Dive into a captivating collection of conversations with the winners of the prestigious Elpida Awards. This book provides a unique glimpse into the minds and creative processes of some of the most talented authors in the literary world.
Cover by @la...
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1. Tell us a bit about yourself as an author and as an individual.
Hello to everyone who is reading, Myself Mia, I am your normal teenage girl who has found her happiness in writing and reading. When I am not studying or writing, you could find me curled up with a sketchbook in my hands, or watching my favorite anime shows or marvel movies. I love to write stories with a fantasy theme, and strong female protagonists. If you are reading my works then heads up, be ready for a dark traumatizing past ;).
2. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start writing?
I started writing nearly one year ago, around May 2023. My imagination has always been wild, from imagining my own Ocs in movies to creating imaginative worlds to lull me to sleep, stories have been a part of my life, all that inspired me to write my own worlds as soon as I found this orange app.
3. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
That is an interesting question!
I will say I am someone in between, sure, I always plot the starting of my storyline and sometimes the end too, but the whole chapters in between are pure intuition at that time.
4. What was the most difficult thing to write in your book? How did you pull that off?
Taking The Ballad of Time and Moon in mind, I will say the most difficult thing to write was the first chapter, which dealt with Alexiel's death for the tenth time. Writing the emotions taking over and the fleeting hope that burned in her heart, was quite difficult to express. If talking about my overall books, I find action scenes the most difficult to write.
5. If you could take only one book with you to an island, what would it be?
Welp, it will surely be a botanical book that states about plants and their uses, so I can survive enough to tell others about my adventure stories :)
6. Who is your favorite author?
On wattpad that would definitely be @katfeatherly , I love her writing style and ideas. Two weeks to fall in love will always hold a special place in my heart.
7. What tips would you give someone who is just starting out?
Everyone was at your place once, and maybe they still are. I understand the frustration of writing chapters and not seeing people responding, I understand the insecurities that grasp your soul,leading you to unpublish that amazing work of yours. Don't and I mean don't underestimate yourself or start belittling your writing, easier said than done, I know. I have been there many times. I still am thinking of unpublishing a work of mine, because I don't think I will make it to the end, but you know what? It is worth it, in the end.
Make friends and keep writing, you will see yourself as a writer sometime ahead In future automatically.
8. What motivated you to write the book which won the contest?
The AAPIHM contest. I was scrolling through stories when I saw the contest published, and one prompt immediately caught my eye. I also wanted to experiment with some new magic system for a while, and it was just the push I needed.
9. Do you experience writer's block? If yes, how do you cope with it?
My question is, who doesn't? We all do and I am no different, there are times when words just don't come easily as they do in other days or we just lack imagination to progress the story. How do I cope with it? I listen to songs, they always provide me with motivation, or new ideas to write or I just sit and force myself to write 100 words at least, you would be surprised that I find myself completing the whole chapter like that.
10. What message or theme did you hope to communicate with your readers through your book?
Hope. What I wanted everyone to understand was that hope was a string that bound our body with soul, the hope to change something, to one day be free. Alexiel hoped to end the endless loop of time she was stuck in, and find solace in a final rest, the other theme was to form allies, to trust, because you never know when that trust could turn into the most beautiful flower you will ever see.
11. For readers who are unfamiliar with your works, how would you describe your writing style and what distinguishes your book?
My writing style is in the middle of lucid and descriptive, I try to provide detailed description without converting it into purple prose. If you are someone who enjoys stories with fantasy elements and romance as a sub-plot then you are in the right place, though a heads up, my character's past is usually pretty dark, like black as coal, type of dark.
12. Are there any characters or scenes in your winning book that hold a special meaning to you? Why?
Kaito, the male lead, holds a special place in my heart. Why you may ask, that's because of his personality, which contains parts of mine. The guilt that drowned him for putting the time loop spell on Alexiel, to save his family that never showers even a drop of love to him, but at the end still willing to help her when she came to him.
13. Do you have any future projects or ideas that you are currently working on or intend to pursue?
Currently, I am working on a Tony Stark fanfiction, but after it's completion I intend to work on what will be my first ever fantasy novel, a debut in the world of magic and spells.
14. What was the most surprising or unexpected feedback you got from readers about your book?
Well, I was pleasantly surprised on knowing that my readers liked my writing style, and imaginary, considering the fact that it was my first try in writing that, what surprised me more was the theories that came along chapters.
15. Is there a character you created randomly who received more attention than the main character? Why do you believe that happened?
Well, as I am still fairly new in the writing world, I unfortunately can't say that this has happened, though as time progresses I wish to have built such characters who could receive affection from readers, without being in the spotlight.
16. Whatdo you believe is the most important trait or skill that a successful writer should possess?
Determination. Though Imagination and creativity are also very important aspects in a journey to become a writer, I can say from my experience that the determination to not stop and keep writing, and seeing the end of the book will make you a successful writer.
