writing meme 11-20

[svgurl]

1-5 | 6-10 | List of questions

11. Is writing your passion or just a fun hobby?
Probably a fun hobby. Not that I don't love it and have been doing some version of it since I was a kid, but I am not sure if I would consider it my passion. Or maybe somewhere in between.

12. Is there an episode above all others that inspires you just a little bit more?
Not anymore. There are certain seasons of Smallville that inspire me more than others, depending on the ship I'm writing. s8-10 of Smallville is probably what pushes me the most though I used to write a lot of s6 when the show was still airing.

13. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever come across?
I have a writing tag on Tumblr for all the advice (and the random joke) that I reblog. Not sure about best, but I think reminders that you are your own primary audience first and foremost is important, just like the suggestions not to overthink and just start writing. You can always edit later, but it's good to attempt to let the words to flow. I have to tell myself that now and then if I'm stuck in a lurch.

14. What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever come across?
Nothing really comes to mind. While I understand that people should be careful about topics they're not aware of, I think it isn't great to say only a certain group of people can write a certain topic/subject, because it really leaves way for exclusion in the long run.

15. If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?
I can't really think of one. I can't really picture any of them on screen. It would be nice for Rory and Jess to have a happy ending but I feel my post canon fics have them already together and I would want to see them actually get back together first.

16. If you only could write one pairing for the rest of your life, which pairing would it be?
Tough choice but I would say either Clark/Lois or Clark/Oliver. Smallville has been my forever fandom and I can't shake it if I try. I'd have to abandon exchanges completely but hey, that wouldn't be the worst thing for my time management lol

17. Do you write your story from start to finish, or do you write the scenes out of order?
Mostly from start to finish. Sometimes, like with my fake dating fic and my role reversal, I have written scenes just to get it out of my head and so I won't forget to add them but I mostly can't work like that because I like to connect everything immediately instead of having to figure out how to get to a certain place later. For longer fics, I really wish it was easier for me to do that but my brain just doesn't seem to work that way.

18. Do you use any tools, like worksheets or outlines?
No, I'm not that organized.

19. Stephen King once said that his muse is a man who lives in the basement. Do you have a muse?
I don't think so. I feel like some characters speak to me more than others but I don't think that counts.

20. Describe your perfect writing conditions.
Just some place where I can sit- I prefer a chair- a desk is optional, but I have found I struggle to write in my bed. I can work around background noise, but I don't really listen to music, because I will get distracted.

Comments

[pianogurl330]

I can't write in bed either, when I was in my teens I could, but not anymore lol!

[svgurl]

Same! I always used to lie on my stomach and be on the laptop but I just can't these days.

[scintilla10]

not to overthink and just start writing This is advice that has been so useful to me as a writer, too. If there's something on the page, you can edit it (later)!

19. Stephen King once said that his muse is a man who lives in the basement. Do you have a muse? I found this to be SUCH a strange anecdote to include in the question?! Maybe it's a famous SK quote that the question writer expects people to know? Anyway, I looked it up, and at least the full context makes slightly more sense than just "a (metaphorical??) guy in Stephen King's basement." (To me, anyway!). XD

[svgurl]

I definitely have a tendency to overthink so it has been useful to me too. And sometimes, you look back and you're like "oh, that wasn't so bad" but getting there can be the tough part! Words are usually better than no words lol

It was a weird question. Thank you for looking it up and sharing! You're right that it makes a lot more sense in context. Very different vibe than the question gave off too.

[apachefirecat]

Kudos to you for being able to work around background noise!!! I SO can NOT do that!!! Wish I could, but I can't. :) I also LOVE the way you talked about us writers being our own primary audience! That's definitely true, especially these days! (Another good reason for that comment bingo comm!)

[svgurl]

I think it depends on the kind of background noise really. I usually just mean chatter and TV type noises which I can tune out. But it can be hard so I get that. And yes. For me, I came into fandom and started writing because no one else was writing what I wanted to read so I suppose I entered with that mentality but it feels relevant. But yes, comments are always good and I'm happy to encourage them in the form of running that comm. :D

[apachefirecat]

I almost always seem to be stuck getting hooked on ships and characters that aren't as popular as other ones. Spike is a rareity, but it actually took me YEARS to appreciate Buffy pretty much AT ALL in their relationship. Even for the popular ships that I like, I always end up liking them either before or after they're a major fandom thing. LOL

[svgurl]

Some people end up leaning toward rare pairs! The heart wants what it wants. I have a mix of popular ships and rare ones and even less frequently, the rare ship that got popular. I haven't seen BtVS but yeah I have heard Spike can be a polarizing character, at least ship wise with Buffy. And that is too bad. Timing can be fickle and fandom can move fast.

[apachefirecat]

It really depends on who you ask and their own personal experiences and likes/dislikes, I think, re: Spike. For me, I've always loved the character, but as opposed to most, I didn't think BUFFY deserved him because of some of the mess she did to him. He had the whole evil, soulless Vampire think upon which his abuse can be blamed, but she didn't have the same excuse and she did some pretty terrible things to him. I actually had gotten to where I couldn't see the show when it was airing, was wanting to catch up to it but not having the time, and happened in on one particular episode that not only turned me off of the pairing but the entire series for YEARS. Now, however, having had more than my own fair share of negative experiences with the one I love, I absolutely ADORE the pairing -- but I still get into it far more than Spike than for Buffy.

[svgurl]

True. I haven't seen the show so I don't really have any thoughts on your character analysis. Though I do believe if both sides made mistakes, I am generally not a 'oh he gets a pass for x' and she doesn't, especially since Buffy seems to start the show off as a teenager. But from what I have noticed, most people lean toward one character over the other when it comes to ships and Spike definitely has a very strong fanbase regardless.

[apachefirecat]

People wanted to look at a lot of the ways Spike used Buffy, but not at what Buffy did to him or how she used him. Again, I could go into detail, but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you, should you ever decide to give the series a go. :)

And yes, he does DEFINITELY have a pretty HUGE fanbase these days, but before, when the Spike/Buffy relationship was just beginning -- Oh, the HATE!!

[svgurl]

I will just take your word on it. I don't like vampires and I avoid type of shows/movies anyway so there's a slim chance I will ever see it. And I am not sure I could cry spoilers on something that ended almost twenty years ago lol

Not surprised. I knew people who were big Spike fans in the active LJ days too. If even the most innocuous couples can get hate, that would be a more controversial choice.

[ultra_fic]

Ah, writing is absolutely my passion. If I could do it for a living I would. Of course, I guess that's a pretty obvious answer for me to give since I've been writing fanfiction for 20+ years and am fairly prolific! lol

Worst writing advice I ever got was to make myself sit down and write what needs to be written. Maybe that works for some people, it does NOT work for me. I can make myself sit and write something, anything, and that's fine, but I can't force a specific thing because it just won't happen and I'll be annoyed about it to, so it's a lose-lose.

Well done for picking one pairing to write forever, because I absolutely couldn't do that - I know my ability to stick to one thing and it's practically non-existant in the long-term! lol

I'm a writing in my armchair kind of girl myself. Sometimes, if necessary, I will write any time, anywhere, if I just need to get a certain thing that's in my head onto the page, but my ideal is defo this armchair I'm in right now :)

I love that you're doing this meme and almost want to do it myself now... I guess it wouldn't take that long, since I end up giving my answers to half the questions in the comments of your posts anyway! lol Yeah, sorry about that.

[svgurl]

Oh yes, definitely your passion then! I think I wanted to be a writer when I was younger but I was never committed or consistent. So maybe it is just a passionate hobby lol And I definitely admire your productivity! :D

Totally fair. That's the kind of thing that usually works for me but it definitely isn't for everyone. Writing can be done but you do often need to be in a mindset to write something specific.

Nice! I am used to my desk chair but I do like a comfy arm chair from time to time. :D

You should! And that's more than okay. I like reading other people's thoughts.

[vriddy]

I like the writing advice :D

[svgurl]

Thank you! I've found some useful ones over the years. :D

[bradygirl_12]

*nods*

I find that if I hit a snag while writing, just keep going, especially if you're in the zone. I go back and figure things out, hopefully. 😊

Rarely do I write out if sequence.

I have Muses, multiple Muses! 🖋️📃🖋️

[svgurl]

Too true! Keeping up the momentum and pace is good.

Same. I have tried but I feel like it slows me down in the long run as I try to connect the pieces.

Muses are good! :D

[peaked]

I like how you can't listen to music without getting distracted while I need to listen to music or else I get distracted. Polar opposites!

[svgurl]

Different strokes! I am sure a lot of people write with music but I think I get distracted with the song and the fanvids in my head I will never make. XD

[brokenhighways]

Probably a fun hobby. Not that I don't love it and have been doing some version of it since I was a kid, but I am not sure if I would consider it my passion. Or maybe somewhere in between.

Do you think this makes it easier for you to 'switch off' when you're not writing?

[svgurl]

Maybe! I think it definitely is how there are long patches of time where I just ... don't write. I am sure that happens to people who do love it and consider it their passion but I think there's an added lack of motivation with me too.