Is there a snack you like to eat while writing?
Nothing specific. Whatever I might be craving at the time, I justify it as brain food, lol. Then I’m not thinking random things like, “Man I want a donut right now...” instead of focusing on the story.
What time of day do you usually write?
Literally any time of the day. I am so bad about setting a specific time for writing, I’ll write whenever I can find a few spare minutes.
Where do you write?
Pretty much anywhere. In the car (not while I’m driving), on the couch, at the table, in bed, at the playground with my kids, in a coffee shop...when I’m hiding from people that want to socialize...
How often do you write a new thing?
Probably too often. I am trying so hard right now to break this awful habit and actually finish my projects, and not get distracted by shiny new ideas. So I’ve been kind of writing a few paragraphs for new ideas and pieces, maybe some notes, but then shelving it to return to whatever it is I’m trying to focus on finishing. That way, the idea is at least out of my head and not rattling around and distracting me.
Do you listen to music while you write?
Yes! My writing lives and breathes based on the music I am listening to. I wish I weren’t so heavily influenced by external factors, but I am. I have honestly had things happen in stories I wasn’t planning on that coincide with a song that comes up on my playlists. Unplanned smut or sudden turn for the angsty? It’s sometimes a product of the characters not behaving but sometimes it’s the music. I also have a few go-to songs for certain types of scenes that I’ll listen to if I get stuck.
Paper or laptop?
Both, depending on where I am and what’s going on around me. I’ll jot down notes and outline or write entire scenes in a notebook. I prefer writing on my laptop, but I am not against writing on my phone either. It’s been happening more and more lately.
Do you have a special pre-writing ritual?
Nope. Just dive right in. Although some stories it feels like my ritual is open the doc, stare and rage at the lack of inspiration for six months and then have sudden inspiration that results in two paragraphs...maybe I should think about starting a ritual... I am open to suggestions.
What do you do to get into the writing?
Depends on the story and how stuck I am. Not stuck? Crack the knuckles and run with it. A little stuck? Reread what I’ve written, go over my notes, maybe have some music I associate with that story playing in the background. Massively stuck? Cry and smash things while listening to one song on a loop until something unsticks. Edit someone else’s work or throw ideas around with them. Friends who write and who don’t view you as competition but rather help each other are invaluable. Some stories, I’ll return to the initial source of inspiration. This method is not always reliable...hence the handful of my fics that have been waiting two years or longer for updates.
...shut it @peetabreadgirl...I already know what you’re going to suggest. That’s 25 movies to rewatch. Go Away...damn it fine! Anyone up for joining me in a Bond-a-thon over the next few months???
Do you have a reward system for word counts?
No, but I will do something nice to pamper myself and take a break when I’ve finished something that’s been on the To Do list for awhile. I treated myself to a bubble bath and a week off from stressing over Everlark after I finished Pure. That sounds so awful, but since I have a bad habit of immersing myself to the point of obsession when I’m hot on a story and kind of letting everything non-essential go for a bit, taking a week off to get caught up with life outside of writing is kind of important, even though my list of WIPs is still ridiculously long.
Is there anything else about your writing process your readers don’t know about?
I don’t think so??? I’m pretty much an adapt as needed writer. As in, each story seems to be unique and so is how I approach it. Some are planned out to the tiniest detail before I start, others are a series of images or scenes and a vague idea that I somehow connect into a story, a lot of them are an itch to write and a spark from a single image or song or even a text post from someone else, whatever. My methods are just as varied. I’ve started at the middle, the end, the beginning, looped back around, jumped in time all over the place, erased, started over, borrowed a discarded scene from another story and adapted it...all of the above. The trick, I think is to find what works for you and your story and go with it.
This was fun, although it made me feel like such an unprofessional fraud, lol. I’m making this up as I go. Anyhow! I’m not sure who’s played, but I’ll tag @peetabreadgirl, @jennagill, @jeeno2, @arabeth-thea, @erstwhilemagic! Sorry for any double tags, ladies!
