A Writer’s Life Blog Tag

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My good friend Heather@Sometimes I’m A Story tagged me for the ‘A Writer’s Life’ Blog Tag. Many thanks to you Heather. And, since I am indeed a writer and this is indeed a writing blog and occasionally I like to share things about myself, I decided it might be fun to do the tag and let you all know more about me personally as a writer. So, without further ado, let’s get right into the questions and answers.

What Kind of Writer Are You?
An introverted crazy one! I’m the sort of person who is addicted to challenges like NaNoWriMo (also making them infinitely harder for myself, because that’s how I roll). And I would much rather stay home and wrestle with fictional characters than socialise. Characters are people too! I’m also a writer who likes writing sci-fi, fantasy, and thrillers (though don’t ask to read the thrillers. I like writing them. It doesn’t mean to say I’m any good at them). All round, your average weird writer.

When Did You Start Writing? What Made You Want To Give It A Go?
It’s a bit cliché, but I can’t remember how long I’ve been writing and making up stories, it’s been that long. I also frequently maxed out my library card, and tried to turn our bookshelves at home into a family lending library with plastic covers library cards and everything. But I started writing novels when I was 13/14, when I started inventing a character whose bio turned into a full blown novel. Which was terrible, and shall never see the light of day, but taught me how much I adored writing.

What Inspires Your Stories?
Lots of things. Random conversations. Other books. Going to the movies. Random facts. My own brain being weird late at night. Long walks with the dog. Staring at a blank wall for five hours. My stories gather inspiration from some odd places.

What Themes Do You Like To Explore In Your Stories?
I like exploring themes about families and sibling relationships. Even when there aren’t actually any families in the book. Also I like exploring the idea that the hero doesn’t have to be a specially chosen little snowflake, but that anyone can be the hero if they have the courage.

Are You A Panster, A Plotter, Or a Bit Of Both?
In my heart I am a full blown pantser extreme. As my family can attest, I frequently start writing with no idea what’s going on, and end up with something that resembles a book. This could also be why my editing process takes. So. Long. I am currently attempting to be a more organised writer and plan some things before I start writing, but jury’s still out on how well that is going.

Where Are You In Your Journey? Querying, Agented, Published?
Editing. Forever…

Have You Ever Entered Any Writing Contests? Finaled? Won?
No, I’ve never tried any contests. Mostly because I’m never happy enough with my writing to even think about entering anything. Also I can’t write short stories to save myself, so between awful short stories and never finished novels, I don’t have anything to submit.

Who Are Your Writer Heroes?
For published writers, I am in awe of writers such as Marissa Meyer, Maggie Stiefvater, Derek Landy, and Rick Riordan. I am also huge fans of the amazing bloggers and writers Cait@Paper Fury and Heather@Sometimes I’mA Story, who are just all roundly awesome.

Have You Ever Been To A Writers’ Conference? Share Your Best/Worse Conference Experience
Alas, no conference experiences over here. Instead I stalk other people’s experiences, hide out in my writer’s cave, and plan to take over the bestsellers list. One day though, I’ll be a real writer and attend one…

Top 3 Tips You’d Give To Newbie Writers
Ooh, tips. I can do these.

1)Your first book is going to be bad. So are all your first drafts, forever and always. Everyone’s are. Don’t expect things to come out right the first time. Most of writing is rewriting, over and over and over, anyway. It’s the same for everyone. You’re not alone.

2) Don’t compare your writing to anyone else’s, especially to the books of published authors. Everyone’s at a different point in their journey. Everyone writes differently. Comparison does nothing but get you down. Concentrate on making your writing the best you can rather than working out all the ways other people’s is better. It’s a lot more productive.

3) Write what you love. There’s no pointing in writing if you don’t love what you’re doing. Writing a book is a long enough, hard enough process without forcing yourself to work on something you don’t enjoy. If you love what you’re doing, no amount of time you spend on it will be time wasted.

Bonus) (because I’m sneaky like that) Surround yourself with people who will cheer you on, celebrate your achievements, commiserate your misery, and who believe in what you do. These people are the most valuable addition to your writing process. Trust me.

And there you have it, a bit more than you ever wanted to know about me as a writer. Now it's your turn! Share your answer to one of these questions in the comments!

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11 comments

  1. Editing, forever <-- this should just be my entire bio. Cait and Heather both have crazy senses of humour and they always talk about food, and they are definitely fabulous. And gosh, SO MUCH YES to tip no. 1. Actually, once I finish a project, feel good about it and send it off to query hell or Pitch Wars or whatnot, then I start something ELSE and realise just how terrible it was. *sighs* But we love it nonetheless!

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    1. I swear half the time I go to Heather and Cait's blogs just for the food. Plus they are genuinely awesome people. I think we are the hardest judges of our own writing because it's so personal to us. We created everything from ourselves. I know I always think my writing is worse the moment I think about sharing it with someone else. *sigh* The insecurities of writers...

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  2. AHHH I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. And squeee, I'm just about dying of flailing at the mention. *gives you cake* And omg, writing rather than socialising? MEEEEE TOOO. Although my beginner-writer-story is very embarrassing in that I only decided to write because Mime was doing it. -_- So goodness knows, yes I'd probably jump off a cliff if she did too. SHHHH. Let's pretend I am a free thinker.

    Also your top three tips are GOLDEN. SO TRUE. YOU ARE SO WISE. We also shouldn't compare ourselves to published authors because they've got like a dozen sets of eyes going over their manuscript. Professional eyes that have done it quite a few times. XD

    Can I steal this tag?!?! *puppy dog eyes*

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    1. All the writing! None of the socialising! Introverted writers unite. Online. Or just empathetically. Some way that doesn't involve being social. Hehe, anything that gets you into writing. I have the terrible distinction of dragging all my sisters into writing. We're like sheep. They follow the dumbest one, which would be me.

      I wouldn't say wise. Just slightly less stupid nowadays. (I made loads of mistakes which prompts these three tips of wisdom). And of course you can steal this. Please do! I'd love to see your answers to all these questions. Please? *puppy eyes*

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  3. Cool to know more about you as a writer! I used to be more panster, but now I'm a hybrid between plotter and panster. XD Introverts unite!

    storitorigrace.blogspot.com

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    1. Finding that balance between pantsing and plotting is very rewarding when it comes together, isn't it? I'm trying to get to that point, but every book seems to be different when it comes to the amount of planning I need. Do you ever find that?

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  4. I'm a panster too!!! Also I love the theme about how anyone ordinary can become be heroic and do special things. The "special snowflake" syndrome kinda drives me crazy when its not in the proper setting. It's just not relate-able! :)

    ~Jamie

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    1. You're totally right about the 'special snowflake' syndrome. I've always wondered why a prophesy would waste it's time picking a certain person. We all have the capability of doing great things, so I always feel that my characters should reflect that. Of course, well done I do enjoy a good Chosen One story, but I certainly don't like writing them. They feel so...fake.

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  5. Ack, I am the crazy introverted writer type as well, and I make NaNoWriMo a dozen times more of a challenge (numbers not accurate). And I am very much a panster as well, although I have been doing more with very loose outlines lately in hopes of organizing my brain a bit more.

    Thanks for sharing about your writing self!

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    1. Well, if you're going to go far enough to take on the absurdity that is NaNo, why not make it even harder? If one dose of panic and stress is fun, more is better, right? Loose outlines are always a good way to get the story organised a little without making the pantser side freeze in terror. I'm doing better at planning now myself, but I still very much prefer loose outlines rather than a massive outline. Keeps some of the fun of discovery.

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  6. Thanks for doing the tag! :D Your answers are awesome, especially the sci-fi/fantasy/thriller bit. I could probably do with some of your stories sometime. Plus, families and sibling relationships sound super interesting, probably because I have a family I care about, too... Also, I can relate to the editing process taking so. long. Because mine does too. :( It is hard but worth it but hard. I like your book writers AND THANK YOU THAT IS VERY SWEET OF YOU TO SAY OF ME. Also, your points about an encouraging community and a non-comparison policy are spot on. Such good advice you have. Thanks again for participating in the tag, Imogen!

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