An interview with the amazing Wattpad Star, Ariel Klontz. Such a lovely person to talk to, super friendly, and wildly talented at writing. This author has over a million reads for a reason guys! Check her out!

When did you start writing? And why did you pick up the pen?

I've been writing for as long as I knew how to get letters down on paper -- pretty much as long as I can remember. I was read to as a child, and as soon as I was able to read I was an avid reader. I was drawn to storytelling like a moth to a flame. I had a hard time talking to people (social anxiety, but I didn't know) and it always seemed easier to communicate my thoughts and feelings in writing and express myself that way. :)

How long have you been on Wattpad, and what drew you to it?

I've been on Wattpad going on three years now! I decided to join after stumbling on it as a writing platform. I had a professor that told me to be able to get jobs writing I needed to have my work showcased somewhere online. I ended up having a classmate (@austensnowwrites) who had grown a pretty large following on Wattpad! She swore by the platform and loved the opportunity it presented to interact with her readers. She really encouraged me to get on there and write and really coached me through working on Wattpad! I pretty much owe all of my Wattpad success to her for encouraging me to keep going even when I didn't have much of a reader following at all. I can't thank her enough honestly! :)

What does Wattpad mean to you?

Oh man -- Wattpad means so much to me. It's hard to put into words (ha! Says the person who words for a living AND for fun). Wattpad has given me so many opportunities. I've met some of the best people I know because of Wattpad, and it's really encouraged me to keep writing and keep pushing toward my dreams, even when I'm struggling. It's just been an amazing journey, and I just can't wait to see what happens next with Wattpad! It means everything to me to be a part of this community.

As someone who has clearly made friends from Wattpad, how does it feel being part of that community?

Well, I guess I kind of just answered this above! But it really does mean everything to me. The friends I've made through Wattpad, my readers, and my fellow writers, and the Wattpad staff, have really been some of the most wonderful friendships I've made. We all have so much in common, and not just when it comes to writing. I have had the pleasure of speaking to so many amazing, like-minded individuals through Wattpad. It feels like I'm pushing a Wattpad cult sometimes or something haha! But it's just such an amazing community!!!

How does it make you feel when you see a message from a reader or fan?

It is one of the best feelings to get a message from a reader! When I'm having a bad day or going through writer's block it is so encouraging to see kind words about my work. It's like opening a box of starlight. Everything just shines a little brighter!

Why horror/thriller?

I don't only write horror/thriller, but I love to write in those genres because I just LOVE horror stories. I like the dark corners of the human mind and the creepy corners of the basement. I like exploring what's learning in there! I've just always been drawn to the genre. I remember in grade school I used to write little horror stories in my notebook and read them to the other kids on the playground, trying to scare them. I'd write the creepiest things I could think of and dramatically tell the stories.

I watched a lot of horror films with my dad -- it was kind of our bonding time, and I think that's part of where the love of horror came from. But I've just always been curious about what goes bump in the night! ;)

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I work a full time job as a technical writer 40 hours a week, and then when I'm off I make time for any freelance projects I have. Then I'll focus on my personal writing projects in my spare time. Aside from writing, I take pole dancing classes! It's so acrobatic and athletic. I know most people's minds go to strippers -- but if you just google competitive pole dancing you'll see there are so many facets of the sport! It's awesome. I never knew it was a thing, but from the very first class I took I was in love. So basically writing, more writing, and pole is how I divide my time. :D

What is your writing process? Where do you write? When? How long for? Noise or silence?

I'm typically a pantser. But lately I've been doing a basic outline so I know my full plot arch before I dive into the writing. It leaves me a lot of room to play -- I don't outline extensively by any means -- while still providing me structure to break through bouts of writer's block.

I write on my computer in a Google Doc typically, and then when chapters are done I copy them over to Wattpad, that way I have drafts in a couple of places. I usually write after work, on the weekends, or at night after pole classes. I can write anywhere from thirty minutes to five hours. It depends on what I need to get done, if there's a deadline, and if I ever want to sleep, haha! Some days I have too much to do to be able to write, so I have to make it up at night or on days that there's a little less going on. It just depends.

Sometimes I listen to instrumental music while I write -- I don't usually like to listen to music with lyrics because the words can sometimes distract me. But it depends on the scene I'm writing. My process is never the same from one work to the next! The other day while working on FIRE & FEATHER I listened to Bastille the whole time. But while writing the latest chapter of (NOT SO) SWEET SWITCH I've been enjoying working in silence.

If you could design the perfect writing room/spot, money no object, what would it look like?

Oh wow! I've never thought about this because I honestly don't really care where I write haha! I've written in loud spaces, in quiet spaces, sitting on living room floors, lounging on my bed. I usually just find I'm most comfortable on my living room couch with my dog hanging out for moral support! I don't know that I even think there is a perfect spot or room to write. I feel like it's just anywhere because it's all about just being able to write. :) So I guess I don't really have an actual answer for this question. But I'll just write anywhere really haha!

Which genre is your favourite to write, and is there one that you wish you were better at?

Oh gosh -- I don't have a favorite genre to write! I love to write in all genres. I like to test my abilities. I'd like to be able to write a really good thriller/mystery novel someday. I have thriller-ish short stories and Tap stories, but I've never played with a longer format for that. I love Ruth Ware, and her work really inspires me to write murder mystery/thriller. Maybe someday!

What are your favourite and least favourite book to screen adaptations?

Favorite: Harry Potter. All of them, really.

Least favorite: Percy Jackson. What even was that?

From your own stories, which character would you rather date, which would you rather marry, and which would you rather kill?

Ha! What a great question. I would date Cade from ONE LITTLE SPELL. I think I'd want to marry Sparrow from NEVER MISS, MS. NEVER. I'd kill Dart from NEVER MISS because he's awful... or maybe the killer in HOUSE HUNT.

If you could have lunch with one character from any fiction book in history, who would it be and why?

I want to have lunch with Cthulu, basically just because he's Cthulu. Maybe it's risky! But what's life without a little risk.

What are you working on right now?

I'm working on two different novels right now! I'm working on a dark fantasy/mystery novel with a hint of scifi called FIRE & FEATHER, and I'm also working on a young adult novel called (NOT SO) SWEET SWITCH. :)

What are your writing goals for the next year?

I would like to have a polished manuscript. I have COMPLETED manuscripts. But they're not polished, and I know it. I have a really hard time with editing. I'm now trying to make cleaner drafts from the get-go so the process doesn't seem quite so daunting. But there are stories that I want to revisit that are going to be quite the editing project, and I think it scares me a little sometimes to be frank. I recently tackled editing ONE LITTLE SPELL, and I've been very slow about it. It's such a project.

How important is social media as an aspiring author?

I think social media has been a really great tool for me as an aspiring author. I don't have that huge of a following or anything, but I think it has really helped me to engage with my readers and reach out to new readers. It also just helps me connect with people and show them a little bit about myself! :)

What advice would you give to any writers just starting out?

The advice I always give to new writers is 1.) don't compare yourself to other writers and 2.) enjoy the journey. I always throw out the whole "Rome wasn't built in a day" thing -- you know, Rome wasn't built in a day, and your writing career won't be either! So you just have to take your time and enjoy the journey. It can be hard to do, to be patient and just work on your craft, but it's so important sometimes.