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This interview was conducted with UnisonRaider on 06/16/18. She places first among the top three ranking writers of the PWL Leaderboard. She is also currently a Gold Rank writer, and her favorite Pokémon is Glaceon.
Q: Alright, we'll start from the beginning. First, can you tell us a little about how you came to Wattpad? And how did you reach and connect with the Pokémon Community there?
A: Well, I came to Wattpad around 6 years ago because my friend recommended a One-Direction fanfiction to me, funny enough. I had always loved Pokémon, so I gradually made my way to the community a couple years later and haven't left!
Q: That's great to hear! Is there something specific about the Pokémon Community that you like?
A: Something that's stood out to me over the years is kind of how everyone knows everyone. To me at least, there's a sense of unity that comes with belonging to this community.
Q: There definitely is. I know there are a lot of writers who have stayed in this community for years and years because of that very thing! What inspired you to begin writing Pokémon Fanfiction?
A: I've been writing Pokémon fanfiction since I was six or seven, so I started early! What first made me want to start and what urges me to continue is the Pokémon world itself. There's so much to go off of but at the same time, there's so much that can be left to your imagination. Since I had an almost endless flow of ideas, I wanted to write them down!
Q: That's very true; while we're on the topic of Pokémon Fanfiction, can you tell us about any Pokéfics you're currently working on?
A: Absolutely! The current fanfiction I'm working on is called The World Without Them. It features a dystopian world in a time period where Pokémon have been deemed extinct. It centers around Frost Statice, a seventeen-year-old from one of the biggest cities in the country of Inridia. After running into a Pokémon himself, he is forced to set out on a journey to figure just how they disappeared and why the Inridian government acts the way it does.
Q: That's such an intriguing concept! Will you be entering it into this year's Pokémon Watties?
A: That's the plan! It's about three-quarters of the way done, and I hope to finish it by the end of the summer.
Q: Wow, I hope you can finish it in time! I'm sure there are a lot of excited readers who can't wait for it to become complete as well. On another note, what's an underappreciated Pokéfic that you would recommend to readers who are looking for a good Pokémon Fanfiction?
A: Oh wow, that's tough since I know there are so many out there! Personally, I really love Jade by WriterRaichu. It features some really unique, funny characters, and the concept is interesting as well! If you're looking for a not-so-typical journey book then I would definitely recommend it.
Q: That's one I've heard of! It does sound very interesting.
I know you've also been writing for well over 10 years now, and you must've gathered a lot of experience. What's the easiest part of the writing process for you? The hardest? What does literary success look like to you?
A: The easiest part for me is probably character building, while the hardest part is fitting characters into the plot. My plots tend to sometimes be super complex–like in The World Without Them–and other times they aren't. I like to make the background story and personality for my characters first, and that has proven to make placing them in stories difficult. Obviously this varies from plot line to plot line, but with Pokémon specifically, I've found it challenging.
As for what literary success looks like to me, I think it's when someone becomes truly comfortable with their writing. Whether it be your style or ideas, it's really important to like what you write and write it for yourself and your own satisfaction over the satisfaction of others. In the end, you're going to be the one reading your writing the most, so it won't hold very much weight if you don't like it yourself. When you embrace your unique style and thoughts, you become more successful than words could describe in my eyes.
Q: I think it's interesting that you brought that up. Most would think that successful writing stems from how many reads, votes, or comments you have. In the end, however, it's true that it's the writer that determines all that. I agree with you.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self or to any beginning writers, what would you say and why?
A: Don't be afraid to explore new ideas! Branch out and get out of your comfort zone because it'll ultimately help you grow a lot!
Q: You're right: ambition and creativity are definitely important! I think both those traits contribute to the creation of an original work.
Part of the PWL's mission is to address the issue of writer's block, and I know a lot of writers go through it at least once on their writing journey. Aside from joining our contests, what do you do to tackle writer's block?
A: It might seem boring, but I honestly just take my time. I watch movies, read other books, and do anything that I think will inspire me and clear my writer's block. Sometimes I write short snippets from random prompts, too.
Q: Sounds helpful! On the other hand, what do you do in cases where you have too many potential novel ideas? Do you work on one work at a time or hop from one novel to another?
A: I hop from one to another when I don't want to work on something that's still being published, but I try my best to prioritize the ones that are in the process of being updated. I like working on other books to spark my creativity!
Q: The enthusiasm is admirable; some writers struggle with balancing attention and effort over all their works. It's nice to see that this isn't such a big obstacle for you.
What does writing mean to you? Have you ever considered it as a career option?
A: Writing to me is a form of expression. Not only can you form your own ideas and thoughts through it, but you can channel your emotions into what you write and use it as an outlet. As for the second question, I haven't really considered it as a real career option. At least right now I'd like to keep as a hobby I do to the side in my free time! I would, however, like to take a creative writing class in college sometime.
Q: That's completely fair! Writing is a good hobby to continue.
We're just about to wrap things up. Last question: what is your favorite PWL entry that you've written thus far?
A: My favorite is Symbiont that myself and my good friend @justcallme_b wrote for last year's summer special!! It made us think and definitely forced us out of our comfort zones. We ended up entering it in the 2017 Short Story category of the PWA, and it actually won 4th place! So it's very dear to my heart!
Q: Congratulations! That definitely is very memorable. I remember it winning first place in the PWL round that time as well.
Thank you for joining us in this interview! Do you have any closing thoughts or comments you'd like to say now?
A: Thank you for taking the time to interview me; it was a lot of fun! I just want to tell everyone reading to keep at it even if it seems tough, and your hard work will definitely be paid off!
