Welcome, Wattpadders! ContemporaryLit is in the town to offer you another slice of life, opening a door into the writing world of AngeltheAuthor320. A fan of The Walking Dead, Big Little Lies, and Westworld, AngeltheAuthor320 loved writing, even as a small child. She enjoyed putting her secrets on paper, penning wicked tales to scare her little brothers, and cooking up consequences for those who didn't bend their knees. Her story Electric Impulse is part of the Paid Stories program on Wattpad and has well over a million reads. With no further ado, let's jump into the interview!

ContemporaryLit: What prompted you to become a writer? And why did you choose urban and its subgenres?

ANGEL: On some level, I've always known I was a writer. While working in my corporate job, I would always tell my co-workers, one I'll write a book. It was always there. I just had to find the space and time to make that happen. And I found that after I quit that job and relocated to a new city. I had time to breathe and figure things out.

I've observed quite a few interesting events and I've experienced a lot. I drew my inspirations from my life and from things I've seen. As far as the genre, I didn't think about that until after. It wasn't my aim to write a certain genre, I just wanted to get my story out. Electric Impulse is a cross of several different genres. It's New Adult, Romance, and yes, has Urban elements.

ContemporaryLit: How do you find inspiration for your stories?

ANGEL: Stories for me start as a thought that build over time. I usually ignore the first iterations, but as the thought becomes an idea, and the idea becomes a web of multiple layers and it keeps coming back, that is when I fold. I usually only write after I've been knocked over the head with an idea/concept that won't stop bothering me until I put pen to paper.

ContemporaryLit: Share some of your writing habits. How do you fit writing time into your day? What tricks do you use to organize your writing life?

ANGEL: I like to write when it's quiet and I won't be bothered, often that's at night after everyone has gone to sleep. I can only write when my mind is clear. If I'm worried about things or have a lot on my mind, I'll be too distracted to write anything worth reading, so I try to do things to clear my head before I sit or stand to write (just bought a standing desk, so I can move more when writing, since sitting is the new smoking). Clearing my mind sometimes entails going for a walk or exercising, talking out my issues with my bae or just taking care of whatever it is that's distracting me before diving in to a writing session.

ContemporaryLit: Tell us about your experience writing on Wattpad? What are your favorite things about sharing your work on this platform?

ANGEL: Good question. For a writer and reader alike, WattPad is like a kid in a candy store. There are so many levels you can connect with other like-minded people. I started as a writer, but I also became an explorer. I uploaded my work and as I waited for people to read, I ventured out and found books/stories I wanted to read and enjoy.

I joined book clubs and meaningful conversations, agreements, and disagreements and shared ideas with people. WattPad helped me grow as a writer, which is what I truly love about this platform. It lets you test out an idea to see what will happen. It allows the beginner a place to start and the way WattPad is designed, it helps you grow as a writer, as well. There's a reason it's one of, if not the top, online reading sites. It's because it has so much to offer.

ContemporaryLit: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

ANGEL: A bit of everything really. I have a habit of trying to learn something new every day, otherwise I get bored. My mind has to be challenged and exercised every single day, otherwise what's the point? When I'm not working on a novel, I'm writing a song, singing, or recording new music. I like to be creative and I don't like to limit that creativity. I create and develop things.

Right now that happens to be face masks. I spent the last 6 months researching, sourcing, and testing to find the perfect reusable triple-layer face masks. This project is very close to heart and it gave me a chance to exercise some control in a situation that feels out of control. This pandemic is very scary and absolutely exhausting. Check out my face masks at altermask.com.

ContemporaryLit: Read as much as you can, especially you favorite authors. Ask yourself why you like their work so much. Keep in mind what makes their work so special to you. Is it their level of detail? Is it their insight into their characters' motivations? Is it how their writing affects you emotionally? As you learn why you love their work so much, you'll want to take what you've learned and apply it to you own work. Try writing often. Try writing several pages then stepping away for a while. Come back, read what ou write and work to improve it.

ANGEL: I would also suggest potting out your stories before digging in and writing them. Know where you are going in storyline before you fill in the details. It makes the process more manageable for me, especially for larger works like novels.

ContemporaryLit: Can you tell us what you're working on now? And will you be sharing it on Wattpad? 

ANGEL: I'm working on Book 2 of the ELECTRIC IMPULSE series during Nanowritmo. The plan is to put it on Wattpad.

AngeltheAuthor320, thank you for your time! Congratulations on your addition to the Paid Stories program. ContemporaryLit wishes you continued success in your writing adventures.