AnimalWrites - GRA Best Cinderella Winner Competition 1

Three things you love besides writing/reading?
1) volleyball
2) horses
3) summer camp

Three things you hate?
1) math
2) sports conditioning
3) snotty people

Why do you write?
That's sort of complicated, but basically, it's because I want adventure. When I was little, I remember playing all these pretend games with my cousin using nothing but my swing set in the backyard. We'd make it a time machine, or a stable, or even a dragon's cave. I loved the stories we could twist with just our imaginations. When I got a bit older, I tried making one of our stories into a book. I never did finish it, but maybe someday I will. But, after starting that one book, it was like a dam broke. All of a sudden, plots and characters started flooding my mind, and I had no choice but to let them out. I started reading more, and writing. And the more I read, the more I realized that I would never find my "perfect" story. I'd have to write that for myself. So, I started, and I've been trying since!

Out of all your stories, which one is your favorite?
Well, I only have one story on Wattpad now, but I do have several (read: hundreds) of other stories floating around my computer. My Life Before is definitely in the top three, but I have to say my favorite story is one I've deemed "Algebra Homework". It's about spies. I like spies.

How do you create your characters?
It depends. Sometimes a character creates itself, and I'm forced to go with it, even if I don't really know why. That was the case with Dorie. She just wouldn't leave me alone until I told her story. But, other times, I only have their role in my mind, like "love interest" and I have to make a character to fit that mold. It's harder that way, especially with names. Kane' s name took me at least an hour to decide on. He was actually almost called Coyle, but it sounded a tad too preppy for him, I think.

Out of your characters, which one are you the most like?
Oooh, that's tough. There's a part of me in every character I write, even the most minor ones, some just have bigger parts than others. I guess I'd have to say Dorie. Appearance-wise, we both have the same hair and eye colors, and I picture Dorie as pretty tall, which I guess I am, too. I actually have a secret to share about the cover; it's me! Originally I wasn't going to tell anyone that, but I guess I just did. But personality-wise, I'm a bit like Dorie, too. I mean, I'm by no means a party girl, and I doubt I would have had the guts to even talk to Jake let alone become so close with him, but Dorie and I do share a few fears. She's afraid to get close, because when she does, well.... you'll see, I suppose. Even her reluctance to be near her mother shows it, not just with friends. But, you'll have to read to find out!

What do you do when you have writer’s block?
For me, there are three ways out of this. One is just to find some music that matches the mood of what I want to write and just go for it, and if it's bad, just redo it another day. The second method I use is to just open up a new tab on my computer and Google stuff or go on Wattpad. I sometimes Google pictures of what my characters look like, or often just random stuff. As long as it distracts me, it's all good. My third go-to writer's block breaker is reading. If I read something I start getting ideas, and when I have ideas, I can just start writing.

How do you plan out your stories?
Um... I don't? Well, actually, I lie. For My Life Before, I do have a bulleted list of stuff I want in there at some point, but usually I just write and see where it takes me. Something I've tried with MLB was to occasionally take a break from writing the scene I'm up to and skip ahead and write a scene way in advance. I'm actually almost done with the epilogue, even though I'm just about half way done with the book!