Writing Meme
Aug. 12th, 2016 07:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
la_samtyrSnagged from my flist this morning:
Give me three numbers...
1) is there a story you're holding off on writing for some reason?
2) what work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?
3) what order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?
4) favorite character you've written
5) character you were most surprised to end up writing
6) something you would go back and change in your writing that it's too late/complicated to change now
7) when asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?
8) favorite genre to write
9) what, if anything, do you do for inspiration?
10) write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?
11) what aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing?
12) your weaknesses as an author
13) your strengths as an author
14) do you make playlists for your current wips?
15) why did you start writing?
16) are there any characters who haunt you?
17) if you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?
18) were there any works you read that affected you so much that it influenced your writing style? what were they?</>
19) when it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, etc.?
20) do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?
21) what do you think when you read over your older work?
22) are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?
23) any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?
24) have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?
25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of
Give me three numbers...
1) is there a story you're holding off on writing for some reason?
2) what work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?
7) when asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?
9) what, if anything, do you do for inspiration?
11) what aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing?
12) your weaknesses as an author
13) your strengths as an author
14) do you make playlists for your current wips?
16) are there any characters who haunt you?
17) if you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?
19) when it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, etc.?
23) any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?
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no subject
Date: 2016-08-12 01:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-12 02:14 pm (UTC)Oh, lots of things probably. I can always think of things that need fixing. But I like to think I have grown as a writer, so I usually let my older fics stand 'as is' (unless there is an odd glitch that needs correcting; in Tolkien, that usually means accents that are missing.)
8) favorite genre to write
I don't know that I have a favorite genre as such. Either a character 'talks' to me or they don't. Oddly enough, I think some of my better fics have been kid fics or what I call 'silliness' (aka crack).
10) write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?
I have cats and a very barky little dog (seriously, he needs to keep his screech level below 11, that would be wonderful) so I do not know what it means to write in silence, lol! Also, I'm never really alone but I never write around humans unless I know they are fan *and* fic-friendly/safe. (But I usually don't listen to music or tv when writing though; not really sure why.)
no subject
Date: 2016-08-12 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-12 05:07 pm (UTC)I've always written things; I can't imagine not writing. But I only started writing fic in '95 or so, during Xfiles.
16) are there any characters who haunt you?
In my own writing? I suppose so but mostly I only write characters I can "hear"; if I can't hear them, I don't write them. But they are always around. Getting them to talk, however...
17) if you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?
Leave home and stay gone as long as possible. Travel the world as much as possible too. You won't regret it. (Seriously, most of my writing hang-ups stem from serious 'mommy issues' which I am not going to go into here. But I'm pretty sure I've mentioned them other places.)
no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 08:32 am (UTC)Yes, same here!
mostly I only write characters I can "hear"; if I can't hear them, I don't write them.
I absolutely know what you mean by this! I think only writers would understand :)
most of my writing hang-ups stem from serious 'mommy issues' which I am not going to go into here. But I'm pretty sure I've mentioned them other places.
I am so sorry about this, because I know such things can screw us up and haunt us all our lives, and act like massive stumbling blocks all our lives (for me it was my dad)
no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 01:27 am (UTC)I usually start somewhere in the middle and write back and forth until it's done. Part of this is because I need to hear a character (any character) before I can start and then go from there.
5) character you were most surprised to end up writing?
I think I've been surprised to write any of them, depending on the story. It depends on how easily I can hear them, I guess, and how easily I can feel some sort of connection.
20) do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?
It all depends on how many rl distractions there are and how much trouble my back is giving me. Usually during the day it's just little bits and looking stuff up; later at night I tend to have my longer sessions.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 03:27 am (UTC)I don't have a particular favorite at the moment. But since I seem to be focusing on Tolkien (and MCU to a much lesser extent), then I would have to say Elves (and Loki. ;)
21) what do you think when you read over your older work?
Mostly, I feel nostalgic.
25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of
This was so hard! But I finally decided on this:
“You forget your place, cousin. And it is ‘Your Grace’ now.” Turgon said to him. “At least the boy will have a chance to grow up in safety with Círdan.”
“Very well, do as you please.” Maedhros ground his teeth briefly. “I only hope you know what you are doing, Your Grace.” He bowed deeply to Turgon, his bright red hair nearly sweeping the ground before backing slowly out of the tent.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 05:36 am (UTC)Oh snap, so much Finwean tension. I could certainly see that happening.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-13 10:40 pm (UTC)I think we are all influenced by other writers to some extent. I know I have absorbed a lot from them just through reading (and yes, re-reading, often *many* re-reads:), but I hope my work doesn't come across as being a copycat.
22) are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?
Definitely! But it's hard to say what they are because if a fic calls for a certain subject to be written a certain way, I'll do it. But I really try and avoid those scenarios as much as possible.
24) have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?
Oh yeah, I try and do as much research as possible. In fact, one of my worst flaws is getting sidetracked by research. But I hope that the research I do makes my work stronger in the long run.