Pen to Paper: Centenary's Student Authors

Centenary has authors in the making. The Cyclone Chronicle staff has five of them in their ranks. Editor-in-chief, Alexis d’Ambly, managing editors, Elizabeth May and Samantha Swayze, as well as staff writers, Victoria Autocunas and Carmella Vitel.

Being an author has many pieces to it and a story of its own. This is Swayze’s story. 

What is your story behind why you chose writing? What drew you to writing?

When I was in seventh grade, my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. I was anxious and sad, and I truly had no outlet for my emotions. My seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Scott, had us write one poem every month for class. She told me I was very good at it, so I started using poetry to express myself. I have been writing poetry ever since, and I still share my poems and now my newspaper articles with Mrs. Scott. 

What do you write?

I write mostly poetry but I am trying to expand on more genres. I have written short stories and personal essays, and I also answer writing prompts created by my favorite poet, Rupi Kaur. 

Do you have a writing routine? When do you write?

I like to sit down at my desk at the end of my day and answer some of Rupi Kaur’s writing prompts, which get my thoughts going. Sometimes I only write a couple sentences, other times I write five pages. I like to let my thoughts out and write as little or as much as I need. There are other times when I am simply going throughout my day and am randomly hit with an idea for a poem or a story. When I write poetry, it is usually whenever I have an idea or inspiration, but I answer prompts every day. 

What’s something about your writing not many people know?

Most of my poems are turned into songs that I have recorded on my phone/laptop. I usually write a poem that inspires a melody or song idea in my head, which leads me to picking up my ukulele or sitting at my piano to create a song out of it. I have over 40 songs written and recorded completely on my phone. 

Do you have any advice for other authors?

Don’t stop writing. You don’t need to write every single day or have multiple novels completed, but don’t stop writing. As time goes on and our generation changes, writing is less and less common. Words are more powerful than you think. We need the power of our words, and we need to continue to express ourselves through our writing. 

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You don’t have to be published to be considered an author. Just being a writer and taking part in the craft is enough to call yourself an author. d’Ambly is one of these people. 

“When it comes to writing, I just sit down and start writing whenever inspiration strikes,” said d’Ambly, “It can be at any time of the day; it can even be the middle of the night. If I get inspiration, I sit down and start typing.”

d’Ambly is in the process of writing two novels, titled "Full Speed Ahead" and "The Rich Provide," and has been for years. To her, it’s important to take her time and get to know her characters in the way someone gets to know friends. 

“I like to really know my characters as three-dimensional people and that’s how the story comes together,” said d’Ambly.

Every author has their own way of planning a story. d’Ambly starts with her characters and builds off of them. She models her character’s relationships off of her own family’s closeness. She’s taken years to perfectly craft the relationships between her characters.

“When it comes to writing, don’t rush it,” said d’Ambly, “Writing is an ongoing process. You may have something that you think is completely finished, but then you go back to it in a month or two- or even years later- and want to add to it or want to expand upon it based on your experiences.”

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National Novel Writing Month

November marks National Novel Writing Month and poses a new challenge to authors: NaNoWriMo. The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month, or a whole novel. That’s 1,667 words a day. 

Two of The Cyclone Chronicle’s authors have taken on the challenge this year: May and Vitel. 

NaNoWriMo is a challenge that all authors can do, whether seasoned in the craft or new to it. It’s not just a way to get yourself to write that book, but also a way to build a routine and improve your writing. 

For May, this is just another November. She’s taken on the challenge for the past five years and written at least three books during the challenge. She’s currently writing her fourth this November. May’s first three books are a high fantasy trilogy yet to be titled, and her fourth is a stand-alone horror murder mystery novel, also yet to be titled. 

May discovered NaNoWriMo in 2020, after years of not creatively writing. She had picked up writing again in 2019 and was just starting to build her routine, so NaNoWriMo was the perfect excuse to make one. 

She did a modified NaNoWriMo for her first year, only 500 words a day instead of the 1667. By her second year, she was ready to take on the 1667. 

This is Vitel’s first NaNoWriMo. She’s experienced ups and downs throughout the challenge but has stuck to it. Vitel is writing a mystery horror novel that is currently untitled. This is what Vitel has to say about NaNoWriMo.

What’s NaNoWriMo like? 

My first NaNoWriMo has been interesting to say the least! When I first decided to commit to the challenge, I was super intimidated. I came to find that it’s not that scary, but still a little hard to keep up with. 

What’s a challenge you’ve faced during NaNoWriMo?

My biggest challenge has to be the writing itself. I’m someone who faces chronic writer’s block, so having to write every single day has challenged my willpower to another level. 

What’s the goal of NaNoWriMo to you?

To me, NaNoWriMo is about building a routine rather than the word count goal itself. The hardest thing about writing is the writing itself. Ideas come so easily, but to actually sit down and build on that idea you have is a muscle that needs to be developed, and I think NaNoWriMo helps with that.

What’s some advice you’d give someone looking into doing NaNoWriMo?

My advice would be to not stress so much about it. Do as much planning beforehand as you can, but remember that your story will develop naturally as you write it. Don’t worry too much about the consistency and quality of your writing; this is just your first draft to motivate you to keep going! 

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Outside of personal challenges, authors on campus can share their work through open mics and the Prism Literary Magazine. Happy writing!