The first section is about my writing routine. The second section section is about what makes me happy.
Writer's Life
Write fuel: what do you eat/drink while writing?
This depends on whether I'm bulking or cutting (exercise). I'm a night writer so I need caffeine to keep me up. If I'm cutting I drink coffee, black. No milk, sugar or honey. It's a zero calorie drink plus it's a diuretic so it'll help you achieve that six-pack. If I'm bulking I drink dark chocolate milk. Regular chocolate milk only tastes a little bit sweeter than plain milk. Dark chocolate all the way.
Write sounds: what do you listen to while writing?
Oh man, I listen to a constant stream of music. I don't even know where to begin with this. I listen to everything from video game music to pop to classical orchestra. I usually find lyrics distracting, but that not always the case. Here's a lyrical song I'm listening to at the moment:
Write vice: what's your most debilitating distraction?
Basketball. I always get sidetracked by the NBA. I have Thunder vs Knicks open in another tab right now.
Write horror: what's the worst thing that ever happened to you while writing?
Like my computer crashed and I lost my work? That has happened to me, but I'm a good troubleshooter, so I had no trouble recovering my documents. I also make plenty of backups. So I guess nothing bad has really happened to me.
Write joy: Best thing that's ever happened while writing? How do you celebrate small victories?
No time to celebrate! If I don't write, I don't eat. Once I finish one thing (like an article) it's on to the next. The best thing that's ever happened to me while I'm writing? Hmm… When I write I go into my own little world, so I usually don't check emails and stuff while I'm working. So I guess nothing exciting happens while I'm writing. But when I check my messages after I'm usually pretty happy to see an acceptance letter or money deposited into my Paypal account.
Write crew: who do you communicate with (or not) while writing?
Me and me alone, while I'm drafting. I communicate with editors after I'm finished (revision notes and all that), but while I'm composing a draft I don't like to show anybody. Sometimes I have a certain vision that doesn't make sense until the article or story is complete. If I were a baker I wouldn't let you taste the cookie dough; you have to wait for the cookie.
Write secret: what's your writing secret to success or hidden flaw?
I haven't figured out the secret yet. But most useful advice I ever heard was to break large tasks into small segments and take it one at a time. So if I'm writing a list article I don't think about writing all ten, I just concentrate on finishing entry number one, then two, three… Same thing for stories: write chapter one, scene one, then two, three
Write-spiration: what always makes you productive?
An object in motion stays in motion. So if you're staring at a blank page, just get some words down, and it'll get easier.
Write peeve: what's one thing writers (or you) do that's annoying?
I think writers need to lighten up when it comes to reading published authors. I think many writers are too strict following certain rules, and they're quick to pounce on these mistakes and leave scathing reviews on Amazon. Does it really matter if the author wrote "It happened to Sharon and I"? Don't let it take you out of the story.
Write words: Share one sentence from a project, past or present.
I can't. I'm a perfectionist and I try to forget my work after it's published. It's less stressful that way. And if you want to see a line from something I'm working on, no cookie dough before the cookie, remember?
Happiness
So here I'm supposed to list things that make me happy in different categories.
Songs
Books
Treasure Island and The Hobbit are my books of happiness.
Movies
This is going to be a little out of left field, but… Pride and Prejudice, the one with Keira Knightley. It's just a very happy movie.
Food
I like most any food except for squid and noodles. I could go for some walnut cakes right about now.
Words
Reykjavik, conch, willow, moonlight, sunshine, bubble.
Scents
Brown sugar in a frying pan. Meet on the grill.
Random Things
When you're in a movie theater, and you take a moment to look around, and you see that everyone is on the edge of their seats because the movie is so good.
Bloggers
Alyssa is number one of course. I haven't really been able to maintain many of the blogger relationships I made over the late summer/early fall because work took over my life. I have to change that!
Okay, that was my first tag! …Did I do it right?
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