ACE AWARD SUPREME - INTERVIEWS

Second Place in Lgbtq, B1

1. What do you, as the writer of your works, like about your book (placed) the most?

My absolute favorite thing about the book is Oliver's development. I like to look back at chapter one and see how much he grew from there!

2. What inspired you to write your book (placed)?

More than an inspiration about the story, it was more of a feeling that I wanted to convey. Sometimes I look at the people around me and I feel out of place; I know I don't naturally fit in. With the help of Nicolas at first and later on of Maxime, I tried to give Oliver what I have found through my friends. With them, I have been given the chance to realize that being different isn't necessarily a bad thing.

4. What inspired/inspires you to write?

Pieces of my books are what surrounds me and what's within me. I turn my life into novel chapters and I look at others, making up imaginary lives for them. Honestly, I mostly take pieces out of these. Sometimes even the weather or the trees can give me an idea, the key for me really is to learn to look around myself to see what is going on.

5. What was the first thing that drove you to start writing?

As a kid, I used to read a lot, but the more I red the more I felt it wasn't enough. I needed the space to create my own stories, and once I got the taste of it I never stopped!

6. Are there any Wattpad authors who inspired you to write? If so, list their pseudonyms.

Saintc
I always have been writing (poems on scraps of paper, short stories that I never shared with anyone... ), but I had never given a shot at writing my own novel. It seemed like such a task to accomplish!
Then I started to read Saint Caliendo's work and I absolutely loved her writing. I told myself that I one day wanted to write as well as she does, and just like that I begun to write my first novel. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get me started.

7. Do you get writer's block frequently? If so, what do you do to combat it?

To me, words flow easily or they simply don't come. If I start writing I'll write for hours; if I can't write I'll stare at my screen for what seems like hours without getting a word on it. When it isn't working, the best thing for me is to simply do something else. I'll keep my scene in mind while I bake or take a walk to let the ideas come. Most of the time, forcing myself to write is not the answer.

8. How long have you been writing?

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I think I was about ten the first time I sat down with the purpose of writing a story, but I have a few small texts I have written when I was even younger. 

9. Does your writing reflect your own thoughts intimately, or are you detached to some extent?

Sometimes, the characters act on their own; they act according to the situation they've been put in and I won't necessarily agree with their actions. But their thoughts, their wounds, they're often mine.
There is this one chapter towards the end, chapter 23, where I really open up about my insecurities. The physique I'm describing isn't all mine as I didn't make my character's appearance to be mine, but I took some elements of my own body. To that you can add the disbelief when I found out someone liked me, the inability to understand why they would even like me to begin with.
These thoughts aren't all mine, but they wouldn't feel true to me if they weren't honest with regards to how I feel.

10. What was the name of your first work?

My first novel was called 'Always' and it can still be found on my Tapas account because I didn't have the heart to delete it. I know it isn't too well written, but I love that I can see the improvement between 'Always' and 'Different'.

11. Do you have any thoughts, any comments you wish to say upon winning in the Ace Awards?

I just want to thank everyone that put their time and efforts into the contest! It means so much to me to see my book up there along with the other winners.

14. What would you like to say to your readers as a token of appreciation for reading your book?

I am so grateful that some people took the time to read my novel. It's out there amongst so many great books, thank you so much for stopping on mine!

16. What do you like the most about writing? Why do you like it?

I love that it is an art that keeps on growing with me. Through my old writing I can retrace where I was in life at different moments of the past, and through my actual writing I can find an insight of where I am going.  It is also a refuge I created for myself, a 'place' where I can express myself and hide when I need to.

21. What is the inspiration behind the title of your (placed) book?

Different is the title my novel had even before it was written. It was my main theme, it was a feeling that was there even before Oliver (my main character) was created. I like to think of it as the idea that ties the whole book together.

22. Do you find writing to be something you would pursue as a career, or only as a hobby?

I want to keep om writing for as long as I'll be able to do so. I don't think I want to pursue a career in writing as I aspire towards a more stable job and I know writing isn't an easy path, but I plan on publishing my future novels on Wattpad.

23. Do the protagonists in your book reflect upon you to some extent, or are they the protagonists you would like to be?

To every character I create I give a piece of me, whether I want to or not. Ollie doesn't fit in because he doesn't know how to make friends, Nick seems confident but is missing something, Max tries his best to be strong even if he's quite fragile inside. They start off with my flaws and insecurities, and through the novel they evolve and begin to grow out of them. I think that instead of correcting them, I was correcting myself according to how I wish I could one day be.

25. Give us a small description of yourself!

I am a sciences student who found shelter within words. Whenever my studies start to take too much place, I'll hide within my books. My description on every social media reads that I'm a 'lost girl finding her way through words', and I honestly can't think of a better way to describe myself.

Interviewing Ookaishy.