Hello, fellow disciples! Today, we bring to you an interview with 18dzhang, the author of Prowling Tiger and one of our contest winners for our Quest of the Guardians writing challenge!

You can check out 18dzhang's winning contest entry here ➟➜

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What are some things that influenced your contest submission?

The prompts definitely influenced my contest submission as I have always been fascinated by Chinese mythology and grew up learning about them all! This contest sparked some memories and I couldn't resist entering as Chinese mythology means so much to me!

Tell us about the main character of your winning entry. What inspired their creation?

The main character's name is Fang Ningyue and it's rare to see in certain Chinese films and shows I've watched the main hero being a female, so I thought I would create a character who is strong, wise, and extremely independent.

What were some challenges you experienced while writing your entry?

I definitely struggled with the description of the mythical creature's appearances as I have spent hours googling what these mythical creatures such as Taotie look like and failed to find the right result.

What is your favorite myth or legend? Why? Please tell us from what culture it's from.

My favorite myth or legend is definitely the Legend of the White Snake, a classic Chinese legend that has followed me from childhood. I remember being told it as a child and the tragedy and love through pain and change depicted within the story just left such a deep impression behind.

What is your favorite mythical creature? Why? Please tell us from what culture it's from.

My favorite mythical creature has always been the Phoenix (associated with Greek Mythology) as it depicts the cycle of death and rebirth and the possibility of second chances, which I hold as one of the most important morals in my life.

What was one thing you learned from Asian mythology and folklore from this contest?

One valuable thing I learned from this contest about Asian mythology and folklore is that these mythological creatures always see potential in mortals, no matter their status and their worth in society. Each of them are always given a chance or opportunity and I think that is extremely important.

What do you wish you incorporated from Asian mythology and folklore?

I wish I had incorporated characters from other legends to accompany Fang Ningyue on her journey such as Sun Wukong, an outstanding martial artist in Asian mythology, who could have been a respectable tutor for Ningyue! 

The contest is about completing a quest, so its subgenre is action or adventure. According to you, what makes a good action/adventure story?

What makes up a good action/adventure story is the way the author conveys the happenings in the story and how they reflect the emotions within a specific scene onto the reader.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us and congratulations on your win, 18dzhang! We wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!