I recently sat down and interviewed Wattpad writer, TheRealOP. You might recognize her from her story 'Strictly Business," a cute story that can only be described as a romantic comedy, with A LOT of comedy. TheRealOP has a great sense of humor and her taste in role models is admirable. When she's not consulting Helga Pataki for advice or coming up with punchlines for her next chapter, she's wondering about the days when her writing would get her free stuff.
You can read her stories here.
1.When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I first realized I wanted to be a writer when I was eight years old. I sent in an essay about smoking and got a free ticket to the circus. So I figured if I kept writing, I keep getting more free stuff.
I first realized I wanted to be a writer when I was eight years old. I sent in an essay about smoking and got a free ticket to the circus. So I figured if I kept writing, I keep getting more free stuff.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
It takes me a very, very long time to write a book. Wattpad is the only thing that keeps me on track, otherwise I would never finish anything.
It takes me a very, very long time to write a book. Wattpad is the only thing that keeps me on track, otherwise I would never finish anything.
3. Do you have a work schedule for writing? If so, what is it?
No, I don't believe in schedules. In fact, schedules are the bane of my existence. I believe in posting the moment I get that brain blast in my head, and once I finish, I'll post. I'm very spontaneous.
No, I don't believe in schedules. In fact, schedules are the bane of my existence. I believe in posting the moment I get that brain blast in my head, and once I finish, I'll post. I'm very spontaneous.
4. Have you written any other books before your current work?
Yes. Many. I used to write for fanfiction back when I was twelve. I did pretty well back then, but I wanted to write my own novels. So I went on Yahoo Answers and asked them where's the best place to write my own novels and Wattpad.com was recommended. So, here I am!
Yes. Many. I used to write for fanfiction back when I was twelve. I did pretty well back then, but I wanted to write my own novels. So I went on Yahoo Answers and asked them where's the best place to write my own novels and Wattpad.com was recommended. So, here I am!
5. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Breathe.
Breathe.
6. What do you love most about writing?
What I love is that moment when I get a new idea, and I know it's going to be good. It's this crazy thing where I get the chills, and my eyes widen, and then I'm like "I've Got it" before jumping to the computer and typing out whatever idea just came to me.
What I love is that moment when I get a new idea, and I know it's going to be good. It's this crazy thing where I get the chills, and my eyes widen, and then I'm like "I've Got it" before jumping to the computer and typing out whatever idea just came to me.
7. Exactly how close are you with your fans?
I bug my fans quite frequently. In fact, I worry that I may bother them too much. I never miss a comment. In fact, every comment or message I get, is read by me every time. I make sure to read all of them.
I bug my fans quite frequently. In fact, I worry that I may bother them too much. I never miss a comment. In fact, every comment or message I get, is read by me every time. I make sure to read all of them.
8. Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say about your work?
Yes I hear from them a lot. Most of them want to talk about the story, and some don't really want to talk about anything at all. Either way, I make sure to keep in touch.
Yes I hear from them a lot. Most of them want to talk about the story, and some don't really want to talk about anything at all. Either way, I make sure to keep in touch.
9. Have you ever gotten criticism for your story? How do you handle it?
Once. And it was very kind. It was just saying how my characters were one-dimensional, and I needed to evolve my characters a bit more. I agreed with this completely, and I plan to do more of that in my upcoming book. But other than that, I handle criticism pretty well. If it's kind, I'll accept it. Otherwise, I might fight back a bit in the comment box.
Once. And it was very kind. It was just saying how my characters were one-dimensional, and I needed to evolve my characters a bit more. I agreed with this completely, and I plan to do more of that in my upcoming book. But other than that, I handle criticism pretty well. If it's kind, I'll accept it. Otherwise, I might fight back a bit in the comment box.
10. Writer’s Block is a big part of writing that is, in fact, utterly unavoidable. What do you do to get rid of writer’s block?
Absolutely nothing, haha! I have yet to find a cure for writer's block, and that's usually why I can't stick to a schedule. All I can do is set aside the computer and wait a few days until my mind is in a better place.
Absolutely nothing, haha! I have yet to find a cure for writer's block, and that's usually why I can't stick to a schedule. All I can do is set aside the computer and wait a few days until my mind is in a better place.
11. Writing a full-length novel takes a lot of motivation. Where do you get your motivation from?
My family and my friends. Without them, I probably wouldn't keep going. And aside from them, myself. I have high dreams of being a published author that I strongly believe I will reach. Wattpad is step number one, so I have motivate myself to continue so that I'm able to reach that goal of mine.
My family and my friends. Without them, I probably wouldn't keep going. And aside from them, myself. I have high dreams of being a published author that I strongly believe I will reach. Wattpad is step number one, so I have motivate myself to continue so that I'm able to reach that goal of mine.
12. What do you think makes a good story?
Tension. I don't believe any book can be good without some sort of tension coming from other characters, outside forces, or even themselves. Real life is never without tension, so why should books be without them.
Tension. I don't believe any book can be good without some sort of tension coming from other characters, outside forces, or even themselves. Real life is never without tension, so why should books be without them.
13. From experience, what can you say you’d like to improve about Wattpad?
Well, first, I'd like to improve the quality of writing. I believe wattpad is littered from head to toe with clichés and I'm not an exception to that, unfortunately. I, along with many other writers, have fallen into that Wattpad trap. I believe there are many stories that don't get the attention they deserve, and to be completely honest, a good amount of the stories that do, I personally don't believe wouldn't even make it on a book shelf. I just wish Wattpad were a bit more professional.
Well, first, I'd like to improve the quality of writing. I believe wattpad is littered from head to toe with clichés and I'm not an exception to that, unfortunately. I, along with many other writers, have fallen into that Wattpad trap. I believe there are many stories that don't get the attention they deserve, and to be completely honest, a good amount of the stories that do, I personally don't believe wouldn't even make it on a book shelf. I just wish Wattpad were a bit more professional.
14. Do you have any advice for the amateur writers out there? If so, what is it?
Never lose spontaneity. Sometimes new writers are so caught up in making everything perfect on their first try, and they lose the creativity and spontaneity that comes with writing. Sometimes being spontaneous is more important than being perfect.
Never lose spontaneity. Sometimes new writers are so caught up in making everything perfect on their first try, and they lose the creativity and spontaneity that comes with writing. Sometimes being spontaneous is more important than being perfect.
15. You’re pretty famous on Wattpad. Describe the process from going from just another Wattpad author to a well-known well-read writing extraordinaire?
Well, most people would say it starts with advertising, and while that is true, I wouldn't say that's the first step. The first step is perfecting your summary. When people click on your story, the first thing they are going to see is your summary. If your summary lacks zing, than no matter how good your story is, chances are the readers aren't going to be interested in clicking on the first chapter. After you perfect that, then you move on to the SHS and things like that. Oh and one thing that works, is never post the next chapter until you see about 500 to 1000 reads on your first. That requires putting a lot of effort into the SHS club, and then waiting about two weeks before that next update. Then, for at least the next ten chapters, take advantage of the SHS club, and things should fall into place after that. Oh, and don't waste your time placing your story in the romance category. You've got like 2 million books that categorize themselves in the same thing.
Well, most people would say it starts with advertising, and while that is true, I wouldn't say that's the first step. The first step is perfecting your summary. When people click on your story, the first thing they are going to see is your summary. If your summary lacks zing, than no matter how good your story is, chances are the readers aren't going to be interested in clicking on the first chapter. After you perfect that, then you move on to the SHS and things like that. Oh and one thing that works, is never post the next chapter until you see about 500 to 1000 reads on your first. That requires putting a lot of effort into the SHS club, and then waiting about two weeks before that next update. Then, for at least the next ten chapters, take advantage of the SHS club, and things should fall into place after that. Oh, and don't waste your time placing your story in the romance category. You've got like 2 million books that categorize themselves in the same thing.
16. Other than your current work in progress, do you have any other stories planned to write? How about writing more in the series?
Yes, I have bunches of other stories that I plan to put on Wattpad. Chances are, I will add the characters of my future stories, and put them into my current work-in-progress so you can familiarize yourself with them early. Plus, I enjoy allowing my fans to guess which minor character is going to be the star in my next novel.
Yes, I have bunches of other stories that I plan to put on Wattpad. Chances are, I will add the characters of my future stories, and put them into my current work-in-progress so you can familiarize yourself with them early. Plus, I enjoy allowing my fans to guess which minor character is going to be the star in my next novel.
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