#writer process

It is better to build a believable world where you understand the concept of what you’re writing than blindly writing bullshit and having someone who knows about the topic put the story down and say “That ain’t right.”

You want to avoid making the reader put down the book throughout the story with things like this. (This is just an example) Because once the reader put the book down, it will be hard for them to get engaged back in the story.

How many times have we seen people online talk about things that they don’t know anything about? A lot, yeah? Even Hollywood does this by switching how things work. Most commonly when someone’s gun clicks empty. Then again. And again. Thats not how guns work. This is the kind of thing you want to avoid.

Wake up at 5 AM routines for high productivity? Can't relate, I'm genetically engineered to write 2k words in two hours at 3 AM and then spend the following day in a daze only cured by multiple mugs of heavily steeped black tea.

This is an excerpt from a story I’m currently writing (which is already posted in my Wattpad profile). It’s titled OIL & WATER. Managed to get some writing done and I’m really proud of it. Thought I’d share it because I got to kick my Writer’s Block ass for a moment.

Special thank you to @victonite for helping me out of the block’s rut.

I was tagged a while ago by @amervalk -- thanks so much! 

Short stories, novels, or poems?

All of them! If I like something I like it, doesn’t matter what format it takes. 

What genre do you prefer reading?

Hmmmm. I read a lot of non-fiction, and only occasionally read fiction. I’m going to go for Jane Austen (she’s not just Regency romance -- she’s a genre in herself as far as I’m concerned), humour, mysteries, and travel literature. 

Despite being a Dragon Age 2 fanfic writer, I actually don’t like sci-fi or fantasy, weirdly enough. (I know, I don’t get it either, LMAO.) Dragon Age 2 is my one exception to that rule. 

What genre do you prefer writing?

Outside of Dragon Age fanfic (which is fantasy, I guess), I... don’t write fantasy, haha. I suppose I write mostly erotica and erotic romance, and non-fiction for work. 

I’d love to write some travel literature, actually, as travel (particularly foreign travel and discovering other cultures and languages and meeting different people, etc) is one of my big passions in life.

Are you a planner or a write-as-I-go kind of person?

I’m very much a write-as-I-go person, but for my longer fics I do need some sort of plan, or at least an outline, if only so I know how to string my disparate write-as-I-go exercises together. 

What music do you listen to while writing?

I don’t. I find it distracting and I’ll just end up singing along and not writing. 

Fave books/movies?

Most of my favourite books are British, haha, so I don’t expect Tumblr will have heard of many of them. So I’ll just name a few, but not all of them. 

Books: “Cold Comfort Farm” by Stella Gibbons, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “Persuasion” by Jane Austen, “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie 

Movies: Rush Hour, Love Actually, and a Mandarin Chinese movie called Hero. 

Any current WIPs?

There are lots, but here are the main DA2 longfics:  

A Chance Engagement (Regency AU Carver/Merrill) 

Employer Relations (Modern AU / Gym AU M!Hawke/Anders) 

How To Push Up A Daisy (Modern AU / Gym AU Carver/Merrill) 

The Templar And The Blood Mage (Canon-verse Templar!Carver/Merrill) 

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you, what would your standard outfit be?

Women’s gym clothing, probably, sweaty and no make-up and crying over a heavy barbell :-D  but I’m in the gym a lot, so this should surprise no-one. 

Create a character description for yourself:

Tiny and smiley. Think of an Asian version of Princess Anna from Frozen with the same personality and mannerisms, and you’ve pretty much got it. 

Do you like incorporating people you actually know into your writing?

Not in fanfic, but I have in original fic. Usually I’ve sent up and ridiculed people I don’t like XD (Don’t worry, they deserved it!)

Are you kill-happy with characters?

Not really, but if the plot or story demanded it, then I would have to. I’d probably be very sad about it, though.

Coffee or tea while writing?

Tea. Always tea. (Sorry @amervalk, I had to copy your answer!) 

Slow or fast writer?

Slow, unfortunately, when it comes to fic. Fast, thankfully, when it comes to  work.

Where/who/what do you find inspiration from?

I’m lucky that I can find inspiration pretty much everywhere, even from things that other people might not find inspiring. Everyone and everything is inspiring to me, and I’m lucky that I’ve got a very vivid and creative imagination for it. 

If you were put into a fantasy world, what would you be?

Hopefully not there at all. 

Most fave book cliche? Least fave book cliche?

Not really sure, to be honest? Any cliche can be done well or badly, I can’t think of anything specific off the top of my head (maybe I’ll come back later...) 

Fave scenes to write?

Dialogue, always dialogue. Maybe that comes from my work, where I interview people a lot and have to listen very carefully to what they’re telling me -- and watch their body language and listen to their tone of voice to discern what else they’re NOT telling me. 

(This is probably why I don’t get on so well with chatting online -- I feel cut off from two of my main sources of information about a person, and it makes me feel like I’m feeling my way blind through the conversation or social interaction, and I don’t like it.)

Most productive time of day for writing?

Night time, but unfortunately I can’t do that any longer because it makes my insomnia worse. 

Reason for writing:

I feel compelled to do so. I feel antsy and restless if I don’t. 

Pick some bits and pieces of yourself and give them to your characters. Nothing too big, one or two should be enough to flesh out characters.

For better maximum effect, pepper with other stuff from either characters you’ve seen in media or people you know IRL. Mix and match in a way that makes sense to the character/story and you got yourself an interesting character.

24. how do you recharge when you’re not feeling creative?

oooh this is big one for me lately, because life has me burnt OUT. my usual go-tos are being patient with myself, practicing some simple, lowkey self care( like tea, face masks, a nice walk outside), and eventually slowly progressing to some creative exercises before going full-blown writer mode. it's been working so far :)

25. besides writing, what are your other hobbies?

I love to paint with acrylics! But it's been quite a few months now.... I'm hoping with the cooler weather I'll be more inclined to make time for my hobbies in general, but especially painting:)

29. how easy is it for you to come up with titles?

HORRIBLE. NOT EASY. If I could pay someone to title and summarize my fics I would lmfaoooo. please someone else help me--- it's one of my greatest weaknesses because I have no patience for it !!!