To celebrate 13 weeks of winter, Winterviews is conducting interviews with various book and author communities across the internet. Once a week, we’ll interview a new community to find out what makes that community great.
Join us on the hashtag #13Winterviews, or join in the fun with tonight’s community spotlight, #AuthorConfession! Without further ado, lets get down to the interview!
Can you tell us a little bit about #AuthorConfession?
#AuthorConfession is a monthly Twitter game where players answer questions in the form of confessions about their writing process, characters, editing, struggles, life, and reading in an open friendly community. We like to have fun so on occasion we’ve been known to have themed weeks or months, giveaways, and other events too! We also host a weekly #AuthorConfessionChat that features discussions about deeper topics such as world-building, plot twists, and more.
What prompted the idea to start #AuthorConfession?
#AuthorConfession was started by a wild idea that hit J.M. out of the blue. She had been toying with the idea of starting a writing game to build a place for authors to connect, but she wanted to find a style that was really unique from the other established games. While she was working one night, she had a thought that made her wonder how her favorite authors came up with their ideas for character names, and how interested she would be if there was a place where the authors she loved shared secrets about their work. Right then she knew what her game would be. She wanted to make a place where authors could come to share their work, and readers could go to find the inner details for their favorite worlds. #AuthorConfession was born!
What is unique about #AuthorConfession?
One of the best things about #AuthorConfession is that we have participants from all stages of writing and life. You can find and connect with those who are working on first drafts, those who may be editing, or even those who are published and continuing their work. We invite anyone and everyone into our community in hopes of creating a welcoming place for any and all writers.
In what way has being a part of #AuthorConfession made you stronger as a professional?
Being part of our community and running a monthly game has made us both stronger as professionals in so many ways. Not only has it opened up new ways to keep organized and find unique people to reach but it has helped us keep each other accountable and professional without taking away our fun personalities. We both know how important it is to create a presence on social media and to “brand” ourselves, but we never want to give up who we are at our very core and running #AuthorConfession has been an amazing way to bridge both our professional and personal lives.
Why is having a community helpful?
Having a community is helpful as it provides a way for others to share their struggles or find advice, seek help or knowledge, and build friendships. We try our best to create an environment where writers feel comfortable asking for assistance, find beta readers, and much more.
What three things does someone not know about you or #AuthorConfession?
- As co-hosts, we have only met in person ONCE but we are never NOT in contact with each other.
- We have a growing list of ideas and activities for #AuthorConfession that we are always adding to. It’s like a “TBR” pile—always growing!
- Sometimes we “confess” our day to each other via voice messages, both good and bad things, and then we work through them together. We are each other’s shrinks!
Who are some of your biggest/most positive influences in the community or in general?
We have so many loyal participants within our community that is would be impossible to pick out anyone in particular. If there are ever any issues or problems everyone comes together to help overcome it. If we forget to post a question they’re kind enough to remind us, haha. The #AuthorConfession community is one of the most magical places to be a part of filled with positive energy and real down to earth people. Trust us, we aren’t robots, we make mistakes and yet they keep coming back for more surprising us each and every single day.
Any advice or quote that you live by?
Keep Calm and Sparkle On. Ok, maybe not that quote exactly, but the sentiment behind it holds true! As a writer, you have a story inside that needs to be told. Sometimes, some days, things—life—try to get in the way. It can be hard. It can be daunting. It can be straight up exhausting.
But still, your story needs to be told. You have a fire–a sparkle–inside you waiting to light the world. It needs to be shared! So even on those days where everything seems just too much–don’t ever forget how incredible you are and that someone is looking for your sparkle.
