7 Questions from The Serrulata Saga Desk: Willo Glenn

Welcome to 7 Questions from the Serrulata Saga Desk, my blog feature that boosts fellow indie authors! This week, I chat with Willo Glenn.

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?

Oh gosh, this is hard. I’m currently in the middle of revising Tempered in Ash, so it’s definitely going to be one of my girls from that. If I had to choose, it would probably be my favorite himbo lady, Joyanna. She’s been a ton of fun to write and flesh out. She’s big and strong, loyal to a fault, and rarely serious. Tempered in Ash is a rough story, especially towards the end, and Joyanna brings a lot of brevity to the situation (even though she probably shouldn’t). She has so much capacity for love, and she’s not afraid to show it. All of my beta readers have completely fallen in love with her, and that’s really validating because I’m honestly in love with her, too.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain? 

I think they’re both hard, but I would lean more towards villains being more difficult. Crazy is fun, but I think villains that challenge my view of the setting or plot are really exciting. I like being forced to question whether they’re really the bad guy or not. It’s difficult to do, but when it’s done right?  *chef’s kiss*

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

If I were trapped in an elevator with Ilde, she’d probably kill me on the spot, considering everything I’ve put her through. Trauma aside, the conversation would probably be about mental health. I think both of us would benefit from a pragmatic discussion about our poor coping skills.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

Definitely maintaining momentum and motivation. I’ve had to work really hard to overcome my habit of waiting to write until I’m in the mood to do so. I do a lot of staring at a blank word doc, but I made sitting down to write part of my routine. I try to sit at my desk for at least a few hours a day to crank something out, and if I don’t manage to get any words down, I will take time to do some social media work or outlining—that way, I’ve at least contributed to my overall success every day. It’s not always super fruitful, but it keeps me in the mindset of consistently thinking about my novels, and that helps keep the ideas simmering in my brain.

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

Not sure if it counts, but I’d love to write a module or campaign setting based in The Terrain for D&D. I have plans to run a homebrew campaign for some friends, and if it goes well (and there’s enough interest in my books overall), it might be something I dip my toes into one of these days. Tempered in Ash is inspired by D&D, so it only seems fitting that I give people a way to experience The Terrain for themselves.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

For me, the purpose of storytelling has always been joy and escapism. I’ve read fantasy my entire life, and it has gotten me through some really tough times. Writing does the same thing, only it allows me to hopefully share that joy with other people. Storytelling is all about helping people persevere.

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

I’ve always been super imaginative, especially as a child. I wrote a lot of little stories in notebooks as a kid. I didn’t even consider that I could make it a true hobby until I was a teenager when I started writing fanfiction. I slowly transitioned from fanfiction to original works and have been writing ever since. I’ve just always really loved making things up and being creative—writing fantasy was a way I could continue to play pretend as an adult  :)

Here's where to find Willo:

Website: http://www.willoglenn.com/
Twitter: @willoglenn
Instagram: @willo_glenn
TikTok: @willoglenn

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