#jonesywrites

What has writing fanfiction taught you about being a writer?

 “It has taught me humility, not to compare myself to others (to find my own unique voice and stay true to it), and it has helped me better understand my strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller. I move at my own pace but in my opinion taking time to focus on the things that make me a happy reader makes me a better writer.”

Who outside the fandom knows you write fanfiction? 

“Not many people. Close friends. It's still not something people take seriously within the circles I work in. Being a copywriter, living in Hollywood trying to become a television writer, you just don't admit to writing fanfiction. At least not unless you intend to make a big joke out of it and get major side-eye for your trouble. ::shrug:: So I don't talk about it.”

How many people know you're a writer? 

“Everyone I meet. I write for work, and I network a lot with folks out here trying to do what I am trying to do -- get into a television writer's room. It's an intrinsic part of me that I will always lead with. "Hello, my name is Kendra and I am a writer."

Where do you see your writing taking you? 

“Hopefully to creating my own shows or finally finishing my first book. Time will tell.”

Do you have advice for writers just starting out?

 “Don't give up. Find your voice and stay true to it. Don't compare yourself to others, it's a waste of time. Their voice is not yours. People want to read what you have to say, specifically you. Only you can say it your way, so find your way and go for it. Ask questions, lots of questions, of other writers because we're a community and we want to see each other succeed. Tell the story you want to read, not the story everyone else thinks you should tell.”

What do you wish you knew before posting your first chapter?

 “I wish that I knew how to manage my time better. Heh.”

How many writing playlists do you have? Does your music have to change with what you write?

“ I make a playlist for every story I write that encapsulates that story's mood/world. I've been doing this for years, there's no other way for me. I must have music to write to and I must share it with my readers. Everything I publish was written to a musical score. They're all available on Spotify, too. Just look for the title of the fic or my user name, kendrawriter.”

How many projects do you have going on right now?

“ I have quite a few, it's all a jumble. Four open Richonne fics, one open WestAllen fic, a tv script and the tentative start to a young adult novel. Ehhhhhhh....I know. I know.”

Have you ever written a scene that’s made you cry? 

“Once, in my first Doctor Who fic, Nightfall. An original character in that story that I based off of my grandmother died in the story. My grandma was very ill at the time and we feared the worst (she passed away a couple of year ago). Writing her death scene was tough. To this day I'm not sure why I did that to myself, but at the time it made sense for the drama of the plot.”

Where do you get your best story ideas?

“I take inspiration from literally everything. My best ideas have come from me just really wanting to see something and obsessing over how to write it until it's in the story. But I base a lot of things off movie or TV references from all the many, many I've watched since childhood. Machine Heart, for example, blends about 100 references from all my favorite sc-fi stuff -- Star Trek, Aliens, Black Mirror, Terminator, The Matrix, Strange Days, The Fifth Element, the list goes on...”

Do you have a solution for when you’re stuck? 

“Just let it pass. It happens all the time, and over the years I've learned to just let it happen until I'm inspired again. Because once I'm inspired again, I go into THE ZONE and I'll write like crazy for days on end.”

What does WTOWW mean to you?

“ It's a community for me. It's full of really amazing, kind, funny, smart, talented women that I'm beyond grateful to know. Also, it's an opportunity to give less known writers a platform, and dive into some great writing prompts I otherwise wouldn't think of.”

Thank you Kendra for taking the time to share your story. 

“No.”

His frown turned into a smirk. He couldn’t see her face but he could hear it in her voice.

“You totally are.”

“Maybe…” she sighed above him, trying to choke her emotion back down her throat, “ah, damn. I almost made it!”

“I knew you wouldn’t last through the whole thing,” he teased, wearing his best friend hat first. But when he looked up at her, and saw her sad smile and wet eyes, he instantly knew he was feeling the same way. “Come on, no crying during my haircut, okay? If you start now, you’ll botch the rest. I’ll go to college looking really dumb and it’ll be all your fault.”

She laughed softly, rolling her eyes at him, but her lips was trembling. Carl reached up from under the towel she’d draped over his shoulders and gave her hand a heartfelt squeeze. She started crying harder. “Sorry, hon...sorry...it’s just...I’m really...ugh, damn!”

“I know, you’re gonna miss me being annoying and making fun of you all the time. But you’re a pretty easy target, you know. Dad’ll pick up the slack for me, I promise.”

They laughed, even though he was also getting a little teary himself. They both knew neither Judith or Andre could make fun of Michonne like Rick and Carl were allowed to. Being around for his dad and Michonne’s first three years of marriage before his siblings were born made their relationship dynamic a little different. No less loving; just...different.

Michonne nodded through her tears, taking several deep breaths and blowing them outward to expel her mounting emotion. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him several sloppy kisses on the cheek, where he had already grown peach fuzz at eighteen.

“I am gonna miss you, kid. So much.” Then she brushed away his shorn hairs and ran her fingers through what was left on top of his head. “I’m done. You ready?”

Carl nodded, sniffing hard to stave off her contagious sadness. “Yeah…”

She stepped back and he stood up, now head and shoulders taller than her. Carl turned and looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He smiled wide, relieved and impressed. She made him look pretty good. Neat and “adult”, but with the potential for a nonchalant, messy look if he played around with it. There were girls to consider. Michonne thought of everything. He ran his hands through it a couple times, getting it down into his eyes, combing it back from his face, feeling it out. He liked it a lot.

She looked on proudly, hands on her hips, beaming and holding back tears.

“You like it?”

“It’s awesome. Thank you, Michonne!” Carl wrapped his arms around his stepmother and gave her an affectionate squeeze. He whispered into her long locs, “I’m gonna miss you too. I promise I’ll come visit, okay?”

“Ohh, don’t worry about me,” Michonne leaned back and took hold of his face. “I’ll be fine. I’m not one of those sad sack empty nesters,” with a pat on his cheeks and a poke to the ribs, it seemed she had finally gotten hold of her emotions and was wearing her best friend hat again. “Matter of fact, I can’t wait for you to split. I’m turning your room into a gym. I already ordered a Peloton.”

“Whaaaat! That hurts.” He gaped, shaking his head at her as he helped her clean up the hair.

Once done, Carl made a decision that was long overdue. One more thing they could share before he left.

“Goodnight. Love you, mom,” he told her as he went to bed sporting his new haircut.

It was the first time, and it just felt right. He’d always appreciated how easy she made everything for him, grieving his mother and accepting a new chapter in his young life. She made tonight, and this, easy, too.

“Goodnight, Carl. Love you too. Always.”

Written by: @jonesywrites​