Hello fellow Wattpadders! Today we have with us, Su Vida (SuVida777), a Wattpad Creator and Watty Awards 2022 Shortlister. 

I am Abhipreeti (_abhipreeti_) and I have interviewed Su Vida.

Su Vida is an artist, animator, author and a sci-fi nerd from the central hills of Sri Lanka. During the pandemic, she pursued her own creative journey and started penning her stories. Her very first novel, Komoreby, was shortlisted for the Watty Awards 2022, and she entered the Wattpad Creator Program that same year.

She loves everything quirky, and her stories are all speculative fiction—sci-fi, fantasy and horror. They come with smart heroines, big worldbuilding, Asian-ness, real science, slowburn romance, eco themes and anime/gaming/fairytale elements. When she's not drawing, animating, volunteering or crafting stories, she can be found geeking out over anime, video games and funky science.

How would you describe yourself as a writer?

>>I'm a YA spec fic author, so my stories are all sci-fi, fantasy and horror (sometimes a fusion of all). I'm a big plotter, and I love creating huge worlds based on extensive research and real science.

What was your reaction or how did you feel when you were first invited to join the Wattpad Creators' Program? Did you ever expect to receive the invitation previously?

>>When the Creator Program was made public in 2022, my novel Komoreby had just over twice the required ER for its genre, so I was wondering if I'd be invited. When I found the invitation in my email, I was absolutely delighted!

Wattpad is a home to millions of users. As a result, it is only natural that every writer on this platform would like to receive reads, votes, comments, etc. and be recognized by Wattpad someday. What would be your advice to those writers?

>>As with everything in life, there is no easy way to get where you want, unless you happen to be very lucky! Most often, it takes time and effort to build your reader base and hone your craft. So it's very important to do what you love and give your stories your unique voice, rather than follow trends, even if that is what might appear to take off on Wattpad.

This is what would give you most fulfillment and help you build a reader base that is genuinely interested in your work. It's definitely an uphill climb, but if one wants to carve out a niche in the huge world of storytelling, this is the way to go.

Can we please have some book recommendations which are not on Wattpad?

>>The Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate! It's an absolutely amazing underrated gem with super cool sci-fi, lots of fun, awesome characters, big world and epic adventure.

The Mediator series by Meg Cabot is one of the best YA paranormal stories out there. Definitely a must-read.

I also want to recommend awesome sci-fi works from Alastair Reynolds and Stephen Baxter!

What genres do you specifically specialize in? Do you hope to create books in other genres as well, someday? How long does it take for you to complete a novel (approximately)?

>>Everything I write is spec fic for a YA audience. I also want to write MG spec fic sometime with my own illustrations. No, I won't be writing any other genres. I only write what I love! It takes me roughly a year to complete a 100k novel. If I have more time, I could do it in 6 months.

There is a famous quote, "Don't judge a book by its cover." However often, books do get judged on the basis of covers, by readers. What is your opinion, from the viewpoint of an author, regarding this?

>>If you want others to check out your book, you definitely need a good cover. In fact, a professional-looking cover with a pleasing design is the best way to attract readers and market your stories. For one thing, it lets readers know what your book is about and that you put effort in your story.

When did you first begin writing on Wattpad? How does it feel in the present, when you see yourself recognized officially by Wattpad?

>>I opened my Wattpad account in May 2020, though I published my first book, Komoreby, in January 2021. I've learned a lot and come a long way in a short time, which makes me super happy! My journey has only started, however, so I intend to make the most of opportunities available to me to take my writing career further.

Often, especially young, budding writers on Wattpad, confuse themselves between constructive criticisms and spread of hatred. What would be your advice to them? How can they differentiate between the two?

>>Sometimes, criticism can be harsh, and it's good to tone down that harshness on a platform like Wattpad, since almost all of us are indie writers starting out on our writing journey.

But it's also important to accept constructive criticism when it's delivered in a kind way and improve your writing. After all, it's likely that you want people to read your work, and Wattpad allows you to get feedback directly from consumers and people who might have more experience in writing. So this is an opportunity to improve and make your work even better.

But remember that everything everyone says isn't necessarily true about your work. After all, reading is a subjective experience. If multiple people point out the same issue, it's worth looking into.

Many writers on Wattpad feel disheartened and think of quitting after not receiving the achievements they hope for, even after trying for years, in many cases. What would be your advice to them?

>>It can certainly be disheartening when you try really hard to achieve something but fail. However, if you write what you love, then getting recognition is only part of the story. I think one should never aim to write to win an award or appeal to the masses. Your heart won't be in it, and it will most likely show. And if you fail to hit your target, your time and effort amount to nothing.

When you keep putting cool content out there that is uniquely you, you would grow at your own pace and attract genuine readers. If you keep going and putting out your best work, then good stuff might just come your way. Carve out your special place in the storytelling world, go all out and enjoy yourself.

As an author, are book reviews important to you? If yes, then why?

>>Yes, definitely. I used to go for them a lot, since it's a way to connect with cool reviewers, get feedback and also read their work. I ended up reading really good books in their entirety in the process. I've received awesome reviews that helped me improve my work and also gave me the confidence to keep doing my thing. Even now, when I really need a pair of eagle eyes on my work, I head to Wattpad's review shops.

Do you think there are any difficult parts when it comes to writing a book?

>>It depends on your work, but in general, writing a book is far from easy. They require plotting and research and worldbuilding even before you actually start writing. You have to figure out if the pacing is alright, the character arc is solid and the plot beats are fine. Then there's the painstaking editing process.

None of that is easy, but it's best to not overthink anything. One of the good ways to tackle a big task is to break it down into manageable chunks. So enjoy the worldbuilding and characterization and creating the story itself. Don't forget to daydream and visualize fun scenes!

For new readers, please guide them to your profile (for example your books, in which order they might read the books, genres, etc.).

>>I have two completed novels and one ongoing story! While all three are YA spec fic and have elements in common, they are also quite different, so it depends on the reader's taste!

KOMOREBY is loosely a sci-fi Alice in Wonderland. It's a quirky Asian high school story fused with sci-fi, romance and mystery. A lonely, small-town gamer girl dreams big when she enters Komoreby High in a glamorous eco-city. When the first day hits rock bottom and a science anomaly zips her to a parallel universe, she must reforge life and love while solving the mystery to find her way home.

RHODOREEF is an Asian sci-fi retelling of The Little Mermaid that steers the tale you know in a whole new funky direction. An ambitious teen mermaid must venture beyond her guarded underwater city and brave the polluted, climate-ravaged wilds of the Indian Ocean, in order to find her human soulmate and forge a better future for her people.

BLACK AVATARE is a spooky re-imagining of the Black Prince from Sri Lankan folklore. A teen ghosthunter must defeat the alluring demon Black Prince in order to save her haunted city. This is a ghost story set in a tropical gothpunk city. Strap in for an anime-esque adventure full of spooks, mystery and slowburn romance. The world is based on Sri Lankan ghost lore, mythology and the Kandyan Kingdom.

Thank you for agreeing to do this interview! It was an honour to have you here and may you receive more success as an author, both off and on Wattpad.

>>Thank you so much for having me!