Interview with Lauren Chow

Author of Chosen

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Oxnard, California and still living there.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I started writing when I was a junior in high school. I’ve always wanted to write my own stories but never had the courage to do so until 2016. I originally wrote anonymously on Wattpad and to my surprise, my stories started to gain popularity. When I turned eighteen, I was approached by a publishing company called Inkitt to publish my book “Chosen”. I was shocked and decided to take the chance to publish my book.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books are fictional, full of adventure and humor. While most of my books contain magic and the supernatural, I have a book with action and mystery, called “Rosaline”. My books keep you on your seat and takes you on an emotional roller coaster.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

What I love about writing is that I can write something that’s relatable to everyone, from teenagers to adults. There are situations that we have all been through, such as internal struggles and self-discovery. I make it a priority to show the struggles of everyday life and finding the support to overcome these obstacles. My main target audience though are middle to high school students, when they are at an age of discovering who they are as people.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

In the beginning of my writing career, I was able to write at least one chapter a week, even daily. I was so proud that I was able to write a book so quickly. But as I got older and my books got more complex, I started getting writing blocks and got frustrated when I couldn’t type a chapter and post it. Instead of posting a chapter daily, it would take me a month or longer to complete a chapter I was happy with. It was unexpected for me, but I eventually learned that you can’t write an entire book in a day.

I recently self-published the sequel to “Chosen” called “Risen”. And I have to say, I have a huge appreciation for editors and cover designers. It was so stressful to edit and format the book to my vision without the help of a publishing company. I was surprised and grateful for the experience of publishing my own work. It’s even more rewarding to know people enjoy a book you worked hard for. If I didn’t have the help of my friends and family, my book may never have gotten published.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

I would tell myself to stop panicking and don’t fall for the peer pressure of posting as soon as possible. Take your time writing or else you will have your fans reading a bunch of gibberish. It’s okay to have writer’s block. Find creative ways and alternatives on how the story should continue.

I would also tell myself that it’s okay that not everyone will like your work. I’ve received some negative comments that made me feel like I shouldn’t write anymore or I should change it to fit their standards. I would tell my past self that there are so many other people that enjoy my work. While those people were more vocal about their opinions, that are other fans out there that want you to keep writing. Never change your work of art because others don’t like it. Share it with the world proudly.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I would love to reach as many people as I can, but I hope that I can have people reading my books nationally. I’d be happy to know there are teenagers out there that are able to relax and dive into another world.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

The biggest challenge is the worry that comes with publishing your book for the first time. What if it doesn’t sell? What if no one likes it? It’s those insecurities that makes it so hard to continue with the process and not to stop altogether. You always need that support group to talk you down, such as your friends and family. Having that encouragement helps you overcome such a large obstacle.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

What I love about writing is the ability to take the reader into a different world and to feel a connection between the characters. I make sure that every character I write creates a reaction/relationship with the reader. I love making people laugh with a character or have them cry when something happens to a character. Tapping into people’s emotions is a pleasure that I enjoy doing while writing.

When it comes to publishing and marketing, I always have a vision as to how I want something to go. I picture the cover in my head, I think about the size, etc. When I need to post something on my website or social media accounts (@lchowbooks on Instagram), I personally create them and make sure it’s eye-appealing for consumers.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

One of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to writing and publishing is my impatience. I always want things to happen right away, even when I know the process takes time. I am still working on it, but I’ve accepted to take everything one day at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed.

I also have a hard time consistently posting to market my books. For “Chosen”, I had a publishing company that helped market my book. For my second book however, I was all on my own. I had to keep reminding myself to post and make sure that it lured people in.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I recently published the sequel to “Chosen” and I am happily writing my book “Rosaline”. I haven’t decided if I will publish it when it’s done, but I will keep you updated 🙂

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Though “Chosen” was published by a company called Inkitt, my recent book was self-published.