Hey guys!This is Teace here with an interview from 2016 Trailblazer Watty award winner paulapdx. She was amazing enough to take some time from her busy schedule to answer some of my questions, so here they are:

Teace: So, my first question has to be the most basic, and also most common question asked but here it is- What inspired you to start writing on Wattpad?

Paula: My story, The Otherworlders, actually. I knew I didn't want to write it as a conventional narrative. And I also wanted to see if people would respond to the story before I actually wrote the whole thing out. So even though writing a story in a scripted format, especially one that's structured like a TV show, is unusual for Wattpad, I couldn't think of a better place to attempt this crazy little experiment of mine!

Teace: That's amazing to hear, so what was your inspiration for The Otherworlders? It's quite different from the norm of vampire/paranormal stories on Wattpad so what makes you tick when laying down your magic?

Paula: The Otherworlders was actually inspired by a photo that accompanied an article I was reading about school desegregation back in the 1950's in the American South. In the photo, the black kids, who were attending the all-white high school for the first time, were being viciously harassed, not only by the students but also by their parents! Being black myself, photos from that time period have always haunted me. And that got me thinking about what it must have been like for the students, on both sides, to have to be together, day after day, just trying to do normal, everyday high school things in the midst of such turmoil.

One day I realized I wanted to explore that kind of conflict further, but not in such a straightforward way. So I took the conflict—you know, a major clash of cultures—and put it in a supernatural setting and used the differences between the characters' supernatural abilities as a proxy for race and culture. Today, we have so much fear and hatred of those we consider "The Other," not just here in America--where I'm from--but all around the world, it just seemed like a really good time to tell a story like this.

Teace: I completely understand that feeling, you know trying to be normal when the situation is abnormal and by the way- that is an extremely interesting premise. So, as someone who we can say *broke the glass ceiling* do you plan to write more scripts? The Otherworlders is clearly a hit and climbing in readers so can we see something more like this in the future?

Paula: Well I don't know if I broke the glass ceiling, so much as had a window of opportunity open before me. ;-) But in all seriousness, yes, since I'm getting such a positive response with The Otherworlders, I'd like to try and write at least one more scripted story. I'm trying to decide if that will be a contemporary teenage melodrama—you know, something soapy and fun—or an old-style, Edwardian romance. I've been a huge fan of the Edwardian period, long before Downton Abbey, so I have tons of stories from that period percolating in my head. In either case, my writing strengths are character and dialogue, so I'd like to stick to this format if I can make it work with different genres.

Teace: That is exciting to hear - being a fan of The Otherworlders myself, I can't wait to read more of your work. So you've won a Watty award with barely 1500 reads on your book? How does that make you feel? And is there some hidden secret to your success?

Paula: Well, winning a Watty makes me feel thrilled, humbled and terrified all at the same time. Having won the award while I'm still writing the story keeps me motivated, but it also adds a certain amount of pressure I wasn't expecting. I just feel like everything has to be perfect, even though I'm still, technically, writing a first draft. Most of the pressure is in my head, of course, because readers of the story have been super supportive and very forgiving of the occasional mistake or hole in story logic.

And I just want to say kudos to Wattpad for setting aside some of the Watty categories for undiscovered writers. Honestly, I wouldn't have entered the contest if they didn't have categories for newbies or those of us toiling in obscurity.

As far as secrets, I don't really have any other than start with a story you absolutely love and write it, first and foremost, for yourself. Thinking about awards, number of views and number of readers will either drive you nuts or paralyze you creatively. Then, look for other Wattpadders who not only like the same genre and type of story you're writing, but also like the same elements of stories you like. For example, my story is about a bunch of supernatural teens who have to band together to fight off a much more powerful enemy. But it's also about the bonds of friendship; the challenges of bringing very different personalities together in support of a greater cause; and also of discovering who you are in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. These are all themes that are very prominent in particular books, movies and TV shows that I really love, but so do many of my readers. So in essence, I've found "my tribe" and we're all on this journey together! :-)

Teace: Truly motivating. I've asked what inspired you to put your work on wattpad, but in reality I want to know, when did you first start writing?

Paula: I actually started writing about ten years ago. I had just watched the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time and didn't want the story to end. So I ended up writing a story that was essentially fan fiction, although I didn't realize it at the time. Over the years, I tried my hand at various stories ranging from historical romance to Dan Brown-style international thrillers. I even wrote a script that shall never see the light of day. But nothing has ever really clicked until this story.

Teace: That's great. Is there any advice you could give to someone who is thinking of writing in the same format as you have? Tips and tidbits to help with the impact their book could make on the Wattpad community.

Paula: First off, I'd say go for it! I've found readers, especially younger readers, to be very receptive to the format. They're incredibly visual and imaginative and don't need tons of detail in order to comprehend and enjoy your story.

But if you're going to write a script, there are two things you should keep in mind. The first is that the traditional script format doesn't necessarily translate well to Wattpad. Traditional scripts were written the way they were for practical reasons, like in order to give actors and directors plenty of space to take notes on either side of the page, or to allow the director to tell the actors what actions to take during filming instead of having it all laid out in the script. But those aren't relevant for a story on Wattpad, so feel free to write your script in any way that helps the reader easily visualize how your story plays out, as well as helps you make the story come alive.

Second, understand that your dialogue is doing most of the work when it comes to plot, pacing and character development, so be sure to read your work out loud so that you're certain you're getting all of those elements across.

Teace: That is some seriously great advice. Thank you. I'd started writing a sort of scripted format some time ago- a mystery/thriller so, I will definitely take these tips into consideration when I continue my story. Now we have established that you won a Watty, please tell us how amazing it feels to be up there with some of the hottest, most renowned writers on Wattpad?

Paula: Well, it feels beyond amazing...and did I mention terrifying? LOL. No seriously, I can't stop smiling when I see the company I'm in—such talented writers telling incredibly original and imaginative stories. And it also gives me a tiny bit of hope that The Otherworlders could someday turn into something more than just the little story I'd imagined it could be. What that might be, who knows, but at least it's out of my head and in the world--and in very good company!

Teace: Most definitely, one challenge down so to speak. And in closing, is there anything you'd like to say to our readers here at Wattmag?

Paula: I just want to say a HUGE thank you to those of you who took a chance on The Otherworlders. I know it's a different way of reading a story and your time and attention are at a premium, but you all kept me going when I was on the verge of quitting, which was more times than I'd like to admit. And this illustrates just how vital and valuable ALL Wattpad readers are, for whichever story you choose to read. While silent readers help the view counts rise, it's the votes and comments, even if it's only one, or only on occasion, that keep us writers going. If it weren't for you and the feedback you provide, we'd just be crazy people talking to ourselves and the characters in our heads. :-)

Teace: I hear that, thank you so much, Paula for giving us the opportunity to learn some more about you. As fellow undiscovered and struggling writers, it's always inspiring to see someone in our ranks up at the top.

If you readers have yet to try out The Otherworlders by @paulapdx I suggest doing so soon. I've been along for the ride when there were only 2 chapters, and believe me when I say- reading her book/watching her TV show unfold in my head- is exciting, gripping, thrilling and all worth the time.