I think I'm lucky, in a way, because with the criticism I get online, it's mostly from really young girls that are fans of One Direction, and they're kind of already known for being mean online. So the things that they insult me with are things that don't really bother me.
Anna Todd
When I was doing it, I just thought, 'I'm going to do this because it's fun.' I wasn't writing for a publisher or a publishing model; I didn't really think about it, but then, somehow, it worked out in my favor.
I'm not writing about the 1 percent of people who have this fairy-tale, amazing life. I'm writing about people like me, who maybe had a rough childhood.
I didn't write a ton before 'After,' to be honest.
I wrote a story about a character who looks like Harry Styles. But it has nothing to do with Harry Styles at all.
I love Harry Styles. He's one of the nicest people in the entire world.
I think just... never date anyone who doesn't accept you, and don't change for them. They aren't going to change for you.
Engage with your readers as often as you can. Readers, myself included, want a relationship with everyone in their lives, even the people behind the pages of their favorite books.
I never had any thought behind anything I did in the beginning, to be honest.
Before I read 'Twilight,' I was in a reading funk. This series brought back my love and obsession for reading.
When I signed my movie contract, I thought I could never even have an opinion on a movie. But now, I've realized I have a lot of opinions.
To me, basically, the whole meaning of 'Little Women' and what it conveys to me is the choice of being any kind of woman.
I don't know how to pose or anything.
When I was a young girl, I used to dream about what I would be when I grew up. I thought that I wanted to be a nurse, then a teacher, even a pilot at one point.
Everyone has an opinion, and it seems that the negative voices can be the loudest, but I chose to focus on the positive comments from readers.
The worst job I ever had was working in the call center of an electric company. I sat in a tiny cubicle getting yelled at every day so I could earn minimum wage.
I am drawn to people who are like me - who have experienced the ups and downs of life but have come through the other side.
'Through The Dark' - for sure, that's my favorite One Direction song.
I've been reading fanfiction before I even realized what fanfiction was.
The only way I know how to write is socially and getting immediate feedback on my phone.
I just wrote what I wanted to be reading.
I like to write characters that feel like people that I would know.
I have such admiration and respect for the military and military families.
I was a struggling army wife going to community college who didn't know what to do with my life.
Love fanfic or hate it, it's getting thousands of people to read and write who otherwise would not have.
It's good that I've put out different books apart from 'After' - and before the film comes out.
I got married at 18 after dating my boyfriend for about a year. It was quick, I know. My husband joined the Army, and I thought I'd go to college. But we moved to Fort Hood for his job with no money, not even a car.
I had gone from writing alone, not talking to anyone, to suddenly being in a room filled with not only people but actual celebrities.
The idea of being published was such an abstract thing in the beginning. It wasn't even an option in my mind.
There's so much anxiety coming from social media with teenagers that we have to give them characters that are real and that are not always happy; and that have bad parents and not great, supportive parents; and that are not going on these journeys to save the world with a bow.
If you're a fan of One Direction, 2015 felt like one hit after another. Between Zayn leaving and the band announcing their hiatus, this was the year that Directioners would love to pretend didn't exist.
I love Harry Styles just as much as anyone, and I would never do anything that would hurt his feelings.
The Internet can help you come out of your shell and gives you a chance to make friends who have the same passion as you, it's a real community.
I barely ever reread the chapter before posting, because I overthink things, and I feel like overediting or trying to use too many words can ruin the story.
I love 'Fifty Shades' and 'Twilight' both.
I'm so excited for readers to get their hands on 'The Spring Girls.'
When I love something, I love it all the way.
There's nothing like meeting a girl at a signing and her telling me that she loves reading now, and she's even writing her own stories.
Just for me - obviously, not all writers think this - but for me, I feel like seeing my book in Target and Barnes & Noble is pretty successful.
Honestly, I never dreamed of being a writer; it felt too unrealistic to even dream about.
I used to say that if I could get paid to read books, my life would be made.
I never really had a lot of friends where I lived. Online, you can have thousands of friends.
For me, One Direction is the only fandom I've been in, and I made so many friends.
When I realized that I can invest in my own marketing and do exactly what I think needs to be done - well, then it just feels like, what is the benefit of having a publisher?
I found Wattpad because I was reading a story on Instagram, actually. They're called 'Imagines,' and they are like little fanfictions that people used to write on Instagram before Wattpad was the place to go.
Every single path is so different, but I would definitely say that the idea of what a writer is or should be is not a thing anymore. Everyone is redefining publishing, writing, and storytelling in general.
I will never shy away from social issues in my books - or in my everyday life.
I think flawed characters are important, because no one is perfect.
I was reading fan fiction on Wattpad, but they were taking a little bit to update the stories, so I started writing my own stories to entertain myself. I didn't think anyone would read it.
Chicago is my biggest base for U.S. readership. If I ask my readers where should I come, Chicago always has the most votes.
