Royal Guard Interviews

Storm-Shadows7

For our third interview we welcome @Storm-Shadows7

1. What prompted you to become a writer?

This is going to sound cliché, but I have ADD and writing is one of those things that helps me focus and get along better with my day. I've always been making stories, though, so I don't quite know when or how I decided to put these down on paper - I think it started in kindergarten class when the teacher showed us how to use a computer and print things out!
I just like telling stories and writing is the way to do it.

2. What's the appeal of the Star Wars universe?

It's fun. I get to explore a vast universe full of everything you can think of. It's a giant sandbox that I get to play in and make my own rules. It might not be canon - I've been told my stuff is very gritty and not exactly fantasy like the films - but it's fun and it's mine. Also Zabraks and clones are cool.

3. Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

They kind of appear. It's a "hey, this might be cool!" sort of thing, which I then write down and spend time trying to flesh out. Sometimes I get ideas from songs or a thread someone else explored a little, but I get most of them in the shower or when I'm not doing much at all. I guess it's how my mind works, keeping me from getting bored with a cool new world for me to explore.

4. Share some of your writing tips and tricks (I.e. routines, rituals, exercises). When do you find time to fit writing into your day?

I try to write about 1200 words a day (no reason other than it's a nice, round number and I like the way it looks). It generally helps to NOT write something before you go to bed - otherwise you might be up half the night with a brain that won't go to sleep! Or that might be a me problem, I don't know. I don't have a set time to write, though. Usually it's whenever the mood takes me, and I chase that thread that's already there. I do outline my stories, though and try to keep a running list of characters and places. That helps A LOT.

5. Tell our fans about your experiences in Wattpad. What do you enjoy the most about the platform?

Wattpad is FUN. I enjoy the feedback I get from writing and seeing the votes helps keep me motivated, too. I've been branching out into more original works and self-publishing them, and Wattpad has taught me more than I ever learned in a writing class. Unlike homework, I actually want to do this.

6. What are some common themes that appear in your Star Wars fiction?

Finding family, recovery, healing, accepting yourself for who you are, overcoming adversity, things like that. You might have noticed that I enjoy hurt/comfort fic. Sometimes there are adult themes, which I try to warn for, but I don't write those that often and it's more in my original works. Much of what I write is filled with themes that appeals to me.

7. What bit of advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?

It's a journey, not a sprint. Try not to be a fandom asshole - that's RUDE and turns people off! If you don't like a topic, don't read/write it and, unless the person writing said topic is hurting real life people, leave them alone. 

Aspiring writers shouldn't be afraid to start - your first drafts and first stories are going to be terrible, but that's just how things are. You'll get better. It just takes time, trust me. And don't be afraid to embrace a darker topic or go against the current fandom. It might just pay off.

8. Light or Dark side? Which of these is your favorite? Who is your favorite character?

Seeing as my thing is being a pirate captain, I'm going to have to say Dark Side. I LOVED Solo and it served as a sort of inspiration for one of my original characters! Beckett is cool, I loved him, and I wished he had managed to survive. Darth Maul, however, is and will always be the favourite, probably followed by Slick and/or Dogma. I like my bad guys if you can't tell, by the way.

K. Ramsuer OUT!