Picked this up from Liana Brooks. I'm Neutral Good, Liana, but I still don't feel guilty stealing this.
What’s the last thing you wrote?
A supernatural romance novella called Dark Waters about some angry merfolk going to war over the overfishing and polluting of the oceans.
Was it any good?
How can you ask me that? I'm a writer. One second I think it's genius and the next I think it's crap.
What’s the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
Hmmm. It would take some digging but I still have a short story about horses that I wrote in second grade. I looooooove me some horse fiction.
Write poetry?
Not often, and then only 'doggerel verse' because it entertains me. I'm related to some honest-to-God poets (published, etc.) so it's possible there is an overexposure issue involved here.
Angsty poetry?
Once in a blue moon. So I guess maybe I'm due come New Year's Eve...
Favorite genre of writing?
Speculative fiction. Space ships, creatures of the night, talking swords - love it all.
Most fun character you ever wrote?
Fun for you or fun for me? The crowd favorite is probably Captain Dave Paris, the brilliant but irresponsible leader of the Strange Crew.
Most annoying character you ever wrote?
Mark the Markanian. But he was written to be the most annoying creature in the galaxy.
How often do you get writer’s block?
All. The. Time.
How do you fix it?
Just write something because, as the saying goes, you can fix a crappy page. You can't fix a blank page.
Write fan fiction?
Used to, specifically Star Trek. Threatened to write some Colbert Fan Fiction on my personal blog and am still the #2 Google hit for that search term (used to be #1). Since about 25% of the hits on my blog are for "Ghost Hunters fan fiction" I suppose I should get around to writing some (all I've done is question why anyone would want to read any of it). To me fanfic is harmless entertainment.
Do you type or write by hand?
Mostly type these days, but probably do more longhand than most. I keep notebooks everywhere and might just write up a plot outline or end up writing out pages of scenes and dialog because the notebook was handy when I had the idea. Seriously. Notebooks. Everywhere.
Do you save everything you write?
Yes. I save lots of other things, too.
Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
Yes. Nothing is ever dead. Although some things are undead.
What’s your favorite thing that you’ve written?
The start (first three chapters) to a story about an invalid who creates a virtual reality so that he gets a chance to live before he dies. (Virtuality)
What’s everyone else’s favorite thing that you’ve written?
Probably the USS Bob short stories (aforementioned Star Trek fanfic). They're funny. But people usually like whatever I've got in the hopper. The only complaints are if I haven't finished something.
What’s your favorite setting for your characters?
That sounds like a good question, but it isn't. Depends on the characters, depends on the needs of the story. Hell, depends on my mood. I'm comfortable in the future, in the past, in distant galaxies, in the city, in the country. Whatever. Dark Waters primarily takes place on small boats and in the open ocean. Virtuality includes a scene where the air is Jell-O (the programmers need some way to entertain themselves). So my favorite setting is the one that reveals the characters.
What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Probably mystery. I love mystery, grew up on Agatha Christie, have an addiction to Michael Connelly's novels, and pretty much soak up all the written and televised mystery and crime fiction I can find. But I just don't think I can write it worth a flip. Otherwise I wouldn't rule anything out.
How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Five primary, but plenty of other stuff in the hopper.
Do you want to write for a living?
As Newt would say, "Affirmative."
Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?
Written? Yes. Been published? Ohhhh... no. Haven't submitted anything in about twenty years though, so it's time to try again.
Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Nope! Is that required?
Ever written something in script or play format?
Yes, I love screenwriting and playwriting. I'm as happy with a script or play as I am with prose. Don't know why, have always been that way. I blame Oscar Wilde.
What are your five favorite words?
1. Curious
2. Lyrical
3. Avant-garde
4. Novel
5. Sweet
(Subject to change at any moment.)
What character that you’ve written most resembles yourself?
Huh. Well, I've got to be in there somewhere... I would say that all the characters have various aspects. Usually I see thematic similarities rather than a specific resemblence. Oh, duh. One of the characters in the USS Bob stories is based on a teen me. Sort of. That's where I got the Commander part of my name. So, uh, that one. Commander Sue London, First Officer, Science Officer and All Around Fun Chick. Wrote that character before I realized that most science would go right over my head.
Where do you get ideas for your other characters?
They spring from my head fully formed, like Venus.
Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Sometimes. If anything I write ever disturbs you then I probably dreamed it first. My subconscious is much creepier and more violent than my waking thoughts.
Do you favor happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?
Wow, interesting question. I want the best ending for the story (yes, it depends!), but I'm usually drawn to happy ending stories. But one of the examples I used here, Virtuality? That's totally a sad ending. So yeah, it depends.
Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Always, but that doesn't mean it helps.
Does music help you write?
Yes, much more often than it used to. I've started building playlists for different projects and that helps me to switch gears and focus.
Quote something you’ve written. The first thing to pop into your mind.
“I like my scars. They give me a sense of personal history.” ~ Kyzar, The Far Side of Utopia