Tagged: Writing Q & A

 

 



This will be my last post for the week (unless I just think of something I HAVE to share) because of the holiday.  This week has been a "light" blogging week for me since I didn't do any of my "how to" type posts, which usually require some researching time and such.  So I appreciate you all reading and commenting even though I've wandered a bit from my normal repertoire. 


Alright, so Gavin over at Insanity's Musings has tagged me with a few questions on writing and I figured today would be a great time to answer them.  If you haven't stopped by his blog to check out his writing, you're missing out, so go say hi.


Alright, so here goes:


1) What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?

 


The last thing I wrote was part of chapter one on my new WIP Constant Craving.  As for the first thing, I still have the first novel I wrote (which was when I was 14).  It's a cringe-worthy love story, but I'm still proud of the fact that I finished 60k words of anything at that age.

2) Write poetry? 

Not anymore, but I have in the past.  And what I did write was pretty awful.  I've always been terrible at writing and interpreting poetry.  I've gotten a bit better after reading How To Read Literature Like a Professor (which I think every high school kid should read because it's like symbolism cliff's notes--plus it's fun to read) but I definitely still end up with a "huh?" expression after reading a lot of poetry.

3) Angsty poetry? 

Oh, that's the only kind I wrote, lol. 

4) Favorite genre of writing?

Romance.  Even when I writing another type of story, romance always sneaks in.  I know, I'm not breaking any female stereotypes, but oh well.

5) Most annoying character you've ever created?

The drummer in Wanderlust can be pretty annoying--he's usually trying to involve my hero in trouble and he says dude a lot.  But I actually find him kind of endearing in his own way because he has good intentions.


6) Best plot you've ever created?

My plot to overtake the world???  Wait, you mean in a book.  Hmm, I'm most proud of Wanderlust.  I started it as a "fun" story, then ended up adding some threads that I think deepened the plot  adding shades of sadness, loss, and forgiveness.

7) Coolest plot twist you've ever created?

My YA has a number of twists I'm proud of. 

8) How often do you get writer's block?

I try not to call it writer's block because that stresses me out.  I think when I'm struggling to write, it's usually because I haven't had enough quiet time to think through my story problem.  Once I do, I usually can figure out what I need to do and move forward.

9) Write fan fiction?

I honestly had never even heard of fan fic until about a year ago.  I've never written it, but I think the concept is pretty cool.  There are books I've read that I'd definitely be interested in seeing taken further or in a new direction.  And apparently there are a good number of people looking for it.  When I go to Google Analytics for my blog and look at the keywords people search to find me, one that has come up more than once is "Jace and Clary NC-17 fan fiction", lol.  Those are the characters from the Mortal Instruments YA series I reviewed a while back.  (Tina Lynn, my fellow Jace groupie, are you leaving my blog to go google that now?)  


Of course, I also got "ian sommerhalder full frontal nudity" (Damon on The Vampire Diaries) as a search term this week too.  Those people must be so disappointed when they come here and I have no naked men pics, lol.  Okay and now that I just typed those terms, I'm going to get more people coming here for that.  Oh well!

10) Do you type or write by hand?

I outline and sketch out my characters in a notebook, but I always type the actual story.  I'm overwhelmed at the thought of writing out a novel longhand.  My fingers hurt just thinking about it.

11) Do you save everything you write?


I usually save most of it on my computer.  And I've learned the hard way to save scenes I've cut because you never know when you might need them back or need them in a different place.

12) Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?

Yes, I have an idea notebook that I sometimes pull from.


13) What's your favorite thing you've ever written?

I really like my romance.  It's the first time I've written something that even though I know what's going to happen, I still get wrapped up when I'm reading through the story.  And I love my characters.
  
14) What's everyone else's favorite story you've written?

Based on beta reader/critique group feedback and occasional swooning, they agree with my favorite, Wanderlust


15) Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?

Romance is my genre and I would say that novel I wrote in high school was DEFINITELY angsty teen drama.

16) What's your favorite setting for your characters?

The bedroom?  Kidding.  ;)  I don't really have a favorite setting.  My romance takes place in New Orleans (where I'm from) and I enjoyed writing that setting.  My YA was in the mountains of North Carolina and that was a good mysterious setting that I enjoyed.

17) How many writing projects are you working on right now?

I'm focusing on Constant Craving right now, but I have Exposure Therapy simmering on the back burner.

18) Have you ever won an award for your writing?

Nothing official, but I did have to win a contest (based on excerpts) to get into my crit group.

19) What are your five favorite words?

Based on Wordle's analysis of my manuscripts, these are my word addictions...
Eyes
Just
Back
Hands
Looked

20) What character have you created that is most like yourself?

Hmm, probably my MC in Wanderlust.  She handles a rockstar way better than I would.  I'd be a bumbling mess.  And she looks nothing like me.  However, her snarky sense of humor and view on the world is very similar to mine.

21) Where do you get your ideas for your characters?

Everywhere, people I know, clients I've worked with, songs, celebrities (in the case of my romance), and sometimes just out of the ether.

22) Do you ever write based on your dreams?

Not yet.  My dreams are usually too screwy to work with.  But I'm still hoping for a Stephenie Meyer-like dream epiphany.

23) Do you favor happy endings?

Yes, I'm a sucker for happy endings.  I read to escape, not to be depressed.  However, if a story calls for a not happy ending and is done well, I'm okay with it.  

24) Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?

Yes, although it's mostly second nature now so doesn't slow me down.  And thank God for spellchecker.

25) Does music help you write?

Music is very inspiring to me, especially in my romance since it's about a musician.  I have the whole soundtrack for the book picked out, lol.  And that's also why I put a song at the bottom of every blog post.

26) Quote something you've written. Whatever pops in your head.


I wrote this yesterday for my new WIP (it's very very rough draft, mind you, and see I told you hands were one of my favorite words):



The musician stopped in front of her, and she had to tilt her head up to see his face.  He gave her an easy smile, one that said he expected her to turn into a driveling mess—which was probably standard operating procedure for most of the women who met him.  “Derrick told me you’re going to be my partner in crime.”
Quinn attempted to match his smile and put her hand out, amazed that it didn’t shake.  “Quinn Jeffries, I’m the social worker for the upper classmen.”
His warm hand grasped hers, his skin a bit rough—no doubt from years of strumming guitar strings.  Quinn imagined what those course fingers would feel like if he brushed them across her face, her mouth.  Stop. Stop. Stop.
“Sean North, here to corrupt young minds,” he said.
Quinn smirked, thinking of her earlier meeting with Gabe.  “The young minds here are already corrupt enough, I’m afraid.”
He pushed a wisp of blond hair off his forehead, and his eyes twinkled with amusement.  “Guess I’ll just have to settle for corrupting yours then.”
A rush of heat flooded Quinn’s cheeks, and she dropped her hand from his.  Had her illicit thoughts been evident on her face?  Was he teasing her?  She cleared her throat.  “Right, uh, well, I guess we should work out a time to get together.”
His eyebrow arched.
 “I mean to talk about the project.  Not to corrupt me.”  She cringed inwardly.  Staggering flirting skills, Quinn.  Gold star.
That's all for now!


Alright, now I'm supposed to tag three people, but I'm going to be lazy and say that anyone who reads this and wants to do a blog post on it, consider yourself tagged!


Also, I have now added the widgety facebook thing in my sidebar, so if anyone wants to befriend me over there, just click on over.


So, feel free to answer any of the above questions in the comments below.  I'd love to know more about you guys as writers.  And I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!




**Today's Theme Song**
"All I Want For Christmas Is You" - Vince Vance & The Valients
(player in sidebar if you'd like a listen)