Tell Me Your Ways...with Charisma Williams

Writing Black, Nigerian, Fabulous, Witty Women like them.

Charisma is aaamazing! She is an emerging romance author, one of this years Smooch Pit Mentees and an absolutely delightful person. Read on to learn all about her writing process.

What made you decide to write a book?

I've been a writer since 2016, a hiatus taking type of writer. It all started with the discovery of Wattpad, bad boys, werewolf hybrids that didn't know they were werewolves that were prophesied to come since a century ago. Now this sounds very specific, but you had to be there on Wattpad. The writing scene was great. Especially after reading The Bad Boy stole my bra and the cellphone swap. I remember those two books in particular because I wanted to write books like that that felt more than the tropes. But then I got into university and couldn't juggle chemical engineering, photography and writing.

After graduating in 2022, I fell in love with writing again. And I haven't stopped.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why do you find this the best way for you to write?

I'm a firmly placed pantser. Plotting/outlining and things like that just hurt my writing process. I'm currently in the middle of revisions with my Smoochpit mentor. During our first meeting we 'semi-plotted' my first act. It felt nice, but after I came to the realization (again) that I couldn't follow even the most basic outlines to a T. My characters have always been shadows of me. They need breathing space, and the best way for me to give them that is to let the words flow through me.

Are you a night writer or an early morning writer? Is there anything you need before you start to write? Do you have a ritual or a process to get ready?

I'm an anytime of the day writer. Because I work, I've found it easier to take any minutes I have and write them rather than waiting for a particular part of the day. That wouldn't work for me. I don't really have a ritual but I do like having a bottle of water or a cup of tea next to me when I write.

What does your drafting process look like? Do you write scenes in order?

I usually wait until I have the first line in the book in my mind before drafting. As a pantser, my writing process is mostly chaotic in the sense that I have no idea what I'm writing until I sit by my desk and start. I like to believe I write my scenes in order until it's time for revision. Most of them are aligned, but usually there are two or three that'll need to be moved around.

Please walk us through a little of what your revision process looks like?

My second drafts are usually a complete rewrite of the first draft. Most times, they don't look alike. My third to fifth drafts are more about fleshing up the MMC since my male characters are most times weak in the book. But that's it.

How do you know when your story is done?

When I can't think of what to write again. When the characters feel like it's finished.

How many beta readers do you typically have for a project? Does anyone read all the versions?

Three to Five readers. No one really reads all the versions but they usually read two at the most.

What are you currently working on now?

I'm currently working on revisions of my author reality tv show with my Smooch Pit mentor. By the time this is published, I should be done with Act 2/3 revisions. Hopefully. I pray.

You were recently selected as a Smooch Pit mentee. Congratulations! How has that process been?

The process has certainly been different. I think mentorship programs that match one author to a writer are great than mentorships that have a mentor take on more than one author. As humans, especially working on other projects, we only have so much time to dedicate to something that wouldn't pay us. I've been having fun especially since my mentor is an encyclopedia for the show I'm comping to. They've helped me dissect my characters, the settings and the emotions behind the book. There are still things from my draft that are present in the book but it's much more solid.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Sleep. I have very vivid dreams even if I might not remember most of them when wake up. But my life, and my dreams are my inspirations.

Do you have a favorite book on the craft of writing?

No, I don't. I watch craft videos but I don't necessarily read the books.

Anything else you’d like to share? Where can we find you?

Follow Nicole, she's a gem.

If you ever feel like you want to quit writing, it's probably because you're hungry or you're tired. Sleep, set the book aside, and sleep again.

Giving up actually doesn't make you a quitter, it means you recognize your status and you know what lies ahead.

Plus, no one ever quits forever.

Trust me as the master quitter.

Find me on Instagram @cwilliamswrites, on TikTok @cwilliamswrites and on X under the same username.