Devious Journal Entry

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A NOVEL WRITER'S QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Many novelists have been writing for a very long time. Tell us about the first story you remember writing – or if you have no clue, tell us about your first serious attempt at a novel. What was the end result? Did you scrap it, lock it in a trunk, or rework it into something else?

I was about twelve when Star Wars came out.  I also recall watching Star Trek TOS on occasion.  I also liked vampires, proof that tweenies back in the late seventies were fascinated by vampires, although back then, said vampires had not been contaminated by a certain person who has single-handedly mutilated and bastardized the entire genre.

That said, I'd have to say my first story did have something to do with a vampire.  The end result was never completed since I had no idea what I was doing.  I did, some years later, eventually go back to the paranormal aspect of fiction, which was inclusionary of vampires, although I can assure you that mine were not bastardized into something resembling a sparkling faerie.  Just saying.

2. Have you always wanted to write novels, or do different lengths of stories spark your interest? Have you written anything outside of novels?

I just realized that I missed this question.  To sound like a complete dork, I'll say this; my bad.

It wasn't that I wanted to write novels as much as it was I wanted to tell stories.  I don't set out for a certain word count, my main goal is to tell the story.  If I have a beginning, a middle, and an end, I'm happy with it whether it's a hundred words or a hundred thousand words or anywhere in between.

Yes, I have written other things outside the category of novels.  I have written anything from flash fiction to epic length fictions, articles, non-fiction, and anything and everything imaginable in between with a ton of varying content.

3. Just out of curiosity, what's your take on poetry?

Most of the time, my words don't rhyme,
That said, a stitch in time saves nine,
Better yet, a correctly placed word saves time,
Not causing a reader to think the story is a crime.

My take on haiku
As limericks I do like, too.
No, my brain isn't glue.

4. The most hated question of all: where do you get your ideas? Do they come out of thin air, or do you spend weeks/months/years coming up with something suitable?

My ideas can come from anything, really.  Something I've read or researched, something I've seen or heard.  I don't spend a huge amount of time on coming up with something suitable.  If I come across something I find interesting or potentially useful, I file it away for later use if I can't fit it into a current project.  I have some notes on different things which I've held onto for years, some easily over a decade old.

5. Have you ever created a world or universe from top to bottom? How did you do it?? Where did you start? Have you ever been so wrapped up in a universe that it spawns many more ideas than originally intended?

Yes, I have created worlds and universes with everything completely original.  Usually it begins with a character and then I try to figure out what I can about that character utilizing the who, what, where, when, why, how questions and go from there.  If I cannot answer all of them at the time I'm pondering this character, I always make sure those questions eventually get answered at some point in the fiction, for the reader's sake.

Yes.  I have easily been able to have spin-offs, and/or crossovers with my stories/characters/universes.

6. How do you come up with names for characters? If you've ever had to invent names for places, tell us how you did that too!

It's contingent upon what I'm working on.  At times, the character seems to already have a name, or I have part of a name and find something which really fits well, so that's the name.  Sometimes I wind up researching to find just the correct name since I may have an idea of that person as a character but I'm looking for a name to fit, if that makes sense.

Yes, I've invented places and names for places.  Usually it involves me trying to figure out the best way to convey something to the reader which is not always obvious starting out but eventually falls into place.

7. Do any of your stories involve different languages? How? Have you ever tried to create a whole new language? What's it called? How far in depth did you go (i.e. did you totally Tolkien it or what?)? Give us some translations!!

Yes, at times, there are different languages and cultural and societal differences which are not necessarily customary overall as we know things like that to be.  Since I'm not a reader of JRRT, I'm not sure I can give a specific answer.  As for translations, I'm not sure what you're asking.  Are you requesting an excerpt of dialogue and the meaning or translation conveyed?  If so, I'd have to see what I can come up with that won't entail me searching my hard drive for several days to find just the thing.  

You didn't ask if I'd utilized a known language in my fic, which I have, which was Tsalagi.  I've also utilized Enochian and Sumerian, Latin, Hebrew, Greek, and Gaelic.  Yes, I love linguistics.

8. When you start to tackle a new storyline, how do you plot it out? Do you even bother, or just write as it comes to you?

Sometimes I have an idea of where I'd like things to go, or I know I have something in my head, like chapter one, and an event later on, which I will generally try to write and then put the parts into chronological order.  Usually I try to write in chronological order, though.  It makes it a little easier than putting things into separate events and then trying to correctly order them, if that makes sense.

9. Say you have a storyline plotted out – either on paper or in your head – from beginning to middle to end. Where do you start writing? Are you one who writes chronologically?

I always try to have a beginning, a middle, and an end in my head to sort of give me points of reference, however that doesn't always happen.  At times, I'll write something, get an idea, write it, and then follow the tracks of what can happen to get from the first part I wrote to the second part.  Sometimes what happens in between surprises even me.

10. Most novelists have more than one story to share – how many writing projects do you have on the go, and are you able to work on them all simultaneously? Give us a brief synopsis of each project so we know what to look forward to!

At one time, I want to say I had five different project going, and those were anything from a flash fiction of one hundred words to a story that was over a hundred thousand words.

Currently, I have two separate fictions going but have realized that perhaps I could do a crossover from the second set and introduce my other more longer series through that second set of stories instead.

Not sure I can really accurately give a synopsis.  I am very bad at those, but can say that I do write paranormal related fiction, but I don't write in a formulaic manner, which is probably why I have not, nor will I ever be, published.

11. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story—from planning to writing to posting/publishing?

That's contingent upon the length of the story, what ideas are floating around in my head, that sort of thing.  Once upon a time, I could write forty to fifty pages of fiction a day, then there are other times when I've been lucky to type five consecutive words at once because of my life as a wife and mom--being a wife and mom are my main priorities.

12. Are you one of those people who need to shut themselves away in order to write, or do you go to a busy place and tune out? Share with us how you get in your zone!

I can pretty much do whatever.  I can either sit by myself and type, or I can be hanging out with the family and type.  What is really amusing is that I type by touch, which means I can sit and watch tv, converse with my husband or our children or talk on the phone and type without looking at my hands, the keyboard, or the screen, which really makes my husband's brain want to go 'splodey.

13. Some writers listen to music while writing, either for inspiration or to drown out distractions. Do you? How do you select the music you listen to, and do you find a difference in your writing when you write without it?

Music--wonderful stuff, that.  I can and do listen to music at times.  It can be whatever I want to listen to and I don't find much difference if writing with or without it.

14. Along the same lines, some writers take up a pen and draw for their stories as well – are you inspired to draw people, places, or scenes from your stories? If you have some images online, post some links to your favourite pieces!

Yes, I'm inspired, however my drawing skills are non-existential.  I cannot draw a straight line with a pencil on paper by utilizing a ruler, so I must admit to drooling when I see people on here who are able to illustrate things so well.  At times, I come across a picture which will match something I have had in my head in the past and that is always a neat experience when that happens.

15. Is there a certain set schedule you follow for your writing, or do you write any time inspiration hits?

I write when I can, although that has been put on hold for several years due to severe health problems.  I have missed writing and would like to eventually get back to it.  That said, I'm not above scribbling a few notes down for future use on occasion.

16. What do you think is your greatest strength in your technical writing ability? Why?

My deep and abiding love of my antique collegiate dictionary with formal grammar rules in it.  It's been my go to for well over a decade now.  It's my dirty little secret when it comes to pleasure reading for a refresher of grammar rules.  I make every word count and anything in my fiction is there for a reason and I love editing.

17. Is there something about your writing style that annoys you and you wish to change?

Not particularly and there's not much I would change.

18. Name your favourite protagonist and antagonist – they don't have to be from the same story – and explain why they're your favourite.

Well, this is a rather difficult thing to answer and I'm not sure how to answer it.  I'll move to the next question, if that's okay.

19. Who's your most-loved side/minor character, and why?

In my fiction?  Probably my cadre of Dark Fae who are bodyguards for a princess who's rather rowdy.  They are fascinating and lethal, so I suppose you could say they are lethally fascinating or fascinatingly lethal.

20. What mode of narration do you typically use? (e.g. third person, first person, omniscient – see here for descriptions of each style: [link]) Have you ever tried writing in a different narrative style? In your stories, do you ever hop back and forth between different characters' view points, or do you follow one character only? Why?

Omniscient.  I write what's in my head.  The reader doesn't get all the pieces parts in real life, so neither do my characters.  There are only certain aspects known, sometimes the reader gets to find something out that another character doesn't know about for quite some time, which I think makes it easier for the reader to relate to the other character not knowing something because then the reader is sitting there thinking at the clueless character they should be running away, or more cautious, or do something or not choose and decide the direction they are going in, if that makes sense.

I don't hop back and forth in the conventional sense that I'm under the impression you are asking.  Motivations have much to do with where I'm going when a certain character's actions are directly in front of a reader's eyes.  That gives the reader something more with which to associate with or relate to.

Head hopping in the same paragraph like some other writers?  No.  Do I present a bigger picture in which the reader is more compelled to have further interest in the fiction?  Yes.

21. Spelling – is it your mortal enemy or a valuable friend? Does it bother you either way?

Spelling is awesome.  I love spelling, grammar, mechanics, and editing.  Valuable, yes.  Invaluable, yes, precious beyond words to the point of priceless.  Yes, it bothers me if it's all badly done.  I will stop reading if an effort is not made for the aforementioned is not applied in a practical manner.  There was once a teacher I had in high school who had a lovely saying which stuck with me.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  I learned that and have found it very useful in a plethora of ways.  That said, can and does anyone make the occasional typo?  Yes, we all do because we're human, however I've seen some people who are too lazy to bother with telling their spell check to wake up, so I don't even bother wasting my time.

22. Do you find you have trouble with grammar, or have your grade-school language arts classes always stuck with you?

No, not at all.  I have absolutely no trouble with grammar, I adore it.

23. Give us your favourite line(s) of dialogue from one of your stories! Make sure to put it in context, and of course name the story! Feel free to just copy and paste (or link!) a small scene if that's easier!

I don't have any pulled up currently and if I did, I wouldn't know which one to choose or paste over.

24. Does the physical appearance of your characters play a big role in your stories? If so, explain how.

It can on occasion.  People and/or things are not always as they seem or appear to be.  Perhaps it serves as a reminder to the reader to think a little outside the box.

25. Have you ever designed a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them.

Not exactly.  Several characters I've written are OCA1, aka oculocutaneous albinism, which is albinism affecting the eyes and skin, yes, I can pronounce it correctly and spell it without looking it up.  Yes, I researched it and yes, I have even spoken with someone who was OCA1 to ask questions about her life so I could write something fairly accurate.  Is being OCA1 a physical or mental disability?  No.  It does, however, present some interesting situations for the characters.

26. Writers block: Have you ever had it? If so, did you force your way through it, or wait (im)patiently until your muse returned?

I'm not sure and I'm not sure.

27. How willing are you to kill off your characters if the plot demands it? What's the most interesting way you've killed someone?

Very willing.  I'm not sure, really.  I try to be creative about it, though.

28. Have you ever written about or described a battle/war? Was it complicated, out of your element, or did you crank that thing out in no time? Give us a brief overview of the scene – who's fighting who, some of the highlights, or gut-wrenching moments you're particularly proud of producing. Was this scene inspired by something? And if your scene's posted somewhere online, link to it!!

Sort of, maybe?  You're asking me some questions which are good questions and at the same time, I'm not sure what to say since I've never been asked these things before to give a good answer in an analytic manner.

29. Have you ever written a love scene? Call out the couple!!  Were you able to go into details, or too squeamish to do so? What about it did you find simple or difficult? Again, if it's posted, share the link! Overall, what is your opinion of sexuality in today's literature – particularly that in online sites, like dA?

Of course I've written adult scenes--all were written with adults participating because it was part of the growth of the characters--sex can be a natural progression of growth in a relationship, so I see nothing wrong with having that as a part of a story when it contributes and is progressive.  I don't write all smut all the time.  Yes, I write smut as a part of a story.

If it's well done, great.  If it's not, what's the point?  LOL

30. If there's another complicated or controversial scene or topic you are particularly proud of writing or would like to mention, write about it – or link us to it – here!

Don't have anything linked anywhere, unfortunately.

31. Genres are a fuzzy topic because one novel can fit into many categories. Do you tend to work within one realm of writing, or jump between a bunch? Pick one or two of your stories and list which categories they fit into. Then list a few of your favourite genres, and some authors that you find particularly inspiring in each.

This is interesting.  It's a problem for me because I don't know how to categorize my stories.  Yes, they are paranormal in nature, that said, there are other aspects to them so they aren't strictly in the paranormal genre.

32. Is there an author out there that you wish you could emulate? (Who's writing style do you like the best?) Feel free to say yourself!

Diana Gabaldon is pretty neat with her Outlander series.  It takes her forever to write them, but they are generally a good read.

Sometimes I do look at something which I've written and been rather amazed that my brain puked something like that out.

So, there you have it.


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And that's all she wrote! Good luck! And feel free to spread this all over dA - just remember to link me back your answers!!

-TheMeadiator
© 2013 - 2024 LucyFaerie
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TheMeadiator's avatar
1. AHAHA. I'm glad we're on the same page about that certain someone. Still proud to say I've never read it.

7. Linguistics really are a thing of beauty. I love other languages - I just wish my brain was able to absorb them better! Otherwise, I'd use real languages more in my fiction. For the translations, it was meant to be just a quick thing, such as, "Bonjour" means "Hello" or "Good Day" in French; or for an invented language, "Galad" means "Light" in Elvish.

10. Ah, I know what you mean. And I love cross-overs! When you're familiar with an author's previous work, there's something just so exciting about catching a little hint about another story in something brand new.

12. Oh my. That makes my brain want to go 'splodey.

15. I do hope your health takes an upswing so you can get back to doing what you love!

16. YAY! Oh, I'm so glad to have found another person who loves editing. So many writers think of editing as a chore, but there's nothing quite as satisfying than taking a good story with bad grammar and making it something readable. Strunk and White's Elements of Style is my literary go-to - it's a little basic, but sometimes you can get caught up in something and forget the little things, so it's good to have.

21. I feel the exact same way you do. It's pitiful when the story itself has so much potential, but the author abuses the reader with horrible spelling. It makes me feel like they don't care about not only their story, but their audience as well. Consistent bad spelling will make me think you're a joke, and I hate to say that, but it's the honest truth.

32. I've heard of Diana Gabaldon, but never read any of her work. I'll have to take a look at it now.

Thanks again for filling this out. It's always fascinating to me so see how other writers operate! Your work sounds very interesting! I hope one day you can share it with the public!