Writer Q&A #2

You can find my Writer Q&A #1 here. 

26 :   What would you like to see more of in your genre?

More LGBTQ+ protagonists

27 :   Where do you get inspiration from?

All kinds of places, really. Life, books, movies, dreams,…

28 :   On a scale of 1-10, how much do you stress about choosing character names?

Maybe 3? I usually know what kind of “vibe” I’m looking for and then I’ll scroll through lists of baby names until I find one that sounds good. 

29 :   Do you tend to underwrite or overwrite in a first draft?

I’ve done both. The first draft of my first novel was way too long, with a lot of unnecessary scenes I had to cut later. In the sequel, I totally underwrote. It’ll need a lot of revision.

30 :   Does writing calm you down or stress you out?

It can do both. Nothing’s more calming than finally solving a plot problem and have the words flow onto the page. But nothing’s more stressful than staring at your screen, unable to produce a single sentence. 

31 :   What trope do you actually like?

Love At First Sight. Two characters being inexplicably drawn towards one another even though they just met, that’s definitely my jam. 

32 :   Do you give your side-characters extensive backstories?

I try. 

33 :   Do you flesh-out characters before you write, or let their personalities develop over time?

Some characters are fleshed-out in advance, the others develop throughout the story. But I’ve always got a basic understanding of who everybody is. 

34 :   Describe your old writing in one word.

Experimental. 

35 :   Is it more fun to write villains or heroes?

Villains. I feel like they often have a more interesting backstory. 

36 :   Do you write with a black and white sense of morality?

…not sure…? 

37 :   What’s one piece of advice you would give to new writers?

When people say that the best way to become a writer is write, they are actually right. Perseverance and determination are the key to becoming a writer.  

38 :   What’s one piece of writing advice you try–but fail–to follow?

“Write each day” – which is a contradiction to my answer on question 37. Right now I’m trying a new approach to writing each day. I’ll clear time for writing each day, but instead of forcing myself to produce something every time, I’ll try to accept when I can’t write. Perhaps there’s a book on writing I can read instead or research some new character names. 

39 :   How important is positive reinforcement to you as a writer?

I’ve met so many writers – myself included – who often say “I can’t do this, I’m not good at writing” and that’s actually quite sad. We’re writing and we can do this! 

40 :   What would you ask your favorite author if given one question?

Was there someone special that inspired you to write stories? 

41 :   Do you find it distracting to read while you’re writing a first draft?

No, I can’t stay away from other books for too long. However, I’ve been avoiding both portal fantasies and stories about faeries since I’ve started my novel. 

42 :   Do critiques motivate or discourage you?

Depends on the critique and my mood. If the critique is aimed toward something I was already feeling bad about, I often get discouraged. But after some consideration I usually realize that the critique can help me to solve that particular problem. 

43 :   Do you tend to write protagonists like yourself or unlike yourself?

I think I’ve got a bit of myself in each of my characters.

44 :   How do you decide what story idea to work on?

If it’s still interesting after hundreds of hours of plotting, it’s the one. 

45 :   Do you find it harder or easier to write when you’re stressed out?

I’m stressed out a lot, so that’s how I roll. 

46 :   What Hogwarts house would your protagonist(s) be in?

Kayla would probably be in Ravenclaw, Fay perhaps in Slytherin. 

47 :   Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?

Still writing, still making stories. Hopefully I’ve gained a few readers along the way who enjoy my stories as much as I do. 

48 :   Would you ever co-write?

Yes, but it would depend on the person. I think the best collaborators help each other with their individual weaknesses. 

49 :   Are you a fast and rushed writer or a slow and deliberate writer?

Depends on what I’m writing. Sometimes I can rush through a scene, and sometimes the scene feels so important and I get intimated. That’s when I slow down. 

50 :   Would you rather be remembered for your fantastic world-building or your lifelike characters?

Tough choice. But I’d have to go with world-building. One of the best parts about fantasy is the opportunity to escape our own world and go someplace else.