Writer Q&A

I was asked a series of questions on my tumblr, and I decided to crosspost them here for easy reference to any new readers (hi!). 

Why did you start writing?

Honestly, I was always daydreaming as a kid and I was so amped about them that if I didn’t get them out I’d feel this big pressure in my chest, and the more I tried to restrain it, the more wired I’d feel.  If I wasn’t daydreaming, I would be acting out those daydreams! I’d climb trees and build little fairy castles in my backyard and make up languages and speak them, or sing songs without an ounce of shame while at the park. In public. By myself. At like, thirteen. 

…Anyway yes, if I didn’t channel all that into writing it would have come out in other, probably less socially acceptable ways. Writing feels like a usually invigorating, sometimes painful compulsion, tbh. 

Give some fun tidbits on the oc(s) of your choice!

Ooh! Ok! So Raoul of CofM has two younger sisters. I haven’t decided on their names yet, but one of them will be the protagonist of my genderbent Aladdin retelling! Due to circumstances (spoilers!), the story will open with her living as a boy on the streets, where she bumps into a very sheltered prince, and adventure ensues!

What are some of your favourite authors?

Oof, many. Off the top of my head — Patricia A. McKillip, Ursula K Le Guin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Georgette Heyer, Gail Carson Levine, Jeff Smith (of the Bone series), and Catherynne M. Valente! My goodreads is here 😁

If you could, what advice would you give yourself as a young writer?

Save all your writing, even the crappy, cringey stuff, in multiple places, both online and in hard copy. You’ll want to look back on them, see how far you’ve come, what’s changed and what hasn’t, and have a record of it all. 

Also! Lean harder into writing the stuff that makes you happy! Somewhere along the way people’s opinions get into your head and hold you back, and it takes you a long time to get your mojo back. 

Also also! Watch what you read, it influences you in ways that are often negative! Yeah, your parents actually were right about that one, and you’re gonna beat yourself up about it for a while. 

What character do you have the most fun writing?

I can’t choose just one!!! I love writing Wren (of Rivener) because she’s so BLUNT but Emotionally Stunted and I also love writing Rain (of No Capes) because she is 1) a Disaster of a human being, 2) Chaotic™ and 3) a clown, but it’s mostly a front to protect her vulnerable insides. 

(omg I have a type…)

Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

Sooooo you know how I’m retelling Beauty and the Beast? Major spoilers but: I was talking to a friend about some ideas I had and they were very supportive and also gave me really good ideas and basically uhhhhhh...romance in Bo & Eve has been cancelled, to be replaced by the power of Friendship and Found Family and honestly? BIG excited for it. 

Tried anything new with your writing lately? (style, POV, genre, fandom?)

Oh yeah actually! So I really struggle to write non-chronologically, which sucks for me because when I get stuck with a scene all writing just…stops. I really didn’t want to write this one description heavy scene that would require a lot of research, so I just. Wrote out what I wanted to happen there and moved on. And it worked! And sparked some new ideas and gave me some motivation back which was a lovely perk!

Tell us about what you’re most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project

Oooh ok so I’m REALLY looking forward to the emotional climax of CofM where Raoul has to make a very tough choice, Halah Suffers™, and Ilyas breaks everybody’s heart. It’s gonna be delicious. I’m also looking forward to the ending because…….it’s so mean. SO MEAN. I’m mean 😈I actually shared it on my old version of my blog already, I just didn’t tell anyone it was The End. 

Also looking forward to the emotional and plot climax of Bo & Eve! It’s my biggest departure from the fairy tale(s) and gonna be BEAUTIFUL. If i can ever write it 👀
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Also also really wanna write my story Reaper about a psychopomp falling in love with a ghost but uh…….almost two years have gone by and I have 2% of a plot lol. It may just be a short story. Or collection of short stories about the same characters. Actually yes I’ve talked myself into the idea and I'm doin' it. 

Is there something you always find yourself repeating in your writing? (favourite verb, something you describe ‘too often’, trope you can’t get enough of?)

HAH yes omg, too many things! For tropes, found family is in everything I write. I also love having gentle, sweet male characters! I used to be super into Broody McJerkFace love interests, but not anymore. (me @ myself: that’s Growth, sweetie) 

For body language: EVERYONE be ducking their heads shyly it’s hilarious of me. And in my dialogue I tend to write it with a lot of stammers, m-dashes, disjointed thoughts, etc because…that’s how I talk? And it lends realism I think, although maybe it’s annoying to read? Who knows.