Awake | Wattys Winner!

bonus » Q + A

Here are the answers to the questions commented in the previous chapter! If you have any more, don't hesitate to ask

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How did you come about the ideas for the book? - summerwind17

I woke up one morning with the overwhelming and completely demanding need to live out the scenes I'd dreamt that night. I had one scene crystal clear in my mind, and that was walking into a lecture full of people and feeling two things-an intense attraction to someone just from meeting their eyes (Isaac)- and the feeling that something was very very wrong, and I was the only one who knew. 

Then there were the pieces that followed, discovering that the lecturer had some ability in compulsion and that for some reason I was immune. Anyway, this led to me starting Awake! I guess I was gifted with the idea overnight.

What happened to Isobel and the others? How did they know it was mass hypnosis? - armoredamsel

Isobel is physically fine! She survives! Her and the others are left very confused, with some of their memory gone and some of it coming to the surface, and obviously that's very traumatic for them. Because of that, the missing students are reported and the authorities have to form some kind of conclusion. With what the students remember and the wide-spread confusion, mass hypnosis is the only explanation they can conjure.

How old is Conrad? How did he discover his capabilities? Is it genetic or kind of like a random mutation? - areticentreader

Conrad is in his late twenties! He didn't really have a precise moment where he realised he had abilities, it was more lots of little and subtle things building into it. He just thought he was charismatic and attractive growing up and in high school and that's why people always obeyed him. Then when his brother died, I think he realised there were two sides to his powers, and then he became hungry to harness it and we can see where that got him.

It's more a random mutation that can manifest in particular genes, so while it's not necessarily hereditary it could be! There will be more backstory to the powers in general and why Aspen and Conrad have them in the future work.

Can you give us some writing tips and how do you write so detailed? - wanderlustbookworm

I try and stick to the general rule that showing is better than telling, particularly for Awake. I focussed more on exploring senses other than sight to put the reader into the story, so the smell of the dirt, the feel of the air etc. I think that made it easy to build up a detailed scene--giving enough information that the reader can really feel the scenery and the situation.

I really put myself in Aspen's shoes and asked myself what would be catching my attention in that precise moment rather than trying to create an entire comprehensive narrative on every single thing that was happening. I guess really visualising the scene and focusing on all five senses is a good way to build up detail!

As for writing tips in general, just write something you're passionate about and really live out your main character. If you put yourself in the position of your characters you'll develop more reasonable and realistic reactions and dialogue and plot points. Also, you'll be less likely to lose motivation!

What's you favorite genre to write/read? - astrophile

I've previously loved writing teen fiction/romance, but my writing has definitely grown darker over the last few months. I've enjoyed dabbling into heartbreak/horror and exploring more mature writing. As for reading, I've been loving psychological thrillers (Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train are two of my favs, and I'm totally open to any recs) and also poetry. I've definitely been branching away from YA this year and towards more adult fiction.

When you say your book was inspired by a dream, was it a nightmare? - karamel2022

It wasn't, actually! I felt really good about the dream, it wasn't really scary (that being said, I can have really terrifying dreams and still feel really happy and content from having them, if that makes sense?) Although it wasn't a scary dream, I definitely wanted to tell it as a horror/thriller story, it gave me those vibes!