Interview with @MC_Matthews
Howl-oo,
For our next author interview, please welcome MC_Matthews 🌙
🐺Can you share your Wattpad username with us and tell us the story behind it, if there is one?
My username is, quite simply, my name. Matthews is a common enough last name that I'm not uncomfortable using it online. It's also way more "professional" than what I used to call myself lol
🐺What led you to Wattpad initially? Did you join to read or write?
I can't remember the exact rabbit hole that eventually lead me to Wattpad. But, considering it was at the height of Covid lock downs, I was probably doom scrolling the internet lol.
What I do remember is the feeling of pure nostalgia for an old fanfiction site called Quizilla that went defunct ages ago. It really brought back the desire to share my writing the way I used to in my teens. It was something I could focus on that wasn't nightmare that was my job at the hospital in the middle of a pandemic.
🐺How long have you been writing?
I started writing in the second grade (7 or 8 I think). At least that's the first memorable time I tried to write a story. It was a god-awful fanfiction of the Guardian of Ga'Hoole books because I was getting impatient for the next installment of books so started writing it myself.
🐺Do you like to write the same genres you read? What are your favorite genres?
I mostly write paranormal romance of some type, though my favorite thing to write is about vampires--wait, can I say that to the Werewolf team😅?
Reading-wise, I primarily consume romance. But I also have a weird fascination with military Sci-fi. Maybe it's because it's my husband's favorite genre, or maybe because it's as far from romance as you can get while still in the realm of fiction.
🐺Besides reading and/or writing, do you have any other hobbies?
Video games! Mostly cozy games like Stardew Valley and Satisfactory, but every so often I want to make myself suffer with Dark Souls 3 or Elden Ring.
I also have my dog Sable who requires a LOT of attention every day.
🐺What does your writing environment look like?
I almost always have something going on in the background while I write. Music, YouTube, Netflix... I have a really hard time doing anything in pure silence, so I need something to be going on around me. I write almost exclusively at my desk, but when I'm in a crunch I'll lock myself up in the game room to get away from my husband and the dog so I can get the chapter(s) done.
Snacks are a requirement. Popcorn is my favourite.
🐺Can you share some of your methodology when it comes to researching and writing in the werewolf genre?
As cliche as it sounds, reading. When I first decided to write a werewolf story, it was after 2 or 3 months of reading exclusively werewolf romances and not finding a specific trope or story line that I was looking for. So, I thought I would just write it myself. I like trying to take a different approach to popular tropes, and the research for that is more about researching what ISN'T being done that what has been successful in the past. It doesn't always work out, but it's always a fun ride.
🐺Do you have a pet peeve or a guilty pleasure, maybe both?
It really bothers me when people can't just let people read and/or write what they want. Like, if you don't like a trope, don't read books or stories with that trope. Just because you see it as problematic doesn't mean other people can't enjoy it in the vacuum of fiction. Life is too short to get so worked up about people enjoying something you dislike.
🐺What part of the writing process do you find to be the most challenging?
Fight scenes!! I swear, every time I need to write a fight scene, I spend more time singing "I hate fight scenes" to the tune of "I Want Candy" than I do actually writing.
🐺Do you experience writer's block? If yes, how do you beat it?
The only consistent way I can deal with writer's block is by treating writing like a job. I just sit down and brute force writing the first draft of a chapter. The chapters that have to be forced out feel as forced as they are. But I can always go back and edit or rewrite them later once I clear the block. I can't fix a chapter that doesn't exist.
🐺Do you have any favorites or least favorite topes when it comes to werewolf stories? Please tell us why you like or dislike them =)
My favorite trope is definitely when the alpha character--who can be the biggest baddest wolf or a completely emotionless ruler--turns into jelly for their mate. It doesn't matter how many times I see it, I will giggle like a 12-year-old every. single. time. and I will simp for every overly reserved character who is able to let down their walls for their loved ones.
On the other side, I really don't like the abused mate trope. Not trying to yuck on anyone's yum, people are allowed to enjoy anything they want, of course! But abuse is such a serious topic that boiling it down to a character trait that can be "fixed" by falling in love... it's uncomfortable for me.
🐺If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?
Nothing productive, that's for sure. Knowing my ADHD, I'll probably spend the whole time considering my options without ever coming to a decision.
🐺Can you share some of your greatest writing achievements or highlights with us?
Nothing will ever beat the feeling of finishing my very first book. It was this overwhelming feeling of pride and accomplishment, followed by an indescribable exhaustion as I thought back on the last seven months. I remember finishing the last paragraph of the epilogue and breaking down into tears before taking a 3-hour nap.
🐺What's the best advice you ever received?
Write the story you would want to read
🐺Have you ever pulled from your own experiences to write a scene?
Often, mostly when it comes to emotions and emotional reactions to certain events. I've found that my readers have the most significant reactions in their comments or stickers at the parts where I draw from my own experience. The downside is that it hits a lot harder when readers either don't like the scene or don't believe in the action or reaction.
🐺Do you find that listening to music or making graphics help the creative process?
I pull a lot of tonal inspiration from the music I listen to. I could easily make a playlist for each of my characters, usually relating to events in their lives (both written and unwritten). The downside is that because of my own personal brand of insanity, no one would know half of these songs or understand why I connect them to my characters so much lol
🐺Planner or Pantser?
A bit of both. I used to be a pure pantser and just let my imagination take the story wherever it wanted. As I've gotten older, taken on more complicated projects, and gotten better at identifying what I want from my own writing, I've adjusted and started to shift into a little more of a planner. I can only plan 5-10 chapters ahead, but it's still more than before!
🐺We are so happy to have this great interview with you, MC_Matthews🐺
You can start binge-reading Season 1 of The Moonlit Curse!
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