#arrowsandsunsets

Angela:  Hello! How are you?

Whitney: I'm doing well. How are you?

  A: Doing okay. First and foremost, congratulations on being an author of the month.

W: Thank you! I'm still so honored. I love to write but it's not something I ever expect to get recognition for!

  A: First question: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write and edit later, make sure every sentence is perfect, write and let it sit, write and publish very quickly, or some combination?

W: Okay so I have a confession. When I started writing my first fan fic I had an idea of where I wanted to the story to go but I didn't have a written outline, I just started writing and would let it sit, re-read hours later and then send to my editor. The biggest change I've made to that process since I first started writing is that I have an outline now. I think it's an important part of the writing process (at least for me) now and I wish I would have had better direction from the start so it wouldn't have taken me so long to finish my first major story.

  A: For readers who aren't familiar with your writings, what are your stories? Or to phrase it better...what have you written?

W: The main story I've written so far is a Joshifer fan fic called Slow It Down. I'm working on finishing it up soon and then starting something new with Jennifer and Josh. I've also written some fan fiction for THG. I have a few One-Shots and I spent a lot of time writing in Twitter role-play format for THG (which is what led me to join Tumblr). Oh, and a short fic for the Josh Hutcherson Secret Santa exchange that was fun.

  A: That answer takes care of another of the questions, which is...Is fanfiction your first foray into writing? If not, what else have you written? So, you've obviously written quite a bit of fanfiction, but have you written other stuff too?

W: I haven't explored writing much beyond fan fic and roleplay but I'd love to write an original story some day (and maybe get published, that's on the bucket list).

  A: Fingers crossed for you! So, you do have an editor. What kind of collaboration do you have with that person?

W: She's one of the best writers I know and she helps me a lot with some of my problem areas. She mainly just proofreads my writing rather than giving much direction to the story. I do ask her on occasion if she thinks my plot is going in a good direction.

  A: Where do you get your inspiration? Do you listen to music, watch movies/TV, have a quiet place to work, write in public?

W: Inspiration seems to usually hit me randomly since I'm generally so busy with my family and my job. Often times it's music that inspires me and I prefer quiet time alone to write, which is often hard to find.

  A: If random inspiration strikes you, does that mean you post whenever you have some written, or do you try to keep a set schedule?

W: Sadly (and I don't recommend this) I usually post when I have something written. I try to set schedules, it's my New Year’s resolution to try and write once a week, but I'm working on doing a better job with that. My next story, I'm definitely going to complete (or get most of it done) before I start publishing it.  It's definitely frustrating to have to wait for a story and that's my biggest frustration since I started Slow It Down (gasp) a year ago.

  A: How much do you weave Josh’s real life into your story? (interviews, public appearances, photos, family, etc.) And because you're a Joshifer writer, also Jennifer.

W: It's actually one of the most fun parts of writing. It's gotten harder as I've gotten deeper into my current story and fallen behind the events of recent, but I like to use actual events. I usually try to keep up with the current events like interviews and public appearances to incorporate or expand on them from my imagination.

  A: What advice would you give to other writers for writer’s block, editing, feedback, and story ideas?

W: I really think it's important to write what you enjoy writing. It just makes it so much easier and more fun. When I have writer's block, I try to change my surroundings and I try not to force it.

  I think it's a great idea to READ. As a writer, the best way to continually improve is to keep reading. Also, find an editor who isn't afraid to point out your mistakes. (In a nice and polite way)  I think it's also important to try not to let negative feedback get to you too much. People will so easily (especially anonymously) express negativity online and I think it's important to try to take it in stride.

  And when it comes to writing ideas I think you should write down your ideas and discuss them with people and then often times they just snowball for me. Sometimes all it takes is a picture or a song and then KAPOW, snowball of a plot coming at you.

  A: That’s some good advice about writers having to get used to criticism (especially constructive criticism) in order to continue to improve.

W: Yes, and I remember when I first started I used to take it so personally. It's part of growing.

  A: This last question is from Mary Rodgers (say-it-or-i-will). Was there any specific thing that made you want to write about Josh Hutcherson? Or was it a gradual process?

W: To be honest, I blame Everlark and THG for my love for Mr Hutcherson. I was in shock slightly when he was cast but once I saw him as Peeta I was done. Then as I got to know him as Josh and not Peeta I became a huge fan. My first Joshifer fic I read was Tell Me You Know and after that I fell into a deep Joshifer hole.

  A: Ah, Tell Me You Know…That one did a lot of us in. Casey's story is fantastic.

W: She's a fantastic writer.  There are so many amazing writers. I can't keep up so I love having the JHutch Directory to help me.

  A: Anything else you'd like to say?