A second interview from Joe Rover, this time talking about my collaboration project: The Hunt!

So about The Hunt, where did the inspiration come from?

The inspiration for The Hunt comes from a few places. I suppose subconciously there are shoutouts to Hunger Games, The Purge and The Handmaid's Tale in this new book, in regards to the topic matter. But the main inspiration came from reading an article on the fox-hunting ban, which got me thinking, "How utterly terrifying would it be to replace the fox with a human in that scenario, how would we like to be hunted?" I then started to think about the future, and whether it could ever be allowed to happen, and The Hunt was born.

How did you and Shaun meet? Did you know each other before starting The Hunt?

I had worked with ShaunAllan on a few bits and pieces for the Fright Ambassadorprofile on Wattpad, but we had not talked in any great lengths. I had however read some of Shaun's work, and I was very keen to work on something together from our first conversation. Once I'd worked the details out in my head, I pitched it to Shaun, and we came up with this cool new format. We would each take it in turns to write a chapter, never discussing the plot or future chapters. We then decided to crank up the carnage by inviting a load of guest writers into the mix too.

What kind of experiences have you gained from doing a back and forth collaboration?

So far, it's been extremely fun. Every writer is different, they think differently, they develop stories differently, and they write differently. You might end a chapter with the full intentions that the story should be taken one way, and then the next writer takes it in the complete opposite direction. It's a complete whirlwind, and so far, it has unearthed so many new ideas and plot points that I simply wouldn't have come up with on my own.

What is your process for completing a chapter?

Planning, writing, editing. With this kind of format, you kind of have to pick your ideas and just run with them. All long-term structuring goes out the window when you don't know what the next author might write! All you can do is plan your personal chapter, and execute it as well as possible.

Do you have a set word count or deadline you give each other?

We have basic flexible time slots to keep things ticking, but apart from that there isn't any great pressure. The author is free to write what he or she feels the chapter deserves, which usually hovers between 1k-3k.

Do you have a plan for where the story goes or are you completely winging it?

I can have all the plans I want, by the time my next go comes around, everything has gone out the window five times over. Wing it!

Do you talk over characters or plot with each other?

We don't talk about any future plot points, because it really just keeps it interesting that way. It's more off the cuff, like improv, sometimes just going with the flow can turn up some amazing results.

Do you have a set number of chapters planned or are you just writing it until it is finished?

Honestly, there is no set number. I feel that we are all good enough writers to be able to know when to start winding up to a big ending, and when to finish the story completely.

Are there plans to publish it, such as self-publish or through a publishing company?

No plans as of yet, but let's see how well it does on Wattpad!

What advice do you have for others wishing to do a similar collaboration?

Just do it, don't think too much about it. Once you bog yourself down with all the intricate details and planning, you lose a sense of the fun and community with your fellow writers. As a group we've been having great fun just winging it and seeing what happens.

Is there anyone you wish to thank or acknowledge?

I would like to thank all of my readers for the amazing support and feedback you give me. Without it, I would have stopped writing long ago. I would also like to thank all of the talented writers involved with The Hunt, Shaun for helping me organise/write it, and all of our guest authors.

Anything else you wish to add?

Feel free to message me on social media or Wattpad if you have any questions, or just want to say hey!