Dinosaurs Don't Dance by JoelleSC.

1.) How do you feel about earning this award?

Like how I'd feel winning any award really, even participatory; "Dang, I won?" Let alone on something I haven't signed up for, it's actually pretty flattering!

2.) What inspired you to write this book?

There are a few reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is games. I couldn't bore anyone to explain the glory of the lore and engineering of the environment, so in short... "ARK: Survival Evolved" and "Dino Storm" were two of the biggest games in my life that involved dinosaurs and taming them, that led to this spiral of what I hope to create a trilogy for. It goes down to it being a fun thing to try!

3.) What challenges have you faced during your writing journey?

Writing the ending too was another big challenge. I wrote several endings and jotted down a dozen ideas on how it should go, and a lot of them were scrapped, rewritten, and scrapped again. I think this is pretty much a problem for every writer really, to come up with a grand or subtle way to conclude the story. Because, what if the readers don't like it? Do I feel this is how the ending should be? Should it be open-ended? Are all the holes in the story solved? Am I missing anyone or anything that needs to be mentioned in this last chapter? 

I was pantsing my way through (writing on the seat of my pants / improvising how the story goes), there was little emphasis on areas that could have shown more light on the end that ends up becoming regret for not having properly planned out the story, and it likely affected my ending. I wouldn't say "overcame"; it's more like an impromptu band aid in disguise. So in the end, I do what a pantser must; reread all the chapters, make references, and write out how I believe the characters would do and say.

4.) Who is your favorite character (s) and why (can be from your book, another book, or the two combined)?

Tanner Graves from my own book. Simply because he was my adventurous side manifested and tuned up to a hundred. He was everything I would have loved to be, or experience what he would experience. He is and always will be my baby! There was so much potential in this character that just popped in my head and I wanted (and will) write a couple more stories dragging this guy along. And most importantly, he's a personality I wanted to explore. It was reflecting, somehow, of this brave man facing tragedies and I really, wholeheartedly, want to keep expanding on this character as well as the world.  

5.) In your opinion, what do you think makes a good book?

I don't have a good reason, really— LOL— besides the plausible fact that it's now one of the few dinosaur x old west speculative fiction out there good enough for me to be curious about. It's unique simply because of its rarity in an uncharted mixed genre. The only thing good about this is that it sounds rosy. Or, to me, it's soaked in so much gloss; it's just dripping with overelaboration. That, to me, is good storytelling but not good storytelling. After all, this is my first and only full-length novel, so there are no doubt some mistakes along the way, and I'm glad for readers to have given their thoughts on what can be improved. It's a good first experience. I've learned a lot about writing this, and I've come to know how to prepare to write more full-length novels.

6.) What advice do you have for writers just starting their journey?

Just write. Really, just write. I heard this advice from Alexa Donne (published author), and her blunt advice was, "You're not a writer if you don't write." That snapped me out of my haze of shoving ideas on the shelf for later, and I actually started writing. And when you start writing, don't ever stop. Writing is a form of art; to many authors, it's a passion. This big dream goal of being a traditionally published author, or finishing a book, or writing your journals in... It won't be real if you don't make it real. I've learned so much from writing, and it's been a long-standing passion of mine for ten years at best. I better see myself continuing to write and learn ten years more, maybe fifty!

7.) Are you a pantser or a plotter? I'm curious to know why.

Pantser, shifting to plotter. I initially thought plotting my works would hinder my unending flow of creativity. Still, because I had improvised the whole story of Dinosaurs Don't Dance, I realized there were many missed opportunities to expand the world! Horrible! I love pantsing, though; it's such a shocking moment sometimes whenever your fingers keep going and going, and then you suddenly realize that your characters are speaking for themselves and acting as though this is what they should be doing. It all came naturally. I'm hoping to keep that and merge it with plotting. And in a way, I'm pantsing my plots for another story and marinating it. For now, I'm continuing to pants for one of my newer books, Mr. Big Banana.

8.) What is your goal as a writer?

To write one book for every genre!

9.) Favorite Book or Author?

Probably not author because I'd just say Tolkien, George Martin, or whatever. I feel the same way about books because I really love so many. Books by Dan Brown, the Endgame series (by James Frey), and even poems. Even the bible could be a favourite book because, let's face it, its entries are either very funny or wicked cool. But if there is one book that made me cry (and therefore should take the "Favourite Book" title), it would be The Pigman by Paul Zindel. It was just sitting on my shelf for God knows how many years; I don't remember how I even acquired this book, read it, chuckled, and then closed it absolutely shattered. I will never touch that book again.

10.) Finally... How did you find Wattpad?

Years ago, my goodness. Before this author account, I had another, and I believe I started it in 2012 or 2015 for reading. Back then, e-books were like the hot stuff, looking for easy, free access to reading books online rather than paying from an actual dust-gathering shelf. I still read paperback, don't worry, but me being a dirt poor kid with a measly handful of pocket change back then led me to now what is one of the biggest online publishing/reading sites. Thank goodness, really, or I probably wouldn't have also started writing!