Greetings, friends, and happy timezones! I’m really excited because Stephanie (Socallucyfan) did an interview with me and I have the privilege of presenting our collaboration with you today!
Many of you already read Stephanie’s story, but in case you don’t, you can find it here: Once Upon a Legacy. At first, her story was based on the Sims 3 Cinderella Challenge, however, she so fell in love with her characters that she decided to continue on with their stories after the challenge ended. Before long, Once Upon a Legacy had morphed into a Fairytale Legacy where each generation centers around a different fairytale. And who doesn’t love a fairytale?
On the side, Stephanie also writes an “I’m Surrounded by Idiots” (ISBI) Challenge story that I find particularly hilarious. ISBI’s are funny anyway but this writer puts her special touch on it as she documents these sims crazy antics. Her ISBI is called, One Moore Legacy, and you don’t want to miss this one!
I hope that if you don’t read her stories already, you will check them out today. 
Let’s move on to the interview!
How long have you been playing The Sims and what got you into it? I have been playing since day 1 game 1. I went over to a friend’s house who was playing, and that day as soon as I got home a begged my parents to buy me the game. I have been hooked ever since.
Why did you begin blogging your sims story? I started sharing my TS3 stories/legacy on the official site but then moved my legacy to the Sims Writer’s Block. It was an independent site created by writers who were annoyed by the restrictions that the storyboards set which limited pictures, text, and content. Unfortunately, the site didn’t last very long. When the site closed Once Upon a Legacy laid dormant as a PowerPoint presentation on my computer. In my nagging need for organization, I wanted to have a place where I could look at my story in a neat and orderly layout, and not lose any of my PowerPoint story that was becoming a really overwhelming long document. That was when I decided to start posting my legacy once again, first on Tumblr then WordPress.
Do your sims actions help create new ideas or make the story go in a different direction then you had intended? Cindy’s story was very much gameplay driven, but after that, I turned my writing style to be more story driven. But I do like to include Special Chapters, like the Stella’s Fall Festival, that show off my sims being sims and off of the silly antics that they like to get in to.
Which character is your favorite and why? I am having so much fun writing for my current generation heir; Lincoln. Not only is he completely different than both my previous heirs, but he is the total opposite of me. Lincoln is overly confident to the point of obnoxious cockiness. And he isn’t afraid to let anyone and everyone know about it. I, on the other hand, am a giant ball of insecurity. So, it is fun, and yet challenging, to get into the mind of a complete narcissist.
Is there anything you wish was different about your story? OMG, where do I start? Pretty much everything about Generation 1 makes me want to press the re-do button. The picture quality is crap, and I have recently noticed that a few of the chapters were posted out of order (still not sure how that happened or how to fix it). Moreover, I really wish I would have spent more time on character development and getting to know everyone better. There are some very interesting characters that never got their proper time to shine.
What are the challenges of bringing your characters to life? One of my biggest challenges, aside from my massive insecurities, is that I try to find the right balance of foreshadowing without giving away the whole plot twist. In my mind things make sense, but that doesn’t mean that it always makes sense in my head.
Would you like to share an excerpt from your story or a summary of your story? Or both?
Here is an excerpt:
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? That is another good question; I had to think about it for a second. I would think no, you need to feel emotions in order to be a successful writer. You have to be able to get into the mindset of each character and feel what they are feeling. How can you do that if you don’t feel emotions strongly?
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? All throughout history you can see examples of the power of language. On the positive side, you have people like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. using their thought provoking and powerful speeches to change the world for the better for all. On the other hand, look what Hitler did with his power.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? I want to be authentic without being cliché. A lot of times I ask my husband for advice on this matter.
What one thing would you give up to become a better writer? My job LOL. Which is actually kind of funny, since I just started a new job not too long ago. Seriously though, if I could spend as much time simming as I do at work, then I would be a happy girl. Unfortunately, there are just not enough hours in the day (I do have to sleep at least a few hours after all).
Do you believe in writer’s block? Yes, the threat is REAL!!
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is special? The current heir is the very charming Lincoln James Charming. He is a super talented virtuoso and he knows it. What’s more, he doesn’t have any problems telling you all about how amazingly, mind-blowingly, awesome he is. Lincoln’s one redeeming quality is that he is fiercely protective of his family, especially his younger twin sister Autumn. Other than that, he can’t be bothered with caring about what other people think or how they feel. Right now he feels like the King of the World. But how long can his reign of selfishness last before he gets knocked down to reality?
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? I love reading, but I really don’t have any particular favorite. I like all types of literature, from sci-fi to fantasy to cheesy romance. Right now I am really into reading biographies. Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.
Do you proofread/edit all your own writings or do you get someone to do that for you? I proofread over and over and then once more before I post a chapter. Even then I miss things. So, having someone else edit my story might be helpful. I have reached out to a few other SimLit writers asking for advice with certain chapters or aspects of my story. And everyone has been so helpful and supportive.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? Who wouldn’t want to be J.K. Rowling?!?! Not only would I be one of the most successful and well-respected authors of the 21st century. But the Harry Potter Series brought the love of books to a whole new generation that was obsessed with the latest and greatest technology. Pandemonium broke out while people waited in line for the next book in the series the same way they waited for a store to open on Black Friday.
Any writing rituals? My only ritual is that I have no rhyme or reason to anything. I write where ever or whenever the mood strikes me.
Wow! This was such an amazing detailed interview! Thank you so much, Stephanie!
Did you all enjoy this interview as much as I did? I hope you will check out Stephanie’s stories because they are such fun reads!
Author’s Note: If you are a blog author (it does not have to be The Sims related) and would like to be featured in an interview, please send me an email using my contact form! I would love to interview you, too!
Thank you for reading,
This interview was so great! Stephanie is such a sweet person and with such a great sense of humor – I love interacting with her and reading her story (Lincoln is just the best at being the worst, lol! To be honest, he’s one of my favorite characters to read)! <3 <3
I totally understand the sentiment of feeling like a total failure when writer’s block has hit hard, I’ve been there so many time myself..! The only thing to do is step back for a while I think and then everything will come into place 😉
I loved reading about her process! I do an outline as well, but that’s about it. I might have to use her Powerpoint method, sounds mighty helpful! 😀
And OMG, I thought noone else was using those baby name sites, haha! I am literally obsessed with giving my characters the perfect name, I could spend hours searching! XD
Overall, a great interview, it was a blast to read it! <3
Thank you so much! 🙂 I agree with everything you said – and said well, I might add. 😀 I totally use those baby name sites, too. LOL 😀 Thank you for reading and I’m so glad you enoyed the interview.
Awe, thank you for the sweet words. Everyone here has been just too kind. Any more compliments and I may become more like Lincoln, going around talking about how awesome I think that I am.
I spend as much time researching names as I do writing the chapter (maybe even more so). Kymber has a resources and tools page that has a few of the better baby naming websites. I don’t know what I would have done without them.
LOL I love figuring names out. 😀 I’m glad the resource page is helpful.
Thank you so very much. 🙂
My husband recently got on the bandwagon. It had taken him a while.
I have about a million story idea, and side-story projects and I would love to get to. But I also enjoy eating, and having a room over my head. So, I will have to keep my job.
Great interview Stephanie. ❤️ I can totally relate to what you had to say about being able to spend as much time simming as working! I have a great job but would give it up in a heartbeat if I could spend all of that time working on my story and playing sims. Then I might have time to work on posing and maybe just playing a game for fun. 😁😁 But that would just take me down the rabbit hole of another story! 😂😂😂 I am glad your husband is supportive. Mine is finally on the bandwagon and occasionally I will ask him guy questions too! Again, awesome interview.
So, I have to say that I literally squealed with delight when Kymber asked me to do the interview. Being the ball of insecurity that I am I was worried that no one would care, and people would think I sounded stupid. But I should have known better. I should have known that this awesomely supportive community would have nothing but the nicest things to say. Thank you all so so so much!! <3 <3 <3
And I have to say a big THANK YOU to Kymber for asking me to do the interview. I really am honored to have been asked.
Awww that is so sweet. But I want to thank YOU for agreeing to the interview and also for so carefully constructing such thoughtful and detailed answers. I squealed when you said yes! 😀
Awe…
And Jowita has a good idea, you need to interview yourself. 🙂
Wow! The motion has been seconded! Looks like I better do this. 😀 Thank you so much for the suggestion.
<3 <3 sweet insights into a sweet person!! TY Stephanie. BTW sleep is overrated 🙂 I do RL in the day and simming at night
Thank you so much, Lisa 🙂 YAY to simming in the night! lol
Awe, thank you so much for such sweet words (you know what they say; it takes one to know one).
Yes, you are right. Who needs sleep? All I need is my giant mug of coffee!!
I used to have a rotating schedule, so it was hard to plan things out (and my OCD was not happy about that). My new job is a set schedule, and I have found I have more time to do other things as well, but nothing as important as simming! LOL
Yay! I see you made use of the e-mail I handed to you – I don’t feel the least bad about giving it out, when you asked now, lol.
This was such a detailed, long interview and I loved getting to know Stephanie more – I told her I wouldn’t spill her name like I did yours, but I see now that’s no longer a trouble. She’s so sweet and always compliments too much! And I was happy to have helped her with the poses she needed for the story! 🙂
I don’t get how she can work with Power Point, I do everything in Word and I just name my pictures by numbers in order of appearance, sometimes I write short descriptions along the way or I write codes for poses, one of Frank’s bonuses had Frank’s pose codes in yellow and Waylon’s in blue, so I knew exactly how to take the pictures.
“I, on the other hand, am a giant ball of insecurity. So, it is fun, and yet challenging, to get into the mind of a complete narcissist.” There, y’all! If you ever wondered how writing Sam felt like!
“I want to be authentic without being cliché.” Also me when it came to Sam. There were times when I felt I just pictured him a bit unrealistically evil, but I think you could still see a person in him somewhere deep down. Unlike classic antiheroes, he was insecure and he wasn’t 100% evil.
I love the answer to the last question! I also think that both characters and plot are equally important.
So hm, when do we have the retake on the interview scheduled, Kym? Just kidding! You know what I would LOVE to see? You responding to your own questions. Yes, please!
Aand I just want to say that I think Stephanie is very creative and we are similar in both our insecurities and the fact that we plan the generation around a certain culmination point, like my endings and her fairytale theme. I also really recommend reading her stuff to anyone – plus it was so genius how she came up with the fairytale for Lincoln. Loved the reveal!
Thank you, Jowita! 🙂 Yes! And thank you for the email addy. 🙂 Oh, no! Was I not supposed to say her name? I saw someone using it on their story site not long ago so I didn’t think it was a secret.
If you’re reading this, Stephanie, I’m so very sorry. :O
She is very sweet indeed! 🙂 I loved the answer to the last question, too.
Oh, yes, let’s do your interview! Contact me when you can do it. 😀 You want my answers? :O I never thought of doing that! lol That sounds like a plan forming! lol
You and Stephanie both are very creative and similar. 🙂 That Lincoln fairytale reveal was awesome!
She told me I was free to use it, but I decided not to just to keep her privacy – after all, she didn’t ever tell us her name officially on here.
Ha, ha, I can do it no problem, but I don’t know if it’s that necessary! Yours, though. Have always wanted!
Thank you. ♥ It was super awesome!
Ah! LOL Okay, I will get working on interviewing myself. <3 Thank you for the suggestion.
It is not a problem at all. You can call me Stephanie. You can call me Socallucyfan. You can call me Your Royal Awesomeness (sorry Lincoln’s narcissism is rubbing off onto me). It doesn’t matter to me. It is actually really nice being called by my first name, though.
I have a nerdy type of love for PowerPoint. I have been making PowerPoint presentations ever since I was a kid. I was using it to create digital photo albums long before that ever became a thing. It has been easier for me to know exactly where I am going to put a picture. Plus, my story chapters are not that long, and PowerPoint helps me keep about a 6-10 pictures per post.
I am so thankful for such sweet comments. All this attention is making me blush.
Whew! I’m so glad, Your Royal Awesomeness! <3 😀
You are too funny. Talk like that, and my ego is going to get bigger than Lincoln.
LOL
LOL!
I really love being called by my first name, too, it feels more real and as if I was more connected to you all! Good to know, Your Royal Awesomeness. You can call me by Queen of Cliffhangers!
I was making all kind of stuff as a kid, mainly, though, I loved writing poems based on some random Wikipedia articles or others just for fun. I made a Power Point presentation about my cat, though. I love pictures and I always need to have a chapter full of pictures, otherwise I’m displeased!
You deserve all the sweetness!
Yes, you are the Queen of Cliffhangers!!
Right? LOL
This was a great, very detailed interview 🙂 I really liked hearing more about Stephanie’s process, because there’s a lot of stuff here I didn’t realise. I love reading both of her stories! Her and I seem to agree on many things 🙂
Thank you so much, Louise! 🙂 Stephanie was so amazing to interview. I’m so glad you enjoyed this and her stories, too.
Awe, you all are making me blush. 🙂
We agree on so many things because great minds think alike!!