Thirty days of insight, explanations, nostalgia and excerpts from my writing life.
I came across a thing on Twitter the other day that looked too fun to pass up: The Thirty Day Writing Challenge (#TDWC). It asked 30 questions about your writing, and you were supposed to answer 1 question for each day of the month.
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated this (I’ve been very busy the last few weeks editing for a client and dealing with some real life stuff), but here we go! My answers for Days 15 through 28!
#15 A random sentence from your favorite novel?
A hand came out of the crowd and gripped his injured arm like a vise.
From The Golden One, by Deborah Chester.
#16 All social media sites go down for 24 hours. You can still do things like searching on Google in order to research relevant things for your book, but that’s the extent of what you’re able to do on the internet during that time. How much writing do you get done during that 24 hours?
Well, if nothing else in my life changes, about the same as I would on a normal day. If for some reason I arrange to have alone time on that day where I can escape somewhere with just my laptop, then about the same as on any other day I arrange to escape with just my laptop… which means I’m no longer really all that distracted by social media blather during my writing time. I’ve gotten pretty good at that.
#17 Your go-to writing snack?
I don’t like to eat while I’m writing, it gets my keyboard messy. But I LOVE to have a cup of coffee or a tasty London Fog while I write. That’s my favorite thing to have while writing, a hot beverage. Or I suppose if it’s a hot day, a homemade raspberry Italian soda would do the trick! Or if I’m really desperate for word count, wine will do it. 😉
#18 Your go-to writing spot?
My newly constructed writing room. Or anywhere that’s sunny. Or a coffee shop. I’m flexible.
#19 Your writing buddy?
Er … human or otherwise? Lol. My human writing buddies are members of my writing group, The Wordwraiths. My non-human writing buddies are most often the cats, who plant themselves somewhere in my vicinity and snore, then give me dirty looks when I must shift and disturb their slumber.
#20 The writer you chose on Day 13 reads your story and tells you it’s no good and you should just give up writing. What is your reaction?
My reaction would be disbelief and confusion, because I don’t believe any of the people I chose in #13 would ever tell me to just give up writing, even if my writing was awful. They’d tell me to keep writing and to get better at it, not to quit. If you don’t remember, I mentioned Nick Stephenson, Joanna Penn, and George R. R. Martin on Day #13. And I’ll also say this: If you want to be a writer and you are writing and doing whatever you can to improve your craft (workshops, classes, courses, conventions, writing groups, etc) and anyone ever says this to you, cut that person out of your life. Whether you thought they were a role model or a mentor or just a writing buddy. If you get that from anyone and you’re actually trying to improve by writing and learning, get away from those kind of people. They will only hold you back.
#21 The actor(s) you would choose to play the MC(s) in a movie adaption of your WIP?
Hah, that’s funny. I did this a long time ago. For the sci-fi novel I’m currently editing (PRIMUS), I’d totally cast Vin Diesel as Vince and the model Sean O’Pry for Pavel … hopefully Sean could act as well, lol.
#22 The first sentence of the first chapter of your first published story/novel?
My first published story was a flash fiction of 300 words! Lol. But here is the first sentence:
“Is now a good time for a confession?”
From The Bloodrose Venture, page 139 of the anthology Discovery by Mischief Corner Books.
#23 A future version of you travels back in time and tells you that no matter how hard you work to market your books, you never make a single penny off your writing. Do you still continue to write, knowing that there’s no hope of selling your books?
WTF is up with these depressing and soul-crushing questions!? But okay, sure, let’s pretend this happens. What would I do? I’d immediately go back to writing fanfiction, truthfully. 😉 Fanfiction is so freaking much fun! I’d write fanfic to my heart’s desire! But probably I’d also ignore my future self and just keep trying to sell my original books anyway, because I’m just like that.
#24 The one thing that’s preventing you from finishing your WIP?
Editing for clients. :/ But hey, I need the money!
#25 A character from your WIP who intrigues you?
Hrmm. Maybe Pavel. He undergoes the most dramatic change out of everyone. That change is intriguing, at least to me. Hopefully to everyone else, too!
#26 You face off against your protagonist in everything-goes mortal combat. How long does the battle last and who wins?
Uh, maybe one minute, if I’m lucky, and Vince wins. Duh. The guy punches people in the face as his hobby. I’d be totally outmatched. (Yeah I know what you’re thinking … “but you’re a lady, surely he wouldn’t punch a lady in the face!?” Well, after he found out I’m the author of his story, he sure would!)
#27 You are offered USD $1 million to never write a single word ever again. Do you take the deal?
FUCK NO! I’d never be able to hold up my end of that deal. All I’d be doing if I had that kind of money would be writing all day every day, soooo ….
#28 Your favorite fairy tale or fable?
The ones I don’t already know about. For my fantasy novel, I researched a lot of fables from other countries and out of all the ones I found, I think Baba Yaga is my favorite. She has a house that walks, for Pete’s sake! And I love that she can be seen as either frightening or helpful. I put her in the fantasy novel, and she’s definitely one of my favorite characters thus far.
That is all for today! If you are a writer or reader, feel free to comment with your own answers!
And stay tuned for more throughout this month!
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