1: Why did you name your blog that?
"Cold Winds Cut Clean" is a reference to the fact that Shey is a sailor in Skyrim (cold winds) and how she is also a 'rogue' type character who uses knives and daggers (cut clean). I also originally intended her to be a less friendly ('cold') character, but opted towards her current personality because it engendered more interactions.
8: Name something or someone who influences your writing, art or characterization.
bookofalmsivi is a huge influence. Her work on expanding the TES universe, including food headcanons and thoughts on culture, Dunmeri people, and the universe itself have been hugely influential. Her talks on Neht's experiences with Solstheim lycanthropy has caused some expansions in my Beast Blood headcanon, and speaking of Nibenese silk expanded Shey's trade to include that. Those are only two small examples of the great influence such a wonderful player has had on my writing and characterization.
20: Do you prefer to plot things out, or improvise?
This depends on the point of the 'story' the characters are in, and how well I know the characters involved. When the characters are new, I prefer to improvise, as the characters and their chemistry is not established yet. When the chemistry is unclear, I have difficulty plotting anything serious. Some of the best plots are also improvised (such as Telsveran's assassination decision). This is mainly why I prefer conversation threads when just meeting characters.
Once in the middle of a plot, however, I prefer not to improvise, or at least to be alerted to changes people are making. This is not to control the outcome, but to be prepared for outcomes so I can plan around them. This is because I often have specific 'points' in mind I want to hit, which will work towards character development or interactions I want to have, and suddenly changing the course of the plot without warning can severely damage that, or make me have to scramble to tie the threads together in a believable way that doesn't also compromise in-character interactions. Just a heads up before play begins, however, is usually enough for this to work out.
