《Leah's Writer's Room》All of My Favorite Things
Advertisement
What do I like? It feels kind of egoistical to write about myself, but I love mystery and historical books and movies. They get my gears turning most of the time, but art is another one. I collect many art books, postcards, and art posters.
For books Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier are huge inspirations. I recently got into Natsuo Kirino's horror mystery novels, but it's pretty uh, Grotesque, which is an intended pun, yes. (It's the name of one of her books). I also like Otsuichi and his books have a lot of murder and detailed descriptions of death.
Among my inspirations I think K/J-dramas help, too. Recently I've been into crime or mystery dramas. I've watched ones about detectives, more realistic ones about forensics, and lots of revenge ones. Is there any you recommend? I can handle gore so that's ok too (flex).
For inspirations if you do want to write, I recommend starting with what interests you. When you read my interests (mysteries in big mansions etc) you must've thought of a genre/s you like. For example, I usually try coming up with several story prompts, developed characters, then tried writing at least 3-5 chapters to see how it feels. When I write a new genre, I focus on how naturally or unnaturally it comes to me.
Teen fiction? Very hard. I forget teens are not only young but oftentimes dependent on parents and shaped by their peers. I can't write modern dialogue as well without it full of swear words. I forget how romance for teens are and personally make write angsty things because that's how I was as a teen. I don't have experience with raves or clubbing, can't write about it, nor drugs or rehab, once again, can't write about it.
I've never been to a boarding school, but I've watched many shows about it. Is it good reference? Sure. Is it accurate? No. Not at all, that's why my story on boarding schools mainly revolve around a death and grieving—which I have experienced. My boarding school story which is still a WIP felt more natural to me than my teen love stories.
Advertisement
But then I tried an idea that popped into my head about fraud and love. I wrote thirteen chapters in the span of a month, all around 2000 words, too, which I consider highly successful. Once again, it's set in a pre WWII era, with women in vintage dresses, inheritance is involved, and many, many beautiful relatives.
It's on Wattpad now: Curse of Rose de Winter. If it interests you please read it as I publish every Friday!
One suggestion I like is to keep trying to write. If story A doesn't progress and you're at a writers block, pop out a story B. If that, too, isn't working, try a story C.
As of now I'm still working on my story Butterflies and Vampires, but I want my next work to have enough chapters that I can update regularly so I'm actually working on five different stories. There's no downside to it. I hope I'll be on Wattpad or writing for years to come, and for that time all my story drafts are inspiration.
So what inspires me?
When I first read Agatha Christie I realized I wanted to write similar stories except I wasn't very good with mysteries and deaths, so I worked on a romance where two people tried to solve a mystery—The House of Beardsley.
My favorite childhood books also inspired me. The Princess Academy is a less famous book that the highly successful The Selection was inspired by. People who read The Dandelion System often said I was copying The Selection but I actually never read it. I 'copied' The Princess Academy.
And there's nothing wrong with similar troupes that get the story flowing, my beginning was similar—girls are at a ball and twenty will be chosen to live in the castle, but my story is much less romantic and more like the werewolf game—the protagonist thinks there's a contestant working with the royal family.
Advertisement
I will write my thoughts about each completed novel in later chapters, but right now I'm starting with myself in case anyone wants to know me, the author, better.
I started on Wattpad with a completed book of only 200 votes, people accusing me of copying The Selection, and only fifty friends/followers. I think as time goes by it's harder to make friends, too.
Back then if I had one reader or one person who left a comment I would follow back, read their work, and do the same to hopefully make their day better, but now there's so many people.
Advertisement
- In Serial8 Chapters
Quest
A light Sci-Fi Coming-of-Age Novella. Luke travels with his alien friend on his coming-of-age journey, when his friend falls ill. Luke must find a job and help others in order to save his friend. He is helped by Dawn and others, and is able to help many others in return. He thwarts a terrorist attack, saving friends and others, and in the end manages to save his friend. At a pivotal moment, he realizes he has found the love of his life.
8 174 - In Serial17 Chapters
Book 1: Demonic Wolfsbane
A group of children are brought into a secluded part of a forest to undergo a coming of age ritual, but unbeknownst to everyone, the rite of passage does not go as planned alarming the Elders. Thus starts his journey of Blood and Pain. Cover Photo is From Google Search, Will Make One of my own Eventually Please Leave Comments, if you feel like it, Letting Me Know What You Think. Thanx
8 112 - In Serial10 Chapters
Life of Jekyll and Hyde
Look into the lives of Henry Jekyll, Edward Hyde, and Hastie Robert Lanyon as they live together in our inner world. Some of these happened before they joined our system, but most have happened while in the system.
8 153 - In Serial101 Chapters
Tula at kaisipan
Magandang araw, Ginoo't Binibini! Ako si tori, isang kabataang may hilig sa pagsusulat ng mga tula at ng aking mga kaisipan. Sa kadahilanang ito ang aking hilig at ang nais iparating na emosyon ng aking mga tula. Hindi ako ganoon kagaling, ngunit ito ang simula ko. Alam kong sa mga darating na panahon ay mas magiging mahusay at matututo ako. Maraming salamat sa inyo! Kahilingan ko'y maipakita ninyo, angking kakayahan ninyo, kagaya ko! Ito ay mga tula at kaisipan na aking ginawa. Ang iba dito ay aking imhinasyon lamang, ang iba dito pinagawa ng ibang malapit na tao para saakin, at ang iba ay base sa aking mga karanasan.
8 229 - In Serial15 Chapters
'The sheet filled, multicolored pen marks on each name, the more talkative students in class came more often, the quieter ones had more to talk about. Even if in the meetings, it was just a few words, a cup of tea, and a nice setting in his dorm office, the students seemed to appreciate it just about as much as Aizawa did.'OrTodoroki isn't sure he knows how to survive anymore, and Aizawa wants to help his students.CW⚠️: Suicidal themesSelf harmReferences to child abuseGraphic Violence
8 121 - In Serial144 Chapters
Haikyuu!! AUs (x Reader)
{COMPLETE}~~Haikyuu!! X Reader One-shots and Short Stories~~PT 2 is out (with better writing I promise)
8 220

