This book will have our talk with the talented ESL authors about their writing journey on this orange land. Let's dive in to read about what their journey looked like, what advice they can give you, and what makes them stand out as an ESL author.
This month, we've got the pleasure of chatting with jinnis, Wattpad Ambassador, Watty Winner, and the author of Raven's Heir!
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Read on to learn more about Jinn's journey as a writer and catch a small glimpse into her story Raven's Heir!
Sandrine is reluctant to take the job as a ghost hunter, despite her ancestral gift. And when she meets her boss and future partners, every fibre of her being tells her to quit — but she needs the money. How hard can it be to dispel the ghost of a bird?
Soon, she finds herself fighting the advances of a medieval playboy, targeted by a flock of ectoplasmic ravens, and trying to solve the puzzle of the cottage in the lake. With disaster waiting around the corner, she truly has no time for a budding romance, right?
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0.
Tell us about something about the language(s) that you are fluent in?
I'm more or less fluent in four, I'd say. A Swiss-German dialect is my native language. I learned first German, then French, and last English in school. My mastery of Italian and Spanish is rather limited, but I'm fascinated by languages and always ready to learn more.
1.
How long have you been writing on Wattpad? As an ESL author, what are your writing goals and motivation?
I've been on Wattpad for roughly 10 years and I've been writing almost as long. I started with a long fantasy series in German, but soon began participating in writing contests on the science fiction profile in English. My motivation then was mostly to join this amazing community of SciFi writers. My writing goals... that's a tough question.
I write mostly for the fun of it. Of course, I enjoy the feedback from my readers and the discussions between writers, the spirit of community on Wattpad. But at the core, I'm a storyteller. My mind comes up with all sorts of weird stuff and for me, it's easiest to deal with it by writing it down
2.
'Raven's Heir' originated from a mix of three ONC prompts. What was the inspiration behind the storyline? Did you already have a base idea or did the prompts spark your ideas?
I had no idea at all. In the true spirit of the ONC, I let myself be inspired by the prompts. I was playing a game with a few fellow writers at that time, too. Our goal was to incorporate at least three prompts and to "kill" a main character in the first chapter. Those who know the story can judge for themselves if I succeeded.
3.
How do you manage to create such an interesting plot with room to develop the drama, dialogue, and storyline when you're limited on word count and in a limited time?
While I mostly stick with short stories, I did write several novel-length stories, so writing a novella falls somewhere in between. What is important, in my eyes, is to always keep in mind how much you can pack into a given word count. 20000 words don't allow for many different parallel storylines, for example. But there is enough room for a complex storyline with a few interesting twists. As for the limited time, that's an issue for me. I have to check for errors and spend more time on editing than when writing in German. So, the ONC is always a real challenge.
4.
As an ESL writer, how much difference is there between writing an English story and a German story? Especially for Raven's Heir, which has two language versions.
The German version of Raven's Heir is an afterthought. I didn't plan to translate it when I wrote the story In English. But then I liked how the story turned out and decided to rework it after the ONC. To make it more interesting for myself, I chose to do it in German.
I find it easier writing in German, although this isn't my native language either. In the end, the German version became a lot longer than the original, with a few additional scenes. I think, all in all, it is the better and more polished version. It did win a Watty, after all.
5.
The Open Novella Contest season is here. Will you be participating in ONC 2023? Any tips for ESL writers to overcome the restraints on word count and time set as per ONC guidelines?
I'm not sure yet, I guess I'll decide at the last minute once the prompts are out. The problem is to set aside most other projects to find the time to participate. As for the restraints, they are the same for everyone. I think the limitations are also a chance and can make the project less daunting. It's only 20 000 words and three months, after all. 😉
6.
If you could describe yourself as an author in a tagline, what would it be?
I fear I'm terrible at taglines. Would this do?
"Sailing the tides of imagination"
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That's all folks!
Thank you for chatting with us, Jinn! We wish you all the best for your future works!
