An Author's Portfolio

The Tired Writers Community

By the TiredWritersCom:

     Which one of your stories was the hardest to write? How did you manage to finish it in the end?

     I think, so far, the hardest story for me to write was "Between Two Worlds", because the plot was, initially, very different. Then, once I had a rough idea of how the new version was going to go, I had to scour through the immense galaxy that is the Star Wars universe and decide what I did and did not want to keep.

     Luckily, I've had a lifelong appreciation for Star Wars, and this work of fanfiction is basically my love letter to the fandom, so I had the motivation necessary to finish my research and make sure everything was as it should be.

     What made you write the books that won the Hot & Bothered Mini-Awards 2024?

     I've been writing short stories and anecdotes for most of my life. I wrote my first "book" when I was around eight years old, and it was a Peter Pan fanfiction - I was obsessed with both the character and the movie - written in a Tinker Bell journal, and it featured characters from several different Disney movies.

     When the world was shut down in 2020 by the COVID-19 Pandemic, I decided to start writing longer stories to entertain myself, and most of those became the initial version of the Star Wars and Marvel stories I am writing today.

     If you were to choose only one book to take on a trip, what book would it be?

     I would probably choose "Cold Fire" by Dean Koontz, who is my all time favorite author. It is currently my favorite book, and the first time I read it, I finished it in about two days. It is so fast-paced and gripping, I literally couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend any of his work.

     How do you overcome writer's block?

     Typically, if I get stuck on a story, I shift my focus to another one until the inspiration or motivation comes back. If that doesn't work, which is usually if I'm not feeling well or my brain is frazzled, I look through Pinterest or listen to music, which is actually how I've come up with the plots to several of my stories, specifically "Always Faithful".

     What is your favorite trope? Would you want to experience it in real life?

     My favorite trope is probably the "Opposites Attract" romance, and is a theme that can be found in most of my stories. I think it'd be interesting to experience in real life, though I would want to have at least some similarities to the person I'm interested in. I've dabbled in the "Enemies-to-Lovers" trope briefly, and I might start experimenting with it more. I've also started working with the "Love Triangle" and "Friends-to-Lovers" tropes, which are always interesting to write.

     Are there any authors on Wattpad that hold a special place in your heart? Why?

     galacticwildfire was one of the first people I followed, and her Mandalorian fanfiction, "Found", was the first story I read. She is an incredible writer who was kind enough to answer my questions when I first joined Wattpad a little over seven months ago. It's also been fun having my sister, EwanMcGregorfan19, on the platform, too.

     I've made many friends during my time on Wattpad, and while I can't name them all, there are a few who deserve a special shout-out:

     CoralCupid, AutumnsWhisper, IsabelleR93, PizzaHutGuy, Marie_jkkkkkkk, and SunsetMercer are very dear friends of mine who have supported me as both a writer and as a person, and I can't thank them enough for their endless love and support.

     Also, to my sister from another mister, _myhobbyisreading_, who's probably thinking the same thing I am right now.

     What kind of advice would you give a person who just started on the writing path?

     For any new author who might be reading this: Writing should not be a chore. It should not be bothersome. Writing should be fun because it is an expression of who you are, it is a piece of your soul on paper, or in this case, on your computer screen. Writing should not be forced, and if you ever experience writer's block - as we all do - don't try to keep writing, because it won't come. Take some time, step away, and search for inspiration in the world around you.

     Also, don't let criticism demoralize you. Constructive criticism is meant to inform and instruct, not tear down and insult. Different people will like different stories, and if someone doesn't like your story, that isn't your fault. It just means your story isn't to that person's taste. Same goes for reviews, though if the reviewer offers constructive criticism, be sure to take their considerations into account because they are genuinely trying to help you.