Monday, September 3, 2012

Meet and Greet


Welcome to the Meet and Greet for GUTGAA. If you don't know what's going on, you should head on over and check it out! Today, Deana Barnhart asked a few questions, and here I am to answer them!

Where do you write? 
Everywhere. On my phone, on napkins, on my laptop...when the idea strikes me, I hunt for a pen, and whatever can hold ink. From there, I write. Sometimes it's still legible by the time I'm able to type it up! 
If I'm in a project and trying to keep my word count going, I usually write in my bedroom, with my iPod on shuffle. But my bedroom changes about every three months because I move so much.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?
Well currently, I'm in the library. So to my left I see this:

But usually, it's a dirty tea cup, maybe some water. Some pens. Maybe crayons or makers. Or, you know, Baxter.

Favorite time to write?
At night. First thing in the morning I'm a bit of a monster, and can't function for a couple of hours. I have sleeping problems anyway, and my best ideas seem to come at 2am...which explains a lot of the nightmares and random dreams...

Drink of choice while writing?
Pepsi and ::cough:: rum. 
Or an energy drink. Or water. I think tea helps a lot. Especially because I just won a free year's supply! :)

When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?
MUSIC. I cannot function without music. (This library atmosphere is currently killing me, which is why I'm blogging, and not writing...)

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?
My last manuscript was After Elizabeth, about a girl recovering from her best friend's suicide. I got the inspiration because I was (and am) still very bitter with everything that happened last year, and I felt like killing someone. When all was said and done, one of the last things I told those people was, "You're dead to me," and they continued what they did anyway, so it was like they killed themselves to me. So rather than murder, I had a character kill herself. I'm a lot like Claire...still recovering from the death of my best friends.

What's your most valuable writing tip?
Finish.
If you're writing your first manuscript, finish it. I don't care if you decide to kill all of your characters, get them abducted by aliens, whatever. Just finish the manuscript. Why? Because once you finish one, you'll be able to finish another, and it'll be better. And your next will be better than that. 
Suddenly, that 60,000 word goal isn't so daunting.

Happy Monday!
(Also, this was a pre-scheduled post. If anyone comments, I'll check your post out, but sadly, I live by my work schedule and when I can get to the library currently. Sorry I can't hop around too much!)

36 comments:

  1. I hate when you get an idea, write it down, and can't read it later. Drives me nuts. And libraries, gotta love libraries.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've rediscovered my love for libraries. I haven't liked em since I was a youngin', but I applied for a library card the other day :)

      Delete
  2. I have trouble at the library if I forget my music player. It's too quiet. And I think I'm more distracted because I hear people rather than music.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm coming to the conclusion, I'm more distracted because I'm more aware of how much I sigh/make random noises :/

      Delete
  3. I would love to write at my library but it is so teeeeeenie tiny! Jealous of your library space. I'm your newest follower. Very nice to meet you!

    AA
    http://anallegedauthor.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, hello! Thanks for the follow! And the space is lovely!

      Delete
  4. I really should go to the library more to write...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was considering the coffee shop, McDonalds, or the library. The library won because I don't have to buy anything to use the WiFi :)

      Delete
  5. You know I never finished a ms until i wrote the end first. After that it was like I had broken through a block. I now have five completed manuscripts in two years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of the times, my manuscript's ending is written well before I have the middle written :)

      Delete
  6. I like your writing tip. It's oh, so true. ;-)

    I'm from GUTGAA too, and I'm mostly writing MG and YA. In Germany, I'm already agented.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's awesome about being agented! Congrats, and hope to see your work published soon!

      Delete
  7. I can't believe the library atmosphere is killing you! I looooooove the library. Have fun with GUTGAA!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Today it's bugging me because there are a lot of loud people, and some kid (when there was a large open table) decided to sit next to me. I have problems sharing space... :/

      Delete
  8. Wow your book sounds cool. Good to write everywhere. I do that too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the best way to prevent forgetting a good story :)

      Delete
  9. You won a year's worth supply of tea?! How'd you pull that off? I'm jealous, haha :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Earth Teas hosted a Tea Tag Contest. I was one of 25 winners :)

      Delete
  10. A year of tea? How did you get so lucky? I don't mind writing in the library as long I have my headphones :D I totally agree with the finishing thing, that's the hardest part!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forget headphones...all the time. I've resolved to having my computer play quietly...

      Delete
  11. Awesome writing advice. I can't live without tea. And you know how I feel about After Elizabeth! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. A years supply of tea? Yes please! :) Happy writing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I loved your writing tip. FINISH. I have several WIP that are begging me to finish. My problem is I get so many ideas swimming around and I'm off to start another great story. Then I'm trying to finish 3 or 4 at the same time, which makes it hard:)
    Best wishes this month!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a lot of "brilliant" unfishished works, but it's amazing. I still remember finishing my first novel and being like, "I'VE DONE IT!" and then thinking "I CAN DO IT AGAIN!"

      Best of luck!

      Delete
  14. Great writing tip! Though not so easy sometimes (I have so many partially written manuscripts on my computer).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think you're a real writer unless you have at least a dozen unfinished works :) (I have an entire folder decicated to thinks I haven't quite gotten around to)

      Delete
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