Student Author Writes 4 Novels: Elizabeth May Spotlight (Part 3)

What is your favorite piece you have written so far? What do you like about it?

That's like trying to pick your favorite child. I've written many things, and I love everything for different reasons. That first story I wrote online, while I read it now and think my writing sucked, will always hold that important spot in my heart as proof I could make it in the world of writing. 

I have a bunch of short stories, which I could say are my favorite pieces. I have a werewolf piece that I got very gory and leaned into horror elements, which I love my details in. I have a wild west short story with this female main character who's a spitfire and won't take no for an answer. Each of my stories likely has something I love about it. 

Out of my novels, if you asked me to choose, I'd pick my first baby. My trilogy is like returning to old friends every time I open it. I dedicated so much time to those three books and made characters that I got to watch grow and change. Yes, I make it sound like my characters have a mind of their own — other writers know the characters eventually take control of the story and show you how it goes. 

I remember when I finished the second book, which I thought was the end of the series, I felt empty and honestly not fully fulfilled. That feeling is what made me realize I wasn't done with my characters or my fantasy world; there was one last adventure they needed to go on. When I finished that third book, I was strangely sad and happy at the same time. I had finished my main character's story, and I had done her justice. I had seen her go from low points to high points to back to rock bottom, only for her to pick herself back up. 

All that being said makes it sound like I don't love my most recent novel, the horror story. That would be a lie. I do love it. I'd say I also love the characters — I almost always love my characters in anything I'm writing — but I also love what I experimented with in this novel. My trilogy is written in first person and from only one character's perspective. With my latest novel, I wrote in third person and first person with two characters' perspectives (one the protagonist and one the antagonist). 

I love the art of writing, and I love experimenting with my writing. Every time I get to write, I create something I like. I write what I want to read, not what I think other people would like, meaning all my pieces have something about them that makes them my favorite. 

Do you plan to pursue writing as a career?

Hopefully. I'd be lying if I said the writing industry doesn't intimidate me. I mean, how does a small author like me become the next big thing? But I try not to think about that too much. Somewhere out there is someone who will read one of my books and make it their favorite. So I'll pursue writing as a career and see where it goes. 

Even if I don't become the next Stephen King, I know I'm doing something I love, and that's all that matters to me. If I need to take a step back and find a stable career to have alongside writing, so be it. I just know I'm not putting down my pencil anytime soon. 

What advice do you have for other student authors working on their own novels?

Write. No matter what you do, write. I'd hound you and tell you to write daily because I know that's what made a difference for me, but honestly, just find your way of writing and do it. You could be crazy like me and use callofwriting, or you could take it at your own pace. 

Don't be afraid to try new things either. If you wake up with a random idea, like I wonder what would happen if I mixed aliens and dinosaurs, do it. See your creativity through; you never know what will become an actual story or just another random story idea buried in your notes app. 

I could throw a whole bunch of generic advice to you, like write what you want to read; show, don't tell; and read as much as you write. That really all depends on the writer and what they're like. Figure out what writing is to you and then just write; don't think about how others do it, do it your way. 

The truth of it is, none of us are going to be Stephen King or James Patterson or Poe because the world doesn't need another one of them; it needs something new. That's what we bring to the table. Something new and uniquely ours.