Hi, I Write Things!

I was reluctant to adapt the title of writer for a long time. I thought there were rules about it or some form I had to sign. Turns out, if you write, you’re a writer! Hooray! I borrowed this questionnaire from a fellow writer, Caroline Huball. You can read her blog at https://carolinehuball.wixsite.com/carolinehuball.

Question 1: When did you start writing for the first time?

I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember, even if they never saw the light of day. I was a voracious reader as a child, identifying sight words at the age of two. I can’t recall a time when there wasn’t a book in close proximity. I played pretend and made up plays and songs and wrote in journals. I attempted to write a story my senior year of high school, and though never completed, the roots were there. The first full manuscript I wrote was in 2013, when I thought, hmm maybe I’ll just write this down. Four years later, I have four complete manuscripts and enough plot bunnies to outlive me.

Question 2: What made you want to write seriously?

Life happened. I had a series of crises all at once and I was miserable and needed a channel for my frustrations. My first story is about redemption and fighting for something better because that was what I wanted. Writing was an outlet that I controlled and managed, and unlike every other creative pursuit I’d ever had, I was the executor. In a time when I felt powerless, holding my characters’ fates in my hands made me feel powerful. When I finished my first manuscript, I feared another idea would never come to me. A month later, I woke up out of a dead sleep with a question: what if someone showed up on your door and they didn’t know who they were, but they knew who you were? I knew I was hooked.

Questions 3: If you could only write about the ocean, the forest, or the desert for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?

There’s something so magical about the ocean – and so dangerous. Oceans are complex and hold such sensory power. Okay, now I want to go to the beach.

Question 4: Would you ever write a memoir?

I’ve always wanted to write about being a childhood cancer survivor, but I don’t know if anyone would want to read it.

Question 5: Do you like writing by hand or with a computer?

Mostly on the computer because it’s faster, but sometimes, when I’m stuck, I need a good old pen and notebook. It forces me to not get distracted by Twitter notifications think differently. I usually always hand write dialogue because I rehearse it separately from writing narrative. I would rather die a thousand deaths than have anyone catch me speaking in my male character voice. I’ve said too much.

Question 6: Do you listen to music while you write? What is the best writing music?

I can’t. I get too distracted. Especially if I have to focus when I’m editing or rewriting.

Question 7: Do people you’ve met make their way into your work?

Any writer who tells you their characters don’t resemble people they know is LYING. I borrow attributes from people I know and blend them all together and put them inside a character. I have a few characters I can specifically point to and say, that’s definitely [redacted].

Question 8: Favorite literary device

I like to hide things in plain sight and give little clues that you might not catch right away. All the Easter eggs in my current work in progress make me cackle with delight.

PS – All the notebooks in the picture are full of my words.

PPS – I left the orange one at a hotel and had them send it to me. I really hope they didn’t read it.