50 Subscriber Special: Interviewing You, Part 1

IT’S FINALLY HERE!! 🎉🎉🎉

If you didn’t already know, I passed the 50 subscriber milestone, and to celebrate, I decided to interview my subscribers! Eighteen of you joined the fun – actually a lot more than I was expecting, so thank you so very much!!!! I had such fun reading all your answers!

I hope you don’t mind I took the liberty to 1) italicize book titles (but not those of series) and 2) indulge in some commentary here and there. ;P I would have liked to comment on all of them if I could but that would have made this longer than it already is.

This half of the Q&A answers the following questions: “What’s the last sentence you wrote in your WIP? What words come to mind when you think of your WIP? What is your favorite genre? And what’s one of your tips for writing in that genre?” And finally, “Tell us a little bit about your favorite original character!“

Enjoy!! 😀

---

What’s the last sentence you wrote in your current WIP?

Madi: I haven’t actually written in a while since I’m editing two projects at once, but…here’s the last sentence I edited:

Part of him longed for a home, for the family who’d turned their backs on him, the family he’d been stripped from, but it wasn’t possible.

Grace A. Johnson: Dude. Spoilers. C’mon, man. XDD

Sisters Three: I would be alone, but that was okay. Wasn’t it? (Or something like this…we’re not at home and our laptop is…soo, we can’t remember because we wrote this sentence two nights ago…haha…)

Rylie Goodwin: *checks WIP* Thankfully I have a WIP. Well, it’s more in the editing stage. XDD Ok here it is: The thoughts stayed in the back of my mind as I continued reading the last chapter of my book. It totally needs editing. XD

Louise Taylor: “Drake made some quip about dying, but she couldn’t hear him.” Ah… older brothers.

Allyson: But it was a side that very much intrigued and enthralled me.

Annabelle Batie: My life was no longer a mystery. Now, I finally knew my Identity.

Emma: “You seen a kid come by here? A girl, a bit shorter than me?” He indicated her height with his hand, underestimating her a few inches, I noticed.

Joelle: A Tale of Two Brothers: “Save us all.”

The Caretaker: “She sprang.”

Elisha: “You’re not the only one who people think are cursed.”

E. G. Bella: He smirks and presses the point of his blade against my throat, pinning me into the corner.

Lily K: I think the last sentence (according to my editing history) was “Knocking over Wren, George (the dog) leapt after the cat, while muddying the carpet with his paws.”

Mary Ann: “Definitely, Dani.”

Amelia Cabot: I wonder what would happen if I could bribe Sadie into going in there tonight. (Okay, keep in mind this character is ten, and Sadie is seven…LOL!)

Sarah Lawton: “The next part of the story goes back even farther, to my great-great-grandfather, Balkie Sinclair, in the Orkney Islands of Scotland.”

Me: THOSE ARE SO COOL I LOVE THIS

What words come to mind when you think of your WIP?

Madi: Heartbreaking, light verses darkness, and remembering God is still in control no matter how difficult times become.

Grace A. Johnson: Intense. High-stakes. Piracy. Romance. Redemption. Grace. Piracy. Love. Friendship. Sacrifice. More piracy. LOTS of drama. 😉

Sisters Three: Procrasination…lol…but in all seriousness steampunk, fantasy, crazy Cousin Gale, lonely, longing, Emmanuel.

Rylie Goodwin: Broken, romance, filter… cute guy. XDD

Allyson: Fun, witty, adventurous.

Annabelle Batie: Mermaids, Daughters of the Sea, Maria (that’s my MC)

Joy Caroline: Faith, forgiveness, trauma and healing, racial equality, and above all, an adoptive love story that represents the love the Father has for each of us.

Emma: Outdoors, intensity, and survival.

Joelle: Cold. Sad. Searching. Hope. Seemingly alone. To showcase the light.

Elisha: Colors, Fairy Lights, Exotic, Canals

E. G. Bella: Pirates, adventure, ocean, betrayal.

Lily K: I’d say nostalgic, sisterly love, bike rides, and emotional. Plus a goofy dog 😉

Mary Ann: Adventurous

Amelia Cabot: It’s sad and sweet. Not sure how else to put it. XD

Sarah Lawton: I have too many *cries* Umm… if I think about the short story that I am currently editing (after I have been writing it for about a month), I would say heartwrenching, hopeful, and God-centered.

Me: *proceeds to want to read all of these WIPs at once*

What is your favorite genre? And what’s one of your tips for writing in that genre?

Madi: My favorite genre is fantasy.

One of my tips would be to find that careful balance between not enough worldbuilding and too much. Don’t tell us nothing about your world, but also don’t go into a three-page detail. Try to find that natural middle ground.

Grace A. Johnson: ROMANCE ROMANCE ROMANCE. *clears throat* Particularly CHRISTIAN romance, thank you very much. As for tips? (Dude, I’mma be here all day…) I’ve got a whole bucketload of romance-writing tips, so it’ll take me a moment to pick just one.

One Hour Later

My best advice for writing romance is to BE BALANCED, AUTHENTIC, AND BOLD. Balance your gushy emotions with reality; balance your declarations of love with intense action; balance your lovey-dovey scenes with scenes that enhance your characters on their own (which will in turn enhance their relationship).

Create authentic relationships that have really foundations and value – not relationships that are contrived for the plot. If your characters have no chemistry whatsoever, or if their romance is based solely on feelings or appearances, then you’re missing the point! Your hero and heroine need to have a deep, abiding relationship – just like your MC and their parents, your hero and his mentor, your heroine and her sidekick. Don’t think of romance as a genre that’s defined by a few kisses and mushy lines; think of it as the real relationship that it is!

Lastly, be bold in your portrayal of your characters and their struggles, their feelings, their actions. Don’t condense your romance to a hasty “I love you” at the very end of the book. Boldly write a relationship that draws readers in, connects them with the characters, and pulls at their heartstrings! Don’t be afraid of passion – whether positive or negative (because, yes, conflict is your best friend in a romance)!

And that was three REALLY LONG tips…I apologize*. XD

*Me: DON’T APOLOGIZE THAT WAS AWESOME 😀

Sisters Three: Fantasy!

Um, have fun! This is literally the genre where anything is possible! It should be completely stress-free! (You can stress after the first draft is done if you like…lol…)

Kristina Hall: Suspense! Tip: Even though suspense plots are normally fast paced, character development is still important.

Lily Y: FANTASY, please!

…Don’t add too many characters. Unless you’re Tolkien. Then you can add as many characters as you’d like. 😂😂

Allyson: I love YA but to choose a more specific genre, I really love medieval. I don’t know if I have a tip for that specific genre, but for writing in general – have fun! Don’t ever forget the joy you have in writing.

Annabelle Batie: FANTASY!!! My tip for that genre would probably be to not lend yourself too much to the magic and darkness that can sometimes be portrayed in fantasy. I love fantasy, but I strive to read and write fantasy that is glorifying to God, not filled with darkness and evil. I like to add good morals in my fantasy stories and maybe some allegorical aspects too.

Joy Caroline: My favorite genre is definitely historical fiction! My top tip for writing in that genre would be this . . . DO YOUR RESEARCH! Research is the most important part of historical fiction writing. You always want to be as accurate as possible so that no inaccuracies will distract from your beautiful story! Research makes writing so rich, and can also give you some amazing ideas.

Emma: My favorite genre is fantasy—but my tip is that the most important thing about fantasy is NOT the fantastic part. A good fantasy story is a good STORY. That’s what’s going to stick with your reader—who cares if your world is vibrant, or if your magic system is unique and consistent? It’s all going to fall flat if the storyline is uninspired.

Joelle: FANTASY! Read a lot of fantasy and you’ll subconsciously pick up a lot of tips. 😛

Elisha: Fantasy! Hmm…I would say, try to make new names and terms as simple as possible. I understand the desire to craft long flowy gorgeous names (I do it myself sometimes!) but as a reader, I either get confused or glaze over them. Also (this can apply to any genre), vary the first letter of your character’s names, especially if you have a large cast. That way it’s easier for readers to keep track of each one. 😉

E. G. Bella: Dystopian! One tip I find helpful is to really think carefully about each aspect of my story world (even if it’s usually just a different, apocalyptic spin on earth). What’s changed? Why? How does that affect my characters’ lives? Sometimes the tiniest details can make the biggest difference in helping the story world feel immersive and the plot unique.

Mary Ann: Mystery. -Only, I really don’t write mysteries… Sci-fi, maybe? I think it’s amazing to see all of the different ideas floating out there and letting them inspire you.

Amelia Cabot: Aw, my FAVORITE?? LOL!! Hm…I love Christian fiction, but I think I might start liking Christian historical fiction as well…Maybe some Christian romance if it ACTUALLY portrays God’s love and isn’t so close to secular “love.” *uGh* 

A tip for writing Christian romance: Please actually let the love story be right in line with the Bible. The farther away you write from the Bible, the more steeped the story will be in what the world calls “love.”

Sarah Lawton: Ooh, romance for sure. My tip would be to not shy away from having God be the center of relationships, even if you are worried about preachiness. And also, make sure you are staying true to emotion.

Tauriel Wingfeather: Well, I can’t answer with my absolute number 1 favorite, sorry! – but my two favorites would be history/historical fiction and fantasy.

Me: I LOVE how so many of your favorite genres are fantasy! And GO Christian romance!!

Tell us a little bit about your favorite original character!

Madi: One of the first who came to mind is Beckett from the not-yet-published “The Oren Chronicles”. He’s an eldest sibling, is perhaps too protective of his brothers, and will do anything to keep them from harm. Naturally, they take issue with this. He has a good heart but is sometimes too much about coddling his siblings. Beckett is an archer and blacksmith who rides a blue roan named Clipper.

Grace A. Johnson: RINA!!! (Both my favorite and the first to come to mind! XD) Catherina “Rina” Blackstone is a female pirate captain during the Golden Age of Piracy (which wasn’t unheard in history, so y’all don’t give me that look). She’s part Iron Man, part Jack Sparrow, and part Han Solo, which makes her the most intriguing character, but she’s also very much her own person! She’s strong and independent (she’s a literal slayer, just sayin’), but she has her moments of reliance and tenderness when it comes to her friends (and husband and kids later on, of course)! She’s honestly become such a part of me that I think like her sometimes! (Not as scary as it sounds, mind you. XD)

Sisters Three: We’re gonna go with a duo…Sage and Gaven, the way the two of them interact is so fun! The humor and easy friendship is just so much fun to write!

Rylie Goodwin: Ok. So his name is Matthew. He is a gardener (it’s a 500 word story that will only take a minute to explain, but i will not do that now. XDD) He is kind and truly cares for his girlfriend/crush/won’t give too much away, but can be humorous sometimes. And i guess that’s the short version. XDD He’s also super cute if i do say so myself. 😉

Lily Y: Heh. Not telling.

Allyson: Arc is the first character to come to my mind, probably because he’s the main character in my current WIP. 😂 He is an interesting and very fun character to write! He’s witty and never without a cunning remark, but yet he feels deeply and is very loyal to those he loves. I think he’s one of the most unique characters I have ever written and I’m having a blast telling his story!

Annabelle Batie: Ooh, that’s so hard! Probably Alex, since he’s just so cool. He kinda turns into a villain in the middle of my series… but I still like him so much.

Joy Caroline: I’ll definitely have to spotlight Russell from my current WIP, Where Faith Remains. I have never created a character who’s taught me quite as much as he has (and still is, as I continue to work on the book). Anti-heroes and morally gray characters are always fun, but I believe we will always need moral heroes most of all. Russell is definitely one of those moral heroes. He’s kind, soft-spoken, gentle, and very forgiving. A Vietnam War veteran in his late twenties, Russell’s one true love is his adopted daughter, Eliza, who is seven years old. Their relationship is my favorite thing to write in the entire book!

Emma: Selein Keeling has a job to do. As the ward to the most powerful woman in all of Logenar, she’s learned leadership, tactics, and the art of political maneuvering from an early age. She’s grown in her social graces, and is well positioned to take up the mantle of the reigning Triumvirate and bring Logenar to a new era of glory. And make her father proud, of course.

But when an upstart rebel group kills her father right as he’s finally coming into his due, Selein’s world is shaken. Her goals, her hopes, her dreams—what do they matter if the one who got them for her is gone? Before she is ready to lead, she decides, she’ll have a new purpose: to find the rebels who ambushed her father, and watch as their lives are slowly torn to pieces.

Just like hers was.

Joelle: N/A (my characters are quite unoriginal XD)

Me: WHAT?!! *presses lips and crosses arms* I’ll have to have a chat with you about that.

E. G. Bella: I could NEVER pick a favorite, haha. But the first that comes to mind is an original character from my Star Wars series, which was the first series of novels I ever wrote (my babies). Her name was Launya (Lawn-yuh), and she was spunky, witty, passionate, far too reckless and stubborn for her own good, and somehow got away with all the sarcastic remarks I would never dream of saying. She drove just about everyone around her crazy – including me, sometimes – but she also found a special place in my heart.

Mary Ann: Amaya. She’s a new character of mine. She is the kind of person that would often get left in the shadows or ridiculed. She has an amazing relationship with her father, but she’s never met her mother. She has some quirks but is super brave, especially when it comes to helping her best friend Danica.

Amelia Cabot: Okay, SOOOOOOOOO!!! *fangirling time*

In my WIP Big Sisters Aren’t Always Perfect, I like Devin. He’s a side character, but he ends up weaving his way into the oldest sister’s life. 

AND HE HAS SUCH A SWEET AND CARING HEART  NAGOH AG NAG AG  GSALBK SDBKJ!! XDXD He’s a jerk, too, because he likes teasing the girl he loves (in a funny way) about things that happened to them when they were in school, but it’s funny. XD

I suddenly sound weird, but whatever…LOL!!

Sarah Lawton: Hmm… I would say mine (right now at least) is a little girl named Aaliyah Mae in a short story I recently finished. She is adorable, and very grown-up for her age of four. I’m looking forward to writing her story someday!

Me: They all sound so interesting!!!!!!!

---

Long but AWESOME? 😀 I think so too. If you didn’t answer the questions, feel free to in the comments! What’s the last sentence you wrote in your WIP? (I’m sure it’s now changed for everyone who answered, haha!) What words come to mind when you think of your WIP? What is your favorite genre? And what’s one of your tips for writing in that genre? Tell us a little bit about your favorite original character! ;P Stay tuned for la parte dos. 😉