Say My Name
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❝ there was always one constant, though. one thing that remained prevalent in each and every story was that no matter what, if you said his name, you would die in the most horrific way possible❞❝ i hadn't heard someone say my name in so long. hearing it slip past your lips, in your voice, only made it sound all the more beautiful❞❝ if saying your name was a mistake, then it was the best mistake of my entire life❞a pirate's tale of loyalty, lost and found love, and just a little adventure
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@thestarrunner
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Q1. How did you come up with the title for your books?
A1. Funny story, actually. I knew the basic concept I wanted for Say My Name - you know, he's a pirate captain and she ends up falling in love with him. I didn't come up with the name concept until I wrote the prologue and it sparked an idea. I still hadn't come up with a title by the time I was working on the first chapter, and I had hit a roadblock. I couldn't figure out why! Then I realized that while most authors don't really title their books until later on, I usually title my books earlier on, and the title sometimes changes. The description changed a lot too, and I was stuck on the title for months. Then I was rereading the prologue, trying to figure out what to do, while listening to an ATEEZ playlist and 'Say My Name' came on. It was then the central idea and title of the book clicked! (PS: same happened with me I decided to publish an interview I asked the questions to the author too...but I didn't decided the name for the book...but I came up with the name easily)😂
Q2. Would you and your main character get along?
A2. I do think we would. There's a funny scene later on in the book (it's not out yet, it's way later on) where they're all trying to convince Hongjoong to do something and then they get in an argument, and she's just like, "Will you stop it?" We would both be equally exasperated at the boys but we still love them all the same, so I do think we would get along in that aspect. I'd like to think that Daegi would like me for the fact that we're actually quite similar in some respects, but it would make us argue more often when we disagree on something, and she would hate me for the fact that I gave everyone such hard lives. It's hard to move past that when everyone has had such hard lives. And with what happens later on, she would definitely dislike me for a while. So I think we would get along okay until something bad happens and she would get annoyed with the fact that I need to write out their lives like that when I could have made them all happy. All the same, she would be thankful that she met the boys. (PS: most of the authors relate to their MC and that's a great thing!)😍
Q3. What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?
A3. What's my writing process like? Messy. I tend to write the beginning and then rough-draft out the end, and then I'll gradually fill out the middle, often not in chronological order, which can be frustrating for my readers. If I don't work on a certain part of the story and instead focus on something that comes later, it's often happened that chapters don't appear for several weeks or even months on end, but then I spam them with chapters. I'd like to think I'm in between, but I lean more towards a pantser. I have a general idea of what I want to do and there's a drafted chapter at the top of all my stories with the title 'story notes' - there, I write down plot ideas I need to remember and also small scenes or starters that aren't enough to get their own chapters yet. There's chapters ordered after chapters that are set way earlier or even after, because I haven't hammered out the details of what happens in between. I often write little snippets of scenes and then fill them out, like with the chapter 'exterminate'. I wrote the scene of Hyunjin killing the guards before I wrote the start of the chapter, and then I added in the part with San. And it started out as an idea I had in the middle of school, so I had to write the chapter in the middle of my biology notebook and then thrash it out later on at home. I also suffer from writers' block frequently, so it's sometimes difficult when you're someone that doesn't plan that much. What I try to do then is examine where the story is going, what I want to happen later on and what will lead to that. Sometimes I write down ideas before I think of them, but if I'm really suffering I try to take a look at my characters, see how they've developed and what they would do, instead of what I want them to do. I've gotten into arguments with my characters before (and I know that sound weird) because they want to jump into a dangerous situation but I don't want them to. But they're really stubborn, so then I have to get them out of it.(PS: I like it how you answer for the questions so briefly and detailed)💜
Q4. What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?
A4. When I speak honestly through my characters. A lot of them come from the darker parts of my mind, because I always bottle up my bad emotions and they end up coming out through my writing. So I'd say being honest is a massive risk, for some people and for me, but I think it's gone well, because I can format my honesty in a way that it can be subtle or not. Also, making real-life people be different in my books. It can give them a bad image or the wrong impression sometimes, like (surprise shoutout) the San in Innocent, or pretty much everyone in Say My Name. There's also my style of writing, which tends to fluctuate a lot. And sometimes I restrict my ideas, which restricts my characters. Literally? Sending my characters into life-or-death situations and not letting up when they think they've gotten out. Also, I love cliffhangers and suspense way too much, but it goes well for the very action-type books I've written. (PS: don't bottle up your emotions dear, show them to someone who you fully trust...some people can take advantage of your emotions...and it feels really bad...I have experienced it)😔
Q5. Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what's your favorite?
A5. I almost never listen to ATEEZ songs while writing unless they're soft or quiet, or maybe ballads. There's a specific playlist I have for writing, but then it spills out. I very often listen to the soundtracks I've compiled for my books, adding in some songs that might not be in the book. I love listening to songs that set the mood, but I can't listen to songs that make me wanna dance. There are, however, some exceptions, when I get so absorbed into my writing that instead of paying attention to the music, it's blocking out other distractions. Sometimes the music itself becomes a distraction, though, and I need to turn it off for a second, lean back, close my eyes and think. The ATEEZ song 'Pirate King' is what originally inspired my book - actually, the whole pirate theme itself. 'THANXX' kinda cinched it for me, and 'Say My Name' brought the thing full circle. I get a lot of my inspiration from songs! (PS: I don't regret of my decision to start stanning ATEEZ and never will)💘
Q6. If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
A6. I think Chaeyoung from TWICE has the kind of looks I've imagined Daegi to have, but I don't know if she does acting. I think the ATEEZ members that act would play their own characters (especially San, Seonghwa, and Yunho), and I think Song Joong-ki and Park Seojoon would play two of master villains, who will show up later. I just think they'd do some great villains! It's hard to think of any more, except that maybe Minho from SHINee would play Mingi (if the member himself wouldn't want to act) and Key from SHINee would play Hongjoong. He has the sort of sharp attitude that would work well with the captain's no-nonsense personality. I hope this short answer satisfies your curiosity!(PS: not the actors who are in bias list being the villians)😭
Q7. Does writing energize or exhaust you? Or both?
A7. I don't want to say writing energizes me. It definitely exhausts me, sometimes in a good way and sometimes not. I have this problem where I'll get so absorbed into writing a chapter that I won't notice hours have passed, and then I have a headache and my muscles are stiff and I'm thirsty, but I'm still satisfied with my hard work. Sometimes it's not satisfying because I feel like something is missing or I know it could be better. But when I know there's something to do, I soak up energy like my fast-charging phone and just go, and I keep writing. Oftentimes I have a problem with repetitive words, or not using enough detail in my books, or having choppy dialogue or action sequences. Then writing exhausts me in a bad way because I can't think of what to do and I don't want to sound repetitive. I hate it but I always end up reusing words, and it feels off to me. When I go to bed, I usually can't think because I've used all my thinking juice on my writing. Sometimes I need to take a break but I don't, and then we end up in one of those weeks-long folds of no writing, which sucks for both me and my readers, because I want people to be satisfied but I don't want to write sloppily.
Q8. How do you develop your plot and characters?
A8. On the absolute fly, usually, but Say My Name has been a bit different, mainly because I mostly have my characters fleshed out, except for some, uh, stuff that'll come into play later that might, y'know, alter the course of the entire story. An idea for Yunho's character came into my mind last night, and I just had one now, and it makes me happy, and now that I think of it it'll cause conflict. I usually write down small ideas and, like I said, I tend to randomly write out scenes that are then either placed into larger chapters or have chapters built around them, again like with Hyunjin shooting the guards and the continuous strain of San and Wooyoung not quite seeming normal. The plot for Say My Name has most of the big points planned out in my head, but I still need to map them and build roads between all the big points (some roads of which I've written, some points of which I have as well). Some of my characters are very undeveloped at the moment, but as the story continues, the characters develop inside my head and then begin to come out in my writing. I want to maintain an air of mystery around my characters for a little bit in this book, though, so it's hard to make their development subtle and gradual instead. Except for maybe a few of them, because a few of them are quirky and strange in their developments and what they require, especially since this book is not at all realistic and the problems they encounter won't at all be like ones in the real world. Every little part is usually unimportant until I think it could tie in to something bigger. Like the Drunk Lovers, who originally weren't meant to be important at all. And I need to remember to not say things so obviously. My readers can think of a thing or two until they're explicitly said.
Q9. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
A9. Unfortunately, I haven't had nearly enough readers to have negative book reviews, and those comments on books which I have had are usually kind or asking me for an update. However, I'm a bit sensitive with negativity. The reviews would probably be a blow to my pride and confidence, and I would consider rewriting or even just taking down the book because someone didn't like it. But then I see people do like it, and then I think I would push through.(PS: don't worry you will get more readers you are worth it dear!)💜
Q10. What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
A10. Do what you want, and do it how you want. On your first draft, don't worry about how it sounds; unless you give it to someone, no one but you is reading it. Try to take criticism constructively, but don't let people's advice alter the flow of your own book, even mine. Also, don't show anyone until you're confident in yourself and writing, but don't wait too long. And don't be afraid to delete stuff - I've deleted entire scenes and chapters before! I've spontaneously added them in and I've revised and edited my books so many times they're unrecognizable next to the first drafts. Take breaks regularly and allow yourself to recharge. Also, drink water. And sleep. Allow yourself to think, and read other books but don't try to copy other writers' styles. Adapt them to what you want to do and what you're comfortable with, and don't let other people push you to do something you don't want to! So basically, do everything I don't do and you'll be just fine. I just started rewriting my first book on Wattpad and it makes me much happier now, because the writing flows better and the pace is less clunky.
❣(A special thanks to you for making incredible covers for all of my books!)❣
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Thank you so much @thestarrunner for sharing your thoughts with us and I'll hope I will see more of your masterpieces... thank you for dedicating your time to us!❤
With this I'll take my leave and will bring my new guest with me next time!
Nyeongan Fam!💚