Reflecting on how quickly I wrote my ONC 2025 entry, it took me a while to complete a 50,000-word story; however, I'm grateful that I took my time with it.
Bill and the Whistling Death was not a straightforward story to write; so much research went into it, research that will continue in the sequel and prequel. Aside from that, I also wanted to give Bill a clear character arc and more room for growth in further stories. The twist with Ted was planned from the beginning (it was in my pitch notes for the story), and I fell in love with Bill the second I created him. I have a peculiar preference for my male protagonists over female ones.
I'm not a huge fan of tropes, but when I do write them, I ensure that I add a new and unique twist to that trope—namely, this war drama is about friendship rather than romance. Different stories and voices should be celebrated, too, not just popular stories. I'm not going to force myself to write what's popular to get published faster; that doesn't make me a bad writer, only one who likes to think outside the box. Bill and the Whistling Death is a good example of how one can twist a trope to make it fresh, which is why I love it so much.
That said, I'm excited for the next chapter of Bill's story—and even more excited to continue bringing you guys fresh stories in the modern literary world. One day, I will prove that a story doesn't need to be trope-filled to be good. That is my main goal as a writer, and I intend to follow through with it.
Thank you so much, guys, for giving this different war drama a chance. I hope you'll stick with me for the rest of Bill and Ted's story!
- Victoria/Viktoria