Long Writing Meme

I stole this from a community I recently joined, although in my defense, they did give us permission to re-post to our personal journals. So it’s not really stealing, is it?

What was the last thing you wrote?
The last completed thing was my novel “Back to Roots”. The most recent thing is chapter forty-six of that novel’s sequel, “Uprooted.” (Aren’t I clever with the related titles?)

Was it any good?
Eh, it’s flawed. Too many characters and interrelated stories for one thing, but I love it anyway because it’s the first serious piece I’ve ever written and edited to completion, or sent anywhere, even if it did get rejected.

What was the first thing you wrote you still have?
Um, probably the stories in my kindergarten notebooks. Those are somewhere . . .

Write poetry?
Yes, badly.

Angsty poetry?
Most of it is angsty, in the way that only teenagers seem to know how to be.

Favorite genre of writing?
Realistic fiction, hands down, to read and to write. In terms of reading though, I also like fantasy and historical fiction, though I could probably never write either of those.

Most fun character you’ve ever created?
Anna, as in the badass version who lives in my head, not the one on paper. She’s a little Mary-Sue-ish, but I like her because she’s flawed and human and–for the most part–real.

Most annoying character you’ve ever created?
Elise, from “Back to Roots”. My friend actually requested that I write a deleted scene in which a piano falls on this woman’s head and kills her, just so the rest of us don’t have to deal with her anymore. Needless to say, I was happy to comply.

Best plot you’ve ever created?
The one for my next book, which is tentatively titled “Nowhere to Hide.” When the parents who don’t usually read your writing, and only listen to you blather about it because they love you, both say that they would read a story with that plot, you know you’ve done well. The only trouble is that I have to write this one first.

Coolest plot twist you’ve ever created?
To date? Probably the one in which Elise turns out to be the force that nearly gets Anna and Jason killed. (If you haven’t read “Back to Roots” you will have no idea what I’m talking about.)

How often do you get writer’s block?
So much worse when I’m at school, mostly because I’m too contented and too swamped to write as much, and when I do have a half an hour to sit down, I have trouble motivating myself occasionally.

Write fanfiction?
Four times exactly. And not in years. Not really my cup of tea.

Do you type or write by hand?
Type, except for the book I wrote with my friend. The only reason that isn’t typed is because she wanted to write it longhand and I suffered from momentary insanity and agreed. Just kidding!

Do you save everything you write?
Absolutely. I still have all the novels I’ve abandoned, even the ones that suck.

Do you ever go back to an idea after you’ve abandoned it?
Kind . . . of. I guess you could say that “Nowhere to Hide” is based off an idea that I abandoned. The only major difference is genre, which will hugely effect the story.

What’s your favorite thing that you’ve written?
Currently? “Back to Roots.”

What’s everyone else’s favorite story that you’ve written?
I think, like, two people have read my novels. So I have no idea.

Do you ever show people your work?
God knows I try.

Did you ever write a novel?
Hell yes! Two, to be exact. I’m on my third.

Ever written romance or really angsty teen drama?
Romance yes. I started a really angsty teen drama and didn’t end up finishing it. Probably for the better.

What’s your favorite setting for your characters?
America, specifically the city I live near.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Three. “Uprooted,” the book I wrote with my friend which is being typed and edited, and a 100 Prompts challenge for the monstrous story in my head.

Do you want to write for a living?
Yes, of course. We’ll see how it goes, but yes. Totally.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?
No, but the agent I submitted my novel to gave me a whole host of compliments, and those were as good as any award.

Ever written anything in script or play format?
Only for school and a challenge in this other community I belong to . . .

What are your five favorite words?
Ethereal, ephemeral, illusion, faux pas, monotonous.

Do you ever write based on yourself?
Sometimes. The characters of Anna and Tara Foster in “Back to Roots” are loosely based off of me. Other than that, the only insertion of self I do is to write about some experiences I’ve already had, but to make them happen to fictional characters.

What character have you created that is most like yourself?
See above.

Where do you get ideas for you characters?
I have no idea. A lot of them come from necessity, and they usually spring partially formed into my brain and wait for me to develop them.

Do you ever write based on your dreams?
I’ve transcribed a few dreams, but do I ever write fiction based on them? The answer is no.

Do you favor happy endings, sad endings, or cliffhangers?
Happy or sad. I’ve done both.

Have you ever written based on artwork you’ve seen?
No, but that would be cool.

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Completely. If something looks wrong, I fix it immediately.

Ever write anything in chatspeak?
A conversation. Once. *shudders* Never again.

Entirely in L337?
Huh?

Was that question appalling an unwriterly?
Yes.

Does music help you write?
Sometimes. It depends entirely on what mood I’m in.

Quote something you’ve written. Whatever pops into your head.
Even holding her breath as she was, she nearly missed the noise her phone made telling her that he had hung up. Anna resisted the urge to hurl her phone at the floor. More than anything else, she hated that he hadn’t even bothered to give her an answer.