is the people who live day-to-day with what my topics center on.

Question Two:

Has writing said tough topic changed the way you view writing, or the world in general? How has it impacted your creative aesthetic?

Certainly. Writing about someone who deals with a mental/physical disability/illness really does change my view of the world. I definitely know that I have more compassion than I did once before. As in terms of writing, I am always careful of trying to accurately portray the struggles of the MC, maintaining their integrity and dignity as well. It's something I hold to the utmost importance while writing.

Question Three:

How do you hope to help people with your writing?

I hope to help people like the people who I've read have helped me: look through a new looking glass at the lives of others and do something about it!

Question Four:

What does your writing process look like?

My writing process...oh please DON'T look at it... XD I really am more of a person who writes when they're inspired. My fans - so to say - keep me writing as well. I don't like being late on uploading unless I have a very valid reason to be. I do do a basic outline and then sometimes midway through, I'll have a really great idea and I outline more. A friend of mine actually writes her epilogue around the first few chapters she's written; she knows where she wants her story to end. I sent her mine just so I'd make sure to not lose sight of what I want to happen; there's no backing out of that idea! XD

Question Five:

What are your long-term goals with writing? What are your long-term goals outside of writing?

My long term goals in writing is just to not continuously fall into a writer's slump (aka block) I do hope to finish my main story by around November or December. Outside of writing...well...I really don't have long term goals for myself... I guess one would be to finish reading a book that's been on my shelf since May! XD

The Five Unique Questions

Question One:

On your profile, you offer help/hotlines for Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Child Protection Services. When/Why did you begin to support these causes?

I began supporting the cause against Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse since 2013 after watching Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. It's a cause near and dear to my heart as well. Why wouldn't someone support the cause? I think silence is the worst thing...as someone told me, "Silence implies Acceptance." Nothing will change if all people do is stay silent. I think that's true about any cause - whether that be animal abuse, bullying of any form, women's rights, addictions, etc.

Question Two:

You mentioned that you're working on a story about bullying. How do you hope this has an impact on the Wattpad community?

I hope this impacts WP community by inspiring others to write about bullying. Maybe instead of just writing about the girl or guy who gets bullied for no reason, write about someone who has depression, has an eating disorder, is someone who is LGBT, etc?? OR maybe think a bit more out of the box and write about someone who's bullied because they stutter, like the main character of a book I'm writing, or who is mute, blind, deaf, etc.

Question Three:

Who is your favorite Wattpad author?

My favourite Wattpad author is @sallymasonxxx, who also writes about domestic violence. She's a very nice woman who is always strives to answer all of her commenters and is just a friendly gal! She's my BFF! XD

Question Four:

In your opinion, what is the most important part of a story?

There's of course many important things in a story: character development, pacing, Spelling/Grammar (especially these), having each word pull its weight, but the most important is taking the reader through the main character's emotional journey! This goes sort of into showing rather than telling too... but I mean more of, show me what the character feels. There's more impact in that - and the readers love to cheer on the main character. If they're like me, they form an emotional bond with them - sort of like they embody the main character -- gets into their shoes. The reader can't connect with an MC if the emotions aren't there.

Question Five:

Follow-up: how do you incorporate said part into your own stories?

Many stories are written in first person in order to really capture the said part in a story - and for good reason too! It's a lot easier to focus on the main character and their emotions -- or so someone has told me. Being that I like to write in all the 'person's I do see how 1st POV is easier. But my main story is in third. I embody the emotions of my MC by really showing what's happening. I can't tell you how important a line like "her heart thumped as fast as the gallop of a racehorse" can be in a suspenseful situation. XD