The Momma Clan

• Can you tell us what inspired you to write?

 My passion for writing started when I got inspired by other authors and poets. I loved reading and I thought “How about I make my own story and read it?” Another thing that started my passion for writing was when my teachers at school taught me writing. I was doing very well in that subject, and my writing was very good. My teachers were always praising me for my writing.

• What do you enjoy about writing? What challenges do you face while writing? 

I enjoy writing because you are free to write anything. Although there is a prompt, you could express your ideas and feelings in your own creative way. That is what I love about writing: being creative with it. But there are also challenges I face along the way. One challenge is writer’s block. When I am assigned a prompt, I just sit somewhere perfectly still for a long time thinking of what to write. Another challenge I face is whether people like my writing or not. But I always remember that I should focus on how I like my writing, not others. Writing is just for fun, not to impress people.

• Who are some of your favorite authors or books that have influenced your writing?

The books by Dav Pilkey are my main influence because all of his books (such as Captain Underpants and Dog Man) have lots of description and lots of humor too. I also get inspired by the action and adventure from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling and Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne.

• Can you describe your writing process? Do you write by hand or by computer? Do you have a special writing spot or routine?

My writing process is to first brainstorm my ideas of what to write. After that, I choose the best thing to write from my brainstorming list and start writing. This process helps me to stop writer’s block, which is a challenge I face. I usually write on my tablet because it’s easier for me, but sometimes I write my poems or funny stories on paper. I don’t have a special writing spot, and neither do I have a routine, but when NaPoWriMo started, I did plan a routine that after school, I take a one-hour break, and then I start writing the poem relevant to the prompt somewhere near 4:00 pm each day. 

• What advice would you give to other kids who want to start writing but don’t know where to begin? 

A good way to start writing is to read books so you can read other writings and learn and inspire from those. You can also ask your reading teacher to give you tips about writing. But you don’t always have to do this when you want to start writing. You could just grab a pencil and a pen and write down whatever comes into your mind. Writing is literally you writing down some words coming from your mind in your own creative way.

• What do you hope readers will take from your writing? 

I want my readers to get inspired and influenced by my writing, but most importantly I want them to enjoy and be entertained by my stories because the whole purpose of a story is to have fun reading it. 

• Have you ever received any reviews or feedback on your writing? How’d you react to it? 

Most of the times, I get good feedback or reviews for my writing, and most of it comes from The Momma Clan, my mom, or my teacher. Whenever I get these reviews or feedback, I feel happy that people are valuing my writing. They also help me stay motivated to push myself to write more and keep on going toward my passion for writing,

• How do you balance your writing with other activities such as schoolwork and sports? 

I only write when I want to or when I have free time to. Even though I don’t have much time to write, I put quality work in that less time so that my writing can be the best as it can be. Also, most of my schoolwork requires writing too.

• Do you have any upcoming writing projects or goals you have set for yourself? 

A writing project  I am working on in school is a personal narrative where I have to write about an important event in my life. I am talking about the time when my grade level went to camp. I also have a goal to get better at my writing and finish my novel which is in progress, called Samso Hermanson. I’ve been working on it for months now, and I still haven’t finished it yet. I am putting lots of detail in that story, and have set a goal to finish the novel by the end of summer break.

• What do you think sets your writing apart from others your age? 

Most people in my school think writing isn’t important, so when we have a writing assignment in reading class, they just write something just to finish that assignment off. They don’t put time and dedication into their writing, and neither do they show quality work. My writing shows that I took lots of time and effort to complete it and that I tried my best. Whenever we have a writing assignment at school, I don’t write just to finish the assignment off, but I write with quality work because writing is my passion, and not only do I want my teacher to enjoy it, but I want myself to enjoy it too. I would feel proud of myself that I completed this assignment with full confidence and effort, making me a better student and writer.

• Could you share your experience of NaPoWriMo and The Momma Clan…

My experience with NaPoWriMo and The Momma Clan was excellent. It helped boost my passion for writing and improved my writing too.

I love The Momma Clan because I got to know so many people that have the same passion and talent for writing as me and the prompts were very creative.

NaPoWriMo was very tiring, but writing every day made me more focused on writing daily and setting a good routine. The prompts were very unique, and I was happy I got a Masters Award.