saintc aka Saint Caliendo is one of our favorite Wattpad writers. Their genre of interest is LGBTQ+ fiction, yes, the idea that we are focusing this month. Their stories have created sensation among Wattpadders. We were lucky enough to reach out to them and they, indeed, were very kind and generous to have helped us in the interview.

Some of the notable books of Saint Caliendo has to be Vampirism, Nerd Alert and a bunch others. Their account is what I must call, a paradise for BoyxBoy fiction lovers.

I have personally read one book of theirs, MAY DECEMBER, which I finished in like five hours. I could not stop until I completed it. I was so moved. Their words play magic on souls.

Here is the interview we had.

HOST: TheSamyP

1) It is difficult for an author to decide which is his favorite work but there's always one. Which of your books do you think is your best work by far?

I do think narratively and idea wise Vampirism is my best work at the moment. I put a lot of work into the world building, and even though I couldn’t do much expanding on concepts and the story since it’s a novel (20k words), I would say it’s pretty much solidified my direction writing wise in the future. I plan to take on more paranormal works that work with religious mythology. 

2) How did you first come across Wattpad and since when did you start actively writing in this application?

I was looking for somewhere to read a story and bumped into Wattpad via some’s reading list popping up on search. I didn’t join immediately. I book marked stories and read them on my web browser. I joined about a year after that and started uploading my own stories. So, 2014.

3) What inspired you to write LGBTQ+ fiction?

I write lgbt+ fiction because I’m lgbt+ and because I grew up in a country where that genre is heavily hidden. I noticed that the internet is pretty much where a lot of people can access it, so I started providing it myself. 

4) Being a Wattpad Star, how has your perspective changed?

Nothing is changed to be honest. I write the same. I post the same. I talk the same. 

5) Coming to the particular novella of yours that I simply admire, May December, what inspired your characters. Were Chaska and Kyle just a hit or were they at the back of your head for some time?

Hmm. It’s complicated. I tend to actually come up with titles first. So “May-December” had been on my title list for a long time, but not Kyle and Chaska. And I even created the plot before inserting characters. When it comes to characters I’m more of an exploratory writer. Mending and tweaking them as I write. I feel it gives character a volatility and emotional essence that can be restricted by rigid personality frameworks and the like. Kyle was hard to work with at first, and so was Chaska, but at the end their very different personalities found a balance. 

6) What, according to you, is your interesting writing quirk?

Err. An interesting writing quirk would be that I write dialogue first before nesting the descriptions around it afterward. Like I mentioned in my previous answer I like exploring character interaction—so dialogue. Prose comes after for me. Like I’m tucking the characters in a blanket after having them chat and banter. 

7) What do you think makes a good story?

For me, emotion. I don’t know how to explain it, but I have a fascination with romance. A story can be technically good on a writing level, but it lacks soul—it lacks dynamic interactions and the anxious feeling that comes with connecting with another human being (character.) For me characters trump plot. If the characters are forgettable, I don’t think the story can stand well. 

8) If you don't mind me asking something a bit personal: What does you family and friends think about your writing?

Err, people know that I write. Of course, I have a minor degree in it! But I don’t let people read my writing and neither do I offer. People on the internet and people I work with at my job are different. 

9) What else do you like to do besides writing?

I love to play the sims! Of course I have an OC (original character) there that I do story telling with. I had considered streaming my gameplay in the past, but I have a lot on my plate now. Maybe next time! I also enjoy reading comics. There used to be recommendations in my bio. I should put them back up. 

10) A question which many budding Wattpadders might have: do you write the whole book and then publish or do you write and publish simultaneously?

Depends on the book. I *usually* write the whole book first, but sometimes five chapters ahead is enough for me. I highly recommend that everyone should do the same. Yes, it’s exciting to read comments and the like, but if you base how much you write on how many reads you’re getting you'll probably never finish. Learn to write for yourself first—to think and explore your story on your own—before opening up an invitation for people to comment and influence your book’s direction.

11) Are any of your characters based off of people you know in real life?

No, I don’t base characters off people I know in real life, but sometimes they do borrow traits and looks from OCs (game original characters) I’ve created or interesting looking  people I see in my day to day life. 

12) As an LGBTQ+ writer, have you ever received homophobic comments or bad reviews on your books? How did you cope up with them?

Yes, I have. It feels weird to say that they don’t affect me very much, but that’s the truth. I grew up in west Africa. Queerphobia was (and is) a million times intense there. On the internet. I’m more concerned for me readers and fellow writers, so I don’t engage. I report to the appropriate channels and keep those people away from my readers and other writers for our overall mental and social wellbeing.

13) What would be your pro tip for the budding Wattpad writers?

Write. Yeah, this is lame advice, but you won’t build an audience if you have nothing to show them, also, the more you write the better you become. There’s no way around this unfortunately. You actually have to do the thing (writing) to make progress. I sucked so much ass when I started writing but I suck less ass now, I guess. 
On getting a readership and the like—look for writing groups and communities to join. There used to be the forums but they’re not there anymore. If you’re lost and can’t find a space feel free to message me for a link to my writing group discord.