1, 4, & 7 c:
As a writer, who is your biggest inspiration?
My roleplaying partners. I have RP'd with SO many people (the number is probably in the hundreds) since I've started RP'ing, and I learn something new from each of them. A writing technique, a new vocabulary, how to read another's actions and respond in a way that will push the game further, etc.
Erika specifically I take a lot of inspiration from an old Izaya RP'er (now deactivated), oriharadesu. They were the first Izaya I ever RP'd with on here and, holy shit, the interactions were legit. They gave me a lot of confidence in my interpretation and portrayal of Erika and I'd like to think that, if they were here, they'd still like how I'm playing her.
Have you always liked to write and at what age did you start?
I've always loved writing! I guess I started as soon as I was able? I remember writing stories in elementary school, even though I wrote the same one... over and over. I actually started writing a chapter book about wizards when I was in the 4th grade. Of course Harry Potter came out recently after, and everyone thought I was copying that XD But I had written over 70 pages!
I started RP'ing specifically when I was about 14? So that's almost 10 years for me now. I've done a million different styles before I settled on the one that I have now.
How do you handle the toxicity sometimes found in the roleplaying community, particularly in fandoms?
I. Want. No. Part. Of. It.
Honestly. I know this is a generally unpopular opinion to have (in that I'm being very blunt about it), but as a happy, chipper person I find the toxicity and general negative nature of this place unfathomable. It only feeds itself. You shouldn't expect other people to make you happy, and you shouldn't feel the need to make other people happy when it's detrimental to yourself.
I will never, ever attempt to make a person feel worse than they already feel if they're depressed, down, anxious. I'll gladly offer supportive words if someone needs it. But I'm not a Happiness Bank and I don't give away my good health with disregard to how I feel. I come first. And you should all come first to yourselves.