Stephanie BwaBwa has been a lifelong reader, starting with pop-up books as a child, which brought fairy tales to life. She cemented her love of fiction when she discovered Lemony Snicket and the crazy world described there. But she says it was the Mortal Instruments series that turned her into a writer and put the desire to write into her heart.

She wrote her first book in 2013. It was a story came out of nowhere, tackled big themes and where she made a lot of mistakes. At that time she didn’t fully understand structure, but writing that book was a great way to start her career.

“so much beauty can come from ashes”

We talk about how dark times in your life can result in something beautiful. Stephanie went through a dark chapter in her own life, but it what spurred her on to write that first book.

“balance is bogus”

We discuss how you can, or can’t, have the perfect balance between work and back home. Stephanie’s coach reminds her that ‘balance is bogus’, that it’s impossible to strive for, or expect, to have the perfect balance, and Stephanie agrees. She says we have to know what our priority is in each season of life. I for one find this a refreshing perspective.

We talk, too, about how to make time for your writing. For Stephanie it comes down to time blocking. She needs to look at her schedule, blocking the time she can write because she knows if it doesn't go in her diary, it doesn't get done!

It's a tough thing to swallow, she says, but we each have to make a sacrifice if we want to write a book. That might mean going to bed a bit later, getting up a bit earlier or even missing that TV show everyone is talking about. 

Stephanie tells us about her universe Elledelle, and where it came from. Primarily it came from the stories she learned in church as a child, She wondered what if? What if she mixed God’s world with her imagination?

From there she adopted the stories, invented new ones about Angels and demons and so her universe was born.

Stephanie has fantastic ideas for how new science fiction and fantasy writers can start their own world-building. First you have to know why the story is important to you, what draws you to that particular story. When you know you can delve right in.

Next, you can approach your world-building from either a character perspective or a world perspective. Pick an angle and deep dive with it. 

Don't forget that your character is a product of the world you're creating, so how will the atmosphere, the food, the roles people play, impact your character.

We discussed how you can stay out of that research rabbit hole. Trust your gut, she says. Recognise when you have enough to get started. If you continue to research and not write, ask yourself what are you running from? What is stopping you from writing? 

To tackle the fear of imposter syndrome, Stephanie urges. Think from a place of service, don't think about yourself, but your reader. 

There are readers waiting to hear your story, and you owe it to them to tell the story in your way with your voice. 

Connect with Stephanie: 

Stephanie BwaBwa | Novel Writing Strategist, YA Fantasy Author

Elledelle | A YA Epic Fantasy World With Black Angels

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