Name of Author: Kay C.

Title of Book: The Dream Crashers

Favorite Authors: J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Gayle Forman, Eoin Colfer

Bio: I'm from California, currently in college and studying Metabolic Biology. My hobbies include writing, Photoshop, and marathoning shows on Netflix. Some things that I hope I'll get to do in the future are: traveling to different countries, getting published, and learning to cook.

The Dream Crashers

http://www.wattpad.com/story/13560129-the-dream-crashers

Can you explain what your book is all about?

Rory is terrified when she wakes up one morning to find bruises and scars all over her body. She suspects it has something to do with her father's disappearance, which happened at the same time her sleepwalking symptoms appeared. Her idea of reality is shattered when her world collides with that of four teenagers who call themselves "Dream Crashers" and claim they fight demons in the dream world. They are interested in Rory because she possesses unique abilities. She discovers a part of herself she never imagined existed and the truth behind her father's disappearance.

Who is your target audience – and why? 

The story probably appeals the most to readers of the YA genre since most of the characters are teenagers, but it wasn't written with a particular audience in mind.

Why is 'paranormal' about your story?

The main characters of the story possess supernatural abilities and the power to invade dreams. They also spend a majority of the book fighting demons. Does it contain other genre elements, if so which ones – and why? A huge part of the plot is a mystery the characters are trying to solve. There are also elements of action, romance, and humor to make the story more interesting and give the characters more personality.

Tell us about your writing process – how do you get from story idea to a Wattpad published story?

For The Dream Crashers, I started by outlining the plot and developing my characters. As I mentioned, there is a huge mystery and things intersect, and I couldn't make it up as I went along. Although the story ended up being very different than what I initially planned, having an outline helped me get over writer's block.

Did you encounter any challenges when writing, if so – how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge when it came to writing was maintaining regular updates. Sometimes I would lose interest in the story, and having an outline definitely helped because I had a direction I could go in. I forced myself to write a little every day so I could stick to a weekly updating schedule.

You often hear that 'writing well' is the baseline for success. What does that mean for you? 

A good understanding of grammar and vocabulary is important when it comes to writing. Despite having a phenomenal plot and a cast of likeable characters, if a story is riddled with errors and spelling mistakes, people will stop reading. Besides grammar, writing well should also mean being able to draw in your audience. A story could be edited to the point that it's error free, but it could still be as boring as dirt.