Wattpad Empowered | Issue 2021

58 | The Ambys 2021 Winner - aeroplanets

On this profile, we always strive to present you the best written pieces you can possibly find on this platform. And this month, we're focusing the series on the genre winners of The Ambys 2021, presented by the Ambassadors!

In this chapter, we're happy to introduce you aeroplanets, the author of "Above the Vaulted Sky"; a story which won the teen fiction category in The Ambys 2021.

A short story of a girl remembering her struggle with mental illness during her teenage years and an old woman in the woods.

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If you had to describe your writing self in three words, what would they be?

Distracted nervous energy!

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For the Ambys, have you revived a story/idea you haven't finished in the past, or have you started a new one to participate?

This was a short story I wrote for a writing workshop last year. It's kind of funny— at the start of the semester our first assignment was to write down a list of story ideas we could write that semester. I wrote the idea for "Above the Vaulted Sky" and was asked to not write it because it would probably be too long. Of course, in a writing workshop, the rules are meant to be broken, so I wrote it anyway. (P. S. The final version at the end of the semester was over the page limit.)

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What comes to you first? The plot or the characters?

This will probably sound contrary, but I would say in many situations, the setting is what comes to me first! The plot of my stories is often based on how the characters interact with, adapt to, or conquer/are overcome by the environment around and inside them. So the setting is very important. The plot probably closely follows the setting.I would say that for this story, the plot came to me first, then the character of Constantine came into focus.

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How would you describe your main character(s) from Above the Vaulted Sky?

A is a complicated character to describe because she changes so much from beginning to end, the same way developing a mental illness in adolescence can really change a person. I think A is self-assured in an insecure way. She's incredibly intelligent and booksmart, though she has been very sheltered by her mother and her social standing throughout her whole life.

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Which scene from Above the Vaulted Sky was the most challenging for you to write?

I think the gardening scene was the most difficult. When you're writing a short story, you want to skip to the real "meat and potatoes" of a story. And it's one of the main rules of short stories: make every word count! Obviously in this story, A's quick descent into depression is the interesting stuff. So in the first draft, I actually skipped most of the gardening. But my professor wasn't going to let me get away with that! She insisted I describe what it was like for A to garden. And, well, my grade was on the line, so I did it.

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If a movie was made based on your story, who would you cast in the leading roles?

Oooh, tough one! Anya Taylor-Joy (à la Glass,) Natalie Portman (circa Star Wars and Black Swan) both come to mind for A. Might as well go big! And I will always picture Constantine as Cicely Tyson— her stunning performance in The Help is why Constantine is named Constantine in my story.

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What are your writing habits? Do you tend to write in the morning, in the evening, or anytime during the day? Do you listen to music while you write?

I work full-time, so my writing schedule is pretty based on working. But I've found that I tend to generally write the most at night. I know it's bad for my posture, but my best writing happens at night when it's dark. I can go either way with music. I enjoy listening to it, but find that it can add a distraction.

What I do know is I find I want to write mostly at times when I shouldn't. Writing stories in your notebook during class, anyone?

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Does writing energize or exhaust you?

It really depends on the day. Every once in a while I can use Cold Turkey and do four 400-word sprints and feel great after. But a lot of the time, writing 300 words exhausts me and I wonder why I do this to myself.

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What do you appreciate the most about your readers? How do they motivate you?

I absolutely love when readers interact with the story. Inline comments are one of my favorite things in the world. When I can see someone is really reading the story and questioning the decisions of the characters (and/or me!) I think that's really special.

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What's the nicest comment you've ever got?

Also a big question... there are a lot of comments that come to mind! I of course love the comments where questions are asked and the reader and I can have a nice conversation and talk about things. In September, a reader left a comment on my Message Board, and part of it read "had I known all the languages, words still would've lost their chance upon expression," and I think about that comment a lot. 

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That was all from aeroplanets! We thank you again for working with us on this interview and congratulations on the win!

If you want to read more from aeroplanets, please do go follow them and don't forget to add their winning story to your library!