1. How much of the world around you is reflected in your work and in what way? (Thoughts, moments, impressions, moods, landscapes, objects, people, scenes…)
I sort of answered this in the last ask but not really. I love to take the world around me and use it as inspiration! A lot of times, if I have a thought about whats happening around me and I want to comment on it in a non-obtrusive way, I incorporate it into my writing! If I need help overcoming an emotion or learning a lesson, I throw it in there as well! I also love to draw aesthetic inspiration from my surroundings!
Hmm I mean I really like V.E. Schwab, Marie Lu, and Leigh Bardugo and their storytelling, characters, plot, world building, writing, etc, etc. I don’t know if I’d say they are my inspirations, necessarily, but I do really admire their talent and work!
12. One thing you are pretty proud of - your style, a work, a scene, a character?
I’m pretty proud of my characters! I think I do a pretty good job of making them complex and real, believable people. I love all of them so dearly and I know most of them better than I know some of my friends. And I learn new things about them every day!
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This is being answered on mobile so I’m sorry if the formatting is weird! 1. How much of the world around you is reflected in your work and in what way? (Thoughts, moments, impressions, moods, landscapes, objects, people, scenes…)My world is heavily reflected through my writing, from snippets of dialogue to how light shines on something to deep, heavy emotions.
2. What is one thing you absolutely can’t do without in your writing?It’s something I do unintentionally, but I tend to write the way I envision watching something happen, so I tend to focus on physical actions: eyes widening, smiles, eye rolling, etc. That or em dashes.
7. When you choose a new book, what do you look for?I haven’t picked up a new book in so long, but I pay attention to friend/family recommendations. Otherwise, if I am taking the time to browse through books, I will pick what looks interesting to me at the time. I have books ranging from classics to YA fantasy to new age and much of the in between.
15. What’s the most difficult thing for you to write?I’d have to say action/fight scenes. My brain gets too far ahead for the writing, but I also know very little about combat.
Tagged by the wonderful @taz-writes and the amazing @coda-wolf. Thank you so much! 25 questions - this should be fun!
Answers mostly under the cut to save your dash from endless scrolling.
1. Is there a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason?
Yeah, two actually. I have vague plans for a steampunk story that takes place after a fantasy gray goo scenario, and a fantasy story about people smaller than ants. But I know that if I start too many projects at once, I’ll never finish any of them, so I’m holding off on these two for now.
2. What work of yours, if any, are you embarrassed about existing?
Oh gosh. I’m embarrassed about a lot of my old stories. One in particular. It was basically a Harry Potter ripoff. I’d be mortified if anyone found it.
3. What order do you write in? Front of book to back? Chronological? Favorite scenes first? Something else?
I write front of the book to back about 99% of the time. Unless I have a scene I just can’t stop thinking about, in which case I’ll write out at least some of it. That gets me excited about the events leading up to it.
4. Favorite character you’ve written?
That’s a very difficult question! Again: my answer changes every time. Today, my favorite character is Isidor again, for his quiet strength and his massive temper.
5. Character you were most surprised to end up writing?
There are several. Probably the biggest surprise was Lothar Carver of Armored Soul. I originally intended him to appear for a scene and then vanish, but his big personality captured my attention in a way I definitely wasn’t expecting. He became a major character in his own right.
6. Something you would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated to change now.
I’m of the opinion that it’s never too late to go back and change something in my writing. That’s what editing is for, after all! It just hurts to get rid of concepts I particularly like.
7. When asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?
I used to be really shy about admitting it. Now I’m a lot more confident about my writing, so I’m more confident in saying that I do it.
8. Favorite genre to write.
Fantasy. And science fiction. Science fantasy? Goodness, I blend genres so much...
9. What, if anything, do you do for inspiration?
I’ll go for a long walk, read a favorite book, listen to some music and daydream, or play video games. If all else fails, I’m probably hungry. I tend to forget to eat when I’m working.
10. Write in silence or with background music? Alone or with others?
Always with background music! And I really don’t have much experience writing with others. I don’t mind writing in public areas like libraries, though.
11. What aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing?
I’d like to think I’ve improved a lot in showing instead of telling. And description! I used to be terrible at describing settings and emotions. Getting more into poetry really helped that.
12. Your weaknesses as an author?
...a lot. Sometimes I think more weaknesses than strengths. My wording can be awkward, I don’t always do a great job with planning, my characters don’t always feel real or they all sound the same, my descriptions get too long...yeah.
13. Your strengths as an author?
I think I’m good at creating clear images. And I can pull a good plot twist or two.
14. Do you make playlists for your work?
Yes, all the time! I’m working on getting them re-organized right now.
15. Why did you start writing?
Because I have so many stories in my head, and I want to tell them, even if the audience is just myself.
16. Are there any characters who haunt you?
Backstory time! I once wrote a story featuring nine characters who each resembled the nine moral alignments. Many of the characters from that story haunt me to this day.
17. If you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?
Don’t set out trying to please someone with your work. Write the sorts of things you’d want to read.
18. Were there any works you read that affected you so much that it influenced your writing style? What were they?
I might have mentioned this a few dozen times over, but Blood Song by Anthony Ryan is a huge influence on me. It really helped my writing style mature.
19. When it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, etc.?
I have a set of composition notebooks where I map out everything. Characters, plot twists, scene setups, plot progression - everything’s in there. Having it written down with ink on paper makes it feel more permanent.
20. Do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?
Depends on how much time I have! I personally prefer long sit-downs, but my current schedule typically doesn’t allow for that. Any day when I can write for more than an hour is a blessing right now.
21. What do you think when you read over your older work?
“...wait. This isn’t actually so bad. And I wrote this...six years ago? Have I actually improved at all?”
22. Are there subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?
Anything sexual. I’m ace, and sexual situations make me seriously uncomfortable. Also, any scene where a character is trapped, confined, or otherwise imprisoned against their will gives me a sour feeling in my stomach.
23. Any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?
Haha! Lots of them! Let’s see...thanks to going camping with my family and lots of hiking in my spare time, I know a lot about wilderness survival. My time as a theater club stage hand in high school also taught me a lot about character interactions and scene structure. Being in university in general is an Experience that has inspired/helped many aspects of my writing, too.
24. Have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about in order to better a scene or a story?
Yup. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but I learned a TON about traditional longsword combat, weapon/armor forging, and battle formations for Armored Soul.
25. Copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph you’re particularly proud of.
Gladly! Here’s a bit from Armored Soul I’m quite proud of.
The Zerissen clanking down the road couldn’t be anyone but Isidor. The zweihander resting on his right pauldron crackled with the brilliant gold flame only he could summon. Even though it was all edged in red, spitting sparks that ate the air, it couldn’t be anyone else’s. And no one was as big as him; he looked even larger with magic pulsing through his plates, making them look like they were being forged all over again.
But at the same time, it could not be him.
Because Isidor’s left leg wasn’t a twisted lump of metal, dragging behind him and leaving a screeching trail on the ground. Isidor’s right gauntlet wasn’t melted and mangled into a grasping claw, steel fingers still twitching on his zweihander’s hilt. Isidor didn’t have a jagged hole ripped through his chest- and backplates, big enough for Dietlinde to stick her head inside. Isidor didn’t walk like that – didn’t limp like a wounded dog, swaying lightly back and forth with the nonexistent weight of his metal body. Isidor’s armor wasn’t covered in dark stains that looked like a gut-churning combination of ash and blood. It wasn’t nicked and scratched and dented until it was more wear than plate. From his helm did not flow thin streams of magma-hued magic, and from his visor’s vents did not billow clouds of heated air punctuated with thick black smoke.
Yet it was this twisted, gore-spattered Zerissen who met Dietlinde’s gaze. Her insides flopped until they twisted into knots. She wanted to speak, but could only stare. Could only think of the first moment she’d seen him, so young, so far away.
Tagging @toboldlywrite, @aschenink, and @cog-writes if you’re up for a long set of questions!
