Writer's MeMe

A writer’s meme I stole from Kristy Colley, who stole it from Jen Stayrook who stole it from someone else. I'd feel bad about this, but I've learned my alignment is True Neutral so this is really, morally, okay for me.

What’s the last thing you wrote?
The last thing I finished was the second draft of UDS. The last thing I wrote was... um, unattached random flash fiction about a stunt pilot and breaking into a POW base.

Was it any good?
Well, the first two sentences of the flash fiction aren't bad. After that it's anyones guess. UDS needs a major overhaul.

What’s the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
Somewhere in my stacks of school papers is a story about twin dwarves riding wolves to rescue their baby sister and her jewled rattle. I spent a page describing the rattle. And the cover has swords drawn on it.

Write poetry?

Only when forced. I have a few characters who write poetry so I have to hold a pen to paper and *think* about poetry occasionally.

Angsty poetry?

Not if I can help it.

Favorite genre of writing?
Science fictions/fantasy. But, really, I'll write anything where I can make things go BOOM!

Most fun character you ever wrote?

That's unfair! I love all my characters for their own reasons.

Although, Kaminari is fun to write. She has no rules. She's the antag and she can do every wicked deed that comes to her twisted mind. It's fun.

Most annoying character you ever wrote?
The one that annoyed me the most? Er, probably one of the ones I killed within three scenes. Some characters just need to die!

How often do you get writer’s block?
Not writer's block as much as fear of the next scene. Deep emotional scenes can be scary to write. I have to plunge my character into the abyss and must, as the author, go along for the ride. There are days I just don't have the courage to jump.

How do you fix it?
I write something else while I psych myself up for the big plunge.

Write fan fiction?
Nope. I used to retell the LOTR when I was 4 so Boromir didn't die though. Does that count?

Do you type or write by hand?
Type, for the most part. Sometimes I write by hand to outline or edit.

Do you save everything you write?
I try to. I've lost a few things to Failure to Backup.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
Yes. I pick apart old ideas for scrap parts and rebuild stories.

What’s your favorite thing that you’ve written?
That's like asking about a favorite child. Very, very unfair.

Right now I really love anything in the ViS universe. I adore Ice, today. But he and I have a very on-again-off-again relationship so the affair could be over by tomorrow.

What’s everyone else’s favorite thing that you’ve written?
ViS is popular, so are Skippy and Nearly Normal Nan.

What’s your favorite setting for your characters?
Outer space. And thunderstorms. The two go together, really.

What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Erotica and horror. I can't write a chaste kiss with a straight face. I'm not a romantic. And I feel no need to invade someone's privacy and "watch" them go at it. It really doesn't thrill me. And romance books usually lack significant explosions.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?
I've stopped counting. It's safer that way.

Do you want to write for a living?
Unless a better offer shows up. Like colonizing another planet, owning my own spaceship, or Evil Overlord of Planet Earth.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?
Yes. For pay no less. :o) My dirty secret is that I was once a newspaper editor.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Yes. Not for any fictional writing, but nevertheless: Yes.

Ever written something in script or play format?
Yes. It's an interesting place to visit but I don't want to stay there.

What are your five favorite words?

1. Love
2. Laugh
3. Imagine
4. Stars
5. New

What character that you’ve written most resembles yourself?
Probably the adult FMC from Nearly Normal Nan. She has three kids and a "normal" life, minus all the magic and zombies.

Where do you get ideas for your other characters?

I don't even understand this question. It's like someone asking where I get story ideas. How do you not have characters running loose in your mind? How can you not have new ideas jumping at you in the back alleys?

My characters are as real to me as my neighbors, my children's school teachers, or the people running the country. I know more about my characters than I do about the person living across the street who never closes her curtains and who blares her music at 4am on Wednesdays. I can't quite imagine life without them.

Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Yes. Dungeon Crawl: The Fall was started by a dream that I scribble down one morning and built around.

Some people talk about nightmares, I'm not sure what those are. Dark dreams are just openings for a new novel.

Do you favor happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?
Endings can only be bittersweet. It's good that everything has reached a conclusion, but endings are always a little sad.

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Not on rough drafts. I have to turn off the spell check for the first draft so I can just WRITE and not be distracted by editing.

Does music help you write?
Only on rough drafts. When I just need a back beat to keep reality quiet I use music. When I'm editing and need to read aloud it distracts me.

Quote something you’ve written. The first thing to pop into your mind.
“Lipstick, seven dollars. Freedom fighter graffiti on enemy walls, priceless,” John quipped. He picked up the lipstick tube. “Who’s writing?”