Our featured author this month is Thundercloud_E, an exciting author in the fantasy genre. Join us as we delve into their distinctive storytelling approach and the journey that shaped their writing.

What inspired you to become a writer? When did you first start writing?

I wouldn't call myself a writer, instead, I would call myself a storyteller. Writing is simply the method I've chosen to tell the story I want to tell. What inspired me, though? I would say as far back as I can remember, I've always made stories in my head. Superheroes, anime, and some YA novels were the biggest influences. In my teens, drawing became my creative outlet, and if I wanted to make a character, I would draw them. I didn't really start writing until later. I first tried telling my stories as comics, then as web toons, then as a web series. (Which you can find on YouTube under "Thundercloud Entertainment") So I mostly wrote in script format. It wasn't until August of this year that I was reading more books and thought maybe my story would be better as one. So I started writing in a novel format instead of scripts.

How would you describe your writing style and voice? What sets it apart from other writers in your genre?

I want to describe my style as immersive. I try very hard to strike a balance between detailed and simple when writing descriptions and actions, pulling a lot from personal experiences and how I would describe physical sensations to really sell the picture. Now what sets it apart from others? I think you would have to ask someone other than me to answer that. But I'll try my best. I think from a lot of the stories I've read on Wattpad and I try to be very intentional when I'm writing. I only put things in that I specifically want to, whereas many other authors will write without a plan and will simply add it whatever they so please. Not saying that's wrong, of course, just pointing out the difference.

What do you believe are the most important elements of a successful story?

I think, above all, things have to make sense. Often times when I'm writing, I have to forget what I "want" to happen and instead write what I think "should" happen. Because sometimes I have things set in my mind, and based on how the characters are written, it doesn't make sense to happen like that. So I have to actively forget what I want, and follow the thread of the character in the direction that makes the most sense. Of course there are many other things that make a successful story, but I think you could write about literally nothing, and as long as it's well written and makes sense, it will be good.

Can you discuss a time when you received constructive criticism about your writing, and how you incorporated it into your work?

I rarely get constructive criticism. But one of the big things was in the earlier parts of my story was that someone told me I switch between tenses a lot. I didn't know that was a thing. So moving forward, I made sure to always keep a past tense. When I'm done with my story, I'll go back and edit it the earlier chapters to match.

How do you approach world-building in your stories? What techniques do you use to create immersive and believable settings?

This is something I get complimented on a lot. The way I tackle world building is I don't want any of it to be explained by the narrator. I try my absolute best to only explain world building through dialogue. Obviously, a character can see something and the narrator can describe what they're seeing, but only if a character explains it through dialogue will the reader know what it is. I use this method because it feels more natural to me. I guess it's like a movie, where things can only be explained when spoken, and I find that to be more realistic. Another reason I like it is that I can trickle information to the reader instead of info dump on them. I can also withhold information without the reader suspecting anything because I can cut the dialogue short or something can interrupt them. Also want to mention that world building feels much more real when characters talk about it like it is. They do live in it, after all.

Can you tell us about a particularly challenging scene or chapter in one of your stories, and how you tackled it?

There are two scenes in two different chapters that I found particularly difficult. They both have the main character dealing with a powerful negative feeling and a powerful positive one. The way I write is I usually have to get up and walk around the room roleplaying (for lack of a better term) as the character. I pace back and forth and act out the character, talking aloud when needed and just going through the motions of what the character is doing. For these scenes, I truly felt myself shiver in panic or I laughed in relief. I not only have to feel what they feel but I have to make sure I notice the small ticks of my body so I know what to write. The way my eyebrows contort or the way my lip quivers. Those are the details that really make the scene feel "real". If you want to read the chapters I'm mentioning, check out chapters 8 and 11 of my story: Malora. The chapter I'm writing now is also difficult because it deals with actual combat and stuff. So we'll see how that goes.

How do you stay motivated and productive while writing? What strategies do you use to overcome writer's block or other obstacles?

I post once a week on Wednesday. And I do my absolute best to not skip. That is the deadline I set for myself, and I did that because I know without the deadline, I won't feel the urgency. Being that this story is one I've wanted to tell for a while, I know that dropping it is the last thing I want to do. So I'll keep updating it until it's done. And I'll make sure to not miss any release dates.

What do you think are the benefits and challenges of writing on Wattpad? How has the platform influenced your writing and career?

Originally I was writing my story with the intention of publishing it, but since then my goals have changed and I've decided to fully embrace Wattpad. How it has influenced me is I've made a few changes to how I release chapters to better cater to the user base. Like instead of posting a single really long chapter, I started splitting them up into smaller, more manageable pieces. Which makes it easier to put down and pick back up, and gives me more reads and votes for each chapter and this helps the algorithm push my story to more readers. I've also started using banners at the beginning and end of my chapters to add more care and attention to it.

What are your goals for your writing career, both in the short term and long term?

Short-term goal, finish my book, edit it, then create a fully voiced audiobook with sound effects and an original score. I will release it for free on YouTube so that anyone can read or listen to it with no barrier to entry. Long term, do that for each of my stories. I have a collection of around 10+ stories that all take place in the same universe and are interconnected. So I would love to work through them, and create audiobooks so that you can get the definitive version of my creative vision. I want to create something that no one has ever seen on Wattpad, something bigger than just a collection of stories. I know it's ambitious, but that's just how I am.

What advice would you give to other emerging writers who are looking to improve their craft and build their readership?

If you're writing as a creative outlet, continue to do so. But if you're writing to tell a good story, everything you do should be to make your story better. And if you do have a good story, then success will find you. You just have to make sure you do your part in getting it out there. At the beginning, read for reads, then contests, then reviews, anything that gets your reads up and the ball rolling. Also, make sure you space out your chapters so that the algorithm picks it up for longer. Lastly, make sure your goal is realistic. Unrealistic expectations are the bane of progress. 

We are delighted to showcase Thundercloud as the focus of our featured author series this month. Take a moment to check out their Wattpad story, 'Malora', a tale of magic and fantasy woven within the complex struggles of high school.

If you're interested in being featured too, keep honing your craft and submit your work to our reading lists. We're constantly seeking exceptional authors and stories to showcase and share with our readers.