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This interview was conducted with izayoix on 06/20/18. She places second among the top three ranking writers. She is also currently a Gold Rank writer, and her favorite Pokémon is Absol.
Q: First, I know you've been a PokéWriter for quite some time, but can you describe a little about how you first came to Wattpad? What made you stay in the Pokémon Community?
A: Hmm, I first came to Wattpad in late 2014 when my best friend pestered me to get an account. I eventually made one just for fun and to read, and though I attempted to post stories here, I quickly deleted the after a week or so. I stopped using Wattpad after that but one day I was bored and opened it up and found out about the Pokémon Watty Awards. I was interested in it, so I decided to keep using Wattpad and enter a book, and ended up staying in the community afterward.
Q: That's really interesting! On that note, would you say that the first novel you ever wrote and published on Wattpad was a Pokémon fanfic?
A: Yep! My first fic was The Flames of the Beginning, I think, and I wrote in 2015!
Q: Ah, could you share a little bit about what this first novel is all about? How does it compare to your current works?
A: It's a little embarrassing, and I don't exactly remember the whole plot, but it's a basic adventure fic with melodramatic, overdone angst, a main character from one of the evil organisations, and crudely done angst and pacing. I've since unpublished it, but I think that I've done a lot better with characterisation and adventuring out/ playing around with the plot in my current works.
Q: That's great to hear; the only way to really gain experience as a writer is to keep writing! I'm sure you've come a long way since then.
Out of curiosity, is English your first language?
A: I actually learnt Chinese as a first language, but I started learning English very soon after, and now I'm more fluent in it than Chinese!
Q: Oh wow! That's surprising to hear since your writing seems so fluent! Could you write in Chinese if you wanted to?
A: I could, but I prefer writing in English since I'm more fluent in it!
Q: That's fair; how has your Chinese background impacted your writing in general? Do you incorporate any cultural values and/or beliefs?
A: Mm, my parents aren't particularly religious so I don't really incorporate any cultural values. But, I did write a one-shot about a cultural festival for the Chinese (lantern festival) once! I definitely feel that my writing has sort of a Chinese feel to it sometimes, though!
Q: I think I've read that one-shot! I think that even though it may be subtle, that culture feel can very well be what makes the story unique!
A: Thank you!
Q: Are there any intentional Easter eggs in your works? Do your novels stand alone or do you want to build a body of works with connections between each work?
A: My novels usually stand alone as I hardly ever write sequels! I figured that even if I put Easter eggs into different books, it would be awkwardly fitted and only a handful of people would get it.
Q: Ah I see; that's a good point you have there. Onto the topic of your writing process: do you outline our stories before writing them, or do you write with the flow?
A: I do a mixture of both! For longer books, I tend to write an outline with the general plan for each chapter, but even that's subject to change once I actually get to writing. For smaller books, I usually end up going with the flow–I may plan the first few chapters, but all I really have for them is some loosely connected events in my head :''D
Q: Wow, I know that the drafting process can greatly vary for different writers. How do you get inspired for your fics?
A: Honestly, I find it pretty hard to get inspiration just like that, but I usually get my ideas from random things–I have a lot of pretty strange dreams so I use them as fic ideas. I can get inspired off of songs, talking with my friends, or I can literally be reading and see a phrase that gives me an idea. It honestly isn't fixed.
Q: I think that's the first time I've heard a writer say that they take inspiration from their dreams! I've heard that humans forget almost 90% of dreams–do you have some sort of dream journal to help you remember yours then? And can you describe a dream that a work of yours was inspired by?
A: No, I don't keep a dream journal! I've just had very weird dreams ever since I was little, and since I always want to tell my parents then, I developed a habit of memorising parts of my dream after I woke up. I would say a work of mine that was based on a dream was Pathos–I had a vague medieval dream where I remembered seeing a pair of twins (amongst other events), and I eventually used it as a basis for my story!
Q: That's really cool! So in your stories, do you focus more on the plot of the characters?
A: I tend to try to focus on both, but I feel like I focus on the characters more? For me, I often get pretty attached to the characters I make, so I often try to make them as detailed as possible, and I feel like that helps me move the plot along.
Q: That's very true. Good characters can help drive a good plot! I think a lot of your works exemplifies this.
What would you consider your biggest writing fear? Your biggest writing strength?
A: I think my biggest writing fear would be over-describing? I have a lot of fears, but that's just one that comes to mind right now. I've had a few readers tell me that my writing is complicated to the point of being confusing sometimes, and I'm working hard to improve on that. I think my biggest writing strength would be characterisation!
Q: I think your strength and weakness balance each other out well, and I hope you can overcome those fears of yours!
What was the peak of your literary success? How would you define literary success?
A: I don't really think I've reached a peak yet–I think I would say Epilogue? I think I'd define literary success as when you write something that you're satisfied with and when you truly enjoyed writing and rereading your work.
Q: That's very humbling of you to say, and I agree! While we're closing up, what is your favorite PWL entry that you've written thus far?
A: Thank you!! I would say A Garden of Glass since I worked really long on that c:
Q: I remember that! I was a very enjoyable read. Anyways, thank you so much for taking time out of your evening to join this interview today!
A: I'm honoured :O and no problem, thank you too!!
