02 | sandydragon1

                                    

                                              
Hello everyone!
                          
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview sandydragon1 on Wattpad! sandydragon1 had actually been recommended by one of you guys, and I chose her with that in mind. Through this interview, I was able to gain a lot of knowledge about sandydragon1 as a person and her encouraging words for people who wish to gain attention with their stories. It was a great experience overall. I'd like to thank her again for allowing me this opportunity, and I hope this interview enlightens everyone of sandydragon1. 
                          
As always, our interviews are meant to encourage our community to continue writing stories and inspire the community. You may even gain inspiration from these authors' perspectives and thoughtful responses!

                          
If you have any other authors that you look up to and would like to see in an interview, please tag them in the comments below!
                          
1. Thank you for joining me for this interview! I appreciate that you take time out of your day for this. Please introduce yourself!
                          
Thank you for interviewing me. I'm sandydragon1. My friends on here call me Sandy. 
                          
2. Were there any events that led you to begin writing? How and when did you start writing?
                          
I started writing embarrassingly bad Naruto fanfictions when I was 13. I started writing my own original stuff when the Spanish teacher I had when I was 15 made everyone write a picture book. I enjoyed the experience so much that I realized I absolutely had to keep writing original stories.
                          
3. What is 'writing' to you?
                          
To me, writing is an opportunity to let my imagination run wild. 
                          
4. One of your most successful works on Wattpad is Beastly Little Boy, what is Beastly Little Boy about?
                          
Beastly Little Boy is about a ten-year-old boy who has to learn how to survive in the wilderness after turning into a bear. Think of it as Gary Paulsen's Hatchet mixed with Brother Bear, plus a darker tone and more moral ambiguity.
                          
5. How did the idea of Beastly Little Boy begin? Where do you get your motivation from?
                          
 I was inspired to write Beastly Little Boy by the scene in Pinocchio where Pinocchio's friend turns into a donkey. I wanted to explore how a kid would deal with the sheer trauma involved in turning into an animal. I tend to get my motivation from cartoons I used to watch when I was a kid, as well as nature documentaries.
                          
6. Have you had any early experiences where you, personally, felt like you weren't getting the attention you wanted? If so, how did you deal with it?
                          
Definitely. It took me quite a while to get much attention on Wattpad. I dealt with it by continuing to write, giving other writers constructive criticism, and by generally trying to become a more social member of the community.
                          
7. Beastly Little Boy is a completed story, so are there any other stories of yours that we should be sure to find and read?
                          
 I also have a short story collection, Alphabet Soup. It's pretty rough around the edges since I was inexperienced when I wrote it, but I think people would benefit from reading it since it should encourage them to get out of their comfort zone like I did. As for more recent works that aren't fiction, I have a haiku collection and an informational book about yokai (Japanese monsters and spirits). I'll have more stories available after I graduate college.
                          
8. You are quite successful now and you have been featured by Wattpad for several of your stories. Do you have any advice you'd like to give to people who aren't as well known and are striving to become noticed as well?
                          
Write a lot. Also, be active in the community. Leave helpful comments on people's stories, visit the clubs often, and make friends. Above all else, don't give up. It can take a long time to get noticed, but that just means you'll have to be patient and work hard.
                          


                          
So, that was the end! What did you think of this interview and what was interesting? Were there any similarities you noticed between yourself and sandydragon1? Which authors would you like to see next? Let us know in the comments below!