Stellify-The Voice Of Stars

A Wattpad Star: AmyMarieZ

Author: AmyMarieZ
                                    
Interviewer: jelchi

1.So how does it feel being the author of Wattpad featured stories?

It feels validating to have a story featured by Wattpad. I put so much work and thought into my writing, so getting it recognized makes me feel like I'm doing something right. It's also awesome to have the story reach new readers that might enjoy it.

2. Does being winner in Wattpad awards and the other awards boost your creativity?

I wouldn't say winning awards necessarily boosts my creativity. It certainly boosts my confidence though, and it does increase my drive to keep writing better and better stories!

3. Do you think horror genre is simply related to fear or does it help you solve mysteries of life as well?

Tough question... While fear is definitely one of the main themes in horror stories, I agree that horror stories are also a good way to explore life's mysteries. They say one of the greatest fears is the unknown, so often the things that scare us are the things we don't understand. By reading and writing about these fears, we can learn things about life and the things that frighten us.

4. A naval architect interested in horror genre? Is it influenced by movies or by any novel?

In general, my day job as a naval architect does not tie into my hobby as a writer. However, I am toying with the idea of writing a horror story that takes place on a containership, based on my own experiences. For the second part, yes, I loved to watch horror movies growing up, and that definitely contributed to my interest in writing horror. My favorite horror movie is The Ring. I also love reading horror novels, my all time favorite being The Shining. I learn a little from everything I read, so it all influences me.

5. Have you had any luck on confronting a ghost or witnessing some paranormal activity?

Although I loved to pretend to hunt ghosts and play with the Ouija board with my friends when I was a kid, usually it was pretend. The only time I ever witnessed a real paranormal activity was when I was working in Charleston, South Carolina. There is an old abandoned railroad there, and at night if you drive to the end of the road, a light appears there from an old ghost holding a lantern as he searches for something he has lost.

Now coming to your book "The Intrusion"

6.Do you think we are really not alone when we dream?

I definitely think it is a really interesting concept and one that is thought provoking and makes a cool premise for a story, but I'm too much of a realist to actually believe something like that.

7. The characters seemed to put an impact on the readers. How were you able to get them alive in the readers' eyes? What was your inspiration? 8.Is this completely fictional or does this story have a few scenes taken from real life?

I put a lot of myself in The Intrusion's characters Andy and Jordan, more than I have put into any other story. In a way, they represent and are inspired by two different sides of who I am.

8.Is this completely fictional or does this story have a few scenes taken from real life?

A lot of The Intrusion is based on events that happened to me. For example, the sleep paralysis experience Jordan has is almost identical to an experience I had when I was working in Vancouver and my roommate had to leave for a week. Additionally, all of the memories Andy shares from his own childhood are memories from my childhood, although some of them have been modified slightly.

9.In your opinion, which part of writing the book was hardest and how did you prepare yourself with it?
The hardest part of writing Th Intrusion was writing from the perspective of a character who is autistic, because I am not To prepare, I discussed the story and character ideas with a friend who has a number of autistic family members.

10.What behind the scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I'm fairly open about my life, at least if anyone asks, and I state most of them in my bio. One thing that might surprise my readers is that I only watch about one horror movie a year because my boyfriend is absolutely terrified of them!

11. What do you think is the most important element in being hooked to a story? Like Writing style, plot, characters or maybe something else.

I think a reader is hooked into a story when they feel a connection to it, and you can find that through the voice of the narration, a connection to the characters, or a feelingof involvement or curiosity about the plot. Probably the most straight forward way to hook the reader is leave the first chapter off with a killer cliffhanger.

12. Do you have a writing quirk,something that you do or you like that makes your writing style unique?

I use a lot of similes and metaphors in my writing. Like a lot. Also, I have been known to be unusually good at describing scenes where characters vomit. Maybe that's weird, but oh well!

13.How has writing affected your personal views and helped you to grow more?

I think writing has affected my personal views more because of the people I have met through writing on Wattpad than through the actual process of writing. Interacting with people of all backgrounds and lifestyles that share a similar interest to you opens you up to what more of the world is like.

14. If you could back to the time when you were a newbie writer, what advice will you give to yourself?

I would give my newbie writer self this advice: 1. You don't know everything. When people give you advice, listen! 2. Google what a comma splice is, and stop using them. 3. Don't filter. 4. You're writing a story, not transcribing someone's life. Show the important parts that drive the story forward and build tension, not the parts where the characters go grocery shopping because they ran out of milk.

15. How much time do you usually spend upon thinking about the book before starting with it?

It really depends on the story. With my story Wind, I came up with a concept for the story one night and jumped into writing it the next day. Some of my other stories I think about a while before I write them, but I don't actually plan out the plot for them other than just the concept before hand. For example, with my story Make Them Scream, I knew I wanted to write a story about a rock band stranded in the woods for a few months, but I didn't have any other plans for it beyond that general concept when I finally started writing it.

16. Are you planning to try different genres as well?

I would try different genres if the inspiration strikes me, but I think my mind tends to plot out stories that fall more along the lines of horror/thriller/ mystery naturally

17.What is your word of advice for other Wattpad authors? Do you have any tips and tricks under your sleeve for them?

I would recommend that they join a book club on Wattpad. I've learned so much about writing and improving my own stories through the feedback and reviews I have received in book clubs.
And done! Thanks so much for interviewing me! Great questions!

Bonus:Well do you want to recommend any book club to the readers?

Sure! I would recommend PrettyInPunkBookClub and Rebel_Town. I'm a member of both of these book clubs and the members have a great sense of community and give excellent feedback!
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Jelchi's note:Thank you so much Amy for giving your precious time to us. I am very glad to be able to take your interview. Some of the answers you really amused me.
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Thanks AmyMarieZ  for letting us take your interview. We are very glad to get this chance.It was very kind of you to take out time for this even when you were so busy.