Intervīews

@BrandonWong048

Well known for 'Playing By The Rules'.

When did you join Wattpad and why?

I joined Wattpad in summer 2015. Writing has always been my passion, but with high school and its commitments, I never got around to it. With some spare time on my hands, I decided to write something and stumbled upon Wattpad.

How did it feel like when you posted your first story on Wattpad?

The first chapters were always nerve-racking. I didn't have much experience writing before Wattpad. Thus, to share my work with millions of people across the planet was not an easy thing to do.

Who/What influenced your writing?

I am an avid reader and I am a big fan of many authors across various genres. However, in terms of influence, I must say that Simone Elkeles has been the biggest contributor to my writing. The way her stories are easy to relate so has been something I have tried to emulate and combine with my style.

Your inspiration?

In terms of my stories, the inspiration comes from personal experience. PBTR hits close to heart in some aspects, and I feel like that's why readers can relate to the story. As for the inspiration to write, that title definitely belongs to my early readers. My updates are notoriously erratic, but they have patiently stuck it out with me. For that, I am so grateful for their unwavering support. Means a lot to a writer.

Your reaction when your book became successful?

When PBTR took off after 30k reads, I was very excited. When that counter reached 1M, I was ecstatic. Reaching that #1 spot in Teen Fiction? Unbelievable. I get excited very easily, and I think it's a good thing. By setting attainable goals and achieving them one step at a time, that puts less stress on the writing itself, which in turn produces better quality.

Your advice to the younger generation of writers?

My advice to younger/new writers is simple: keep writing. Success takes time. The stories you see with millions of reads and votes? Those authors spent hours upon hours writing and revising their stories to get to that point. It's always easy to see the results, but no one realizes the effort that was put into the work. Starting out is always hard, because those counters (reads and votes) will move at a slow pace. Don't give up! That's the worst thing you could do for your story. I assure you, if you keep writing, the reads will come. As an avid reader, I can tell you that the audience is looking for a completed story. Just stick with it. That's one of my tips for success .

By the courtesy of BrandonWong048