As you will learn, water-elms throw shoots in random directions. Yes, when it's suitable and you have the option you prune to downward growing shoots. But you don't always get them going in the direction you want, so wiring is imperative. You want to take the wire off just when it's biting in. Even if you miss by a little, wire scars will grow out in a couple of years.
They get twiggy pretty quick, I would cut those shoots back into a shape a bit shorter than the rough outline you want and let it back bud, rinse, repeat to build some ramification where you want it... thin out some of the shoots down low to highlight the multiple trunks... looks like a decent clump starting! Not where I saw this one going initially, but you can make this pretty cool with a little work!
