SO. You can consider yourself "tagged" by me and do a post later and tell your friends I tagged you and made you do it, but I'll expect you to answer at least ONE in the comments. If you want ;-)
And then you can answer one in the comments, none in the comments, ALL of them in the comments...
Maybe I'm just giving you license to do whatever you like with this, so no one has to break any rules. Not that I mind rule-breaking...
Do you ever close your eyes when you're writing?
I do because it blocks out everything but what I want to say and what I'm feeling in that moment, and I'm working on a book right now that I've probably written half of with my eyes closed. (I know I'm weird and I'm okay with this)
Do you listen to music while you write? Before you write? Or neither?
I used to listen to music WHILE I wrote, but now I come up with music that "goes" with my book and listen to it BEFORE I write, like when I'm working in my house or out for a run. As soon as I sit down to write, I turn it off. Usually...
Do you work on one project at a time? Or many projects at a time?
Depends drastically on the project. But the only way for me to truly get space on a project is to work on something different. So...
Do you know when you've started writing something special? Or do they all feel special?
I know.
BUT in the end that's a personal thing, because the ones I'm closest to, aren't necessarily my best-selling. But part of me knows the books that are going to sell better than others.
Are there projects that you couldn't imagine changing anything in the story? And on the opposite of that, are there projects where you could shrug about change and jump in and do it?
ABSOLUTELY. On both counts.
Do titles come easily for you? Or are they more difficult?
My favorite book started with a title, and other times, the title is the LAST thing, and takes me MONTHS...
Did you know you wanted to be a writer when you started your first book?
Nope. Well. I always thought it would be cool to be a writer, but I had no idea I was starting what would turn into a whole book.
Do you think your first book will be published? (I know this is a REALLY rude question to ask someone who is working on their first book ;-)
Only with massive rewrites.
Are there favorite places in your house where you like to write? Or do you get more work done when you go somewhere else? Almost always I get more done at home, because I tend to write 3-8K a day when I'm working on something, and I need breaks. My house is perfect b/c I can go over plot points, and think ahead while I'm doing dishes or changing laundry...
So. This is my interview to you :-D Answer one. Answer them all :-D
I'm curious about my peoples...
~ Jo
P.S. Scroll down to win one of two copies of Falling - ends Wed (10/24) night
17 comments:
Do you think your first book will be published?
Actually lightning struck for my first nonfiction. I wrote an article for the regional area Arthritis Foundation as a parent dealing with juvenile arthritis. It was copied in Arthritis today. At the time I was a volunteer coordinator for the juvenile branch of the foundation. Within two months out in print I was called by Doubleday and asked if I could expand it to book length. They even suggested two agents to call. I signed on the dotted line thirty years ago.
After an agent/publisher search of two years for my first fiction, I hope it never sees the light of days. Three years later I decided to jump on the indie band wagon...the cash is better.
Do you work on one project at a time?
Until recently I worked on as many as five manuscripts at a time. Because I write under various pen names.
Since my stroke almost five months ago, I'm working on one project because I'm doing it one handed and my brain isn't straightened out yet. I realized that all the books out there were honest, but depicted how hard stroke recovery is. But decided on a different take on the subject...humor. Some of the things while frustrating while trying to relearn or adapt to can be quite hilarious in hindsight. My working title is Don't Get Your Panties in a Wad, but typing at 10 words a minute instead of 80 is challenging. Laughter can be the best medicine especially at oneself. Everyone who will buy the book (nonfiction) will be able to relate to some parts and laugh even if it's to keep from crying.
Do you close your eyes while writing?
I used to when I could type without looking at the keyboard. I could visualize the scenes better and hear the dialog. No visual interference or distractions.
Would answer some more but I'm exhausted now from hen-pecking the keyboard and backspacing over the misspellings. Like I said my brain damage is showing.
Love it! And what a good idea for a blog post. I'm totally stealing it, so if you want all the answers, you'll have to come and look there. But as a teaser...
Do I sometimes write with my eyes closed?
No. But only because I can't type without looking at the keys (I actually can, but if I think about it, I can't). I often stop and close my eyes to find what I need, but then I have to open them again so I can type.
I'll post answers to the rest of them tomorrow morning!
I really like your answers Jolene.
Are there projects that you couldn't imagine changing anything in the story? And on the opposite of that, are there projects where you could shrug about change and jump in and do it?
I thought my WIP Nevermore was perfect as a four to five novella series. Then one day I had some serious doubts and shortly after I decided to make it in a four part novel instead. At most it might be a duology. I think this is best because part one of the novellete was fine to my but as I thought of the others I had issues with characters, word count and that I suddently realized I needed multiple perspectives after the first novellete was to be done in mostly in third person perspective with Peter Pan. So making changes proved necessary and making it into a novel just made the process much less confusing. So even if you think a novel is perfect, watch out and be open to changes.
I'll post the detailed version by the end of October.
I'm going to answer Yes. I'm just not going to tell you what question it is I'm answering...
But, thank you for giving me something to blog about tomorrow. =)
I don't listen to music while I write but I do, occasionally, write with my eyes closed. It helps me get into the character.
Titles are HARD!
I knew I wanted to be published by third grade. So it's been a lifelong dream of mine.
Thanks for answering, and asking, the questions! It's great to get to know everyone!
Okay. Long comment. But you asked.
Do you ever close your eyes when you're writing?
Sometimes, but only if I'm concentrating hard on coming up with the right dialogue.
Do you listen to music while you write?
Almost always.
Do you work on one project at a time?
Writing: only one. But I may edit a 2nd while I'm writing.
Do you know when you've started writing something special?
*sigh* They all feel special. Wish agents and publishers all felt the same way. :)
Are there projects that you couldn't imagine changing anything in the story?
ABSOLUTELY. On both counts. (I copied your answer)
Do titles come easily for you? Or are they more difficult?
75% of the time, it's not too difficult. 25%, it takes a lot of thinking.
Did you know you wanted to be a writer when you started your first book?
Yes, in a way. But I didn't know what being a published writer entailed at that point.
Do you think your first book will be published?
Same answer as you, with rewrites. I've learned even more since then. I think the premise is great, but need to work on structure and characters.
Are there favorite places in your house where you like to write?
Anywhere. 50% at desktop in computer room. 50% on laptop wherever.
~Yes I close my eyes...I like to plot while going to sleep at night.
~I don't listen to music while I write, but songs will spur ideas for scenes, characters, etc.
~I prefer multiple projects. Distance gives me better objectivity and since I like to be busy...having more than one makes good sense.
~Some do feel more special and then seem tougher to write...go figure.
~I get attached to characters. Ask me to change a scene, no problem. Tell me to cut a character and it hurts.
~Same as you. Though, I would never guess you had a hard time with any title. I have complete title envy of you.
~I always wanted to be a writer. I just had doubts about ever being able to find readers.
~Rewriting that first book. It's a mess...but hate to scrap the characters.
~I can write anywhere. I just can't write with someone reading over my shoulder.
Oh! I didn't have anything to post on Friday... so, um, I'm going to take these and answer them on my own blog, haha!
I love your answer for if you feel something special :) I feel the same way.
I like noise when I write. Sometimes it's music and sometimes it's Zombieland :)
Titles are the bane of my existence. That's a tad dramatic...I'm not good at coming up with titles.
I HOPE my first novel will be published BUT, it needs some SERIOUS work :P
You know, I was originally going to post that these questions didn't really apply to me because I'm not really a writing since I'm not an author. But then, I realized just because I am not an author doesn't' mean I am not a writer. I do after all, write book reviews, so in some small part, I guess I am a writer of sorts.
To answer one of the questions, when I find that I am searching for the right word or sentence to say I find that I often do close my eyes. Why? I have no idea but it does seem to help so why stop now?
I do start many projects at one because I start many books at once. I never use to but since becoming a reviewer I have a book with me at all times and sometimes they are on different devices (Fire, Kindle, phone, DTB) so I often have more than one going at once. I try to start reviews from the moment I open the book until the last page. That way I feel I get my thoughts and feelings down as I am reading the whole story instead of just my thoughts by the time I am done with it.
Does this make for better reviews? I have no idea but I like to think so.
I close my eyes sometimes, too! We can be weird together, K?
Music is an integral part of my writing, but it plays different roles at different times. Like you, sometimes I'll listen in prep for writing, but want silence when I actually write. Other times I have a select playlist on in the background, especially while I'm editing.
Sometimes I'll play one song in a loop for the whole time I'm working on a scene for which that song perfectly captures the rhythm and feeling I want to convey. I love writing like this because, for me, it's when I write most freely.
I actually do think my first book will be published. That may be a fantasy, but it's mine and I'm sticking with it. Besides, I've gotten some very encouraging feedback from people whose opinions I respect.
As for where I write - anywhere! Really. I have a tight schedule and a little bitty laptop that I take with me everywhere. In a perfect world I'd have a little house on the coast with a fireplace and a whole wall of windows facing the ocean and vast quantities of time to spend there. (Then maybe I'd write as fast as you do while you're all busy with your regular life going on!)
I get the eyes closed thing. Often I feel like what I need to write is there, but obscured by all the visual and auditory noise. And sometimes closing my eyes helps to get the words out.
I decided I wanted to be an author when I was 8 years old.
It's so fun to read these Q&As. I love seeing how other writers approach writing. I would have thought you and I would have very different answers, but I think most of them are pretty close.
I hate titles.
I definitely get more work done at home... on my loveseat in the basement. If I move around the house (like try to work in the family room or my bedroom because the kids are playing Wii in the basement or something) I am not at ALL productive. I feel all off kilter.
I've gone to Panera's a few times when my daughter's been on the road for All-State choir and such, and then I drop her off, go get coffee, and put my headphones on. I can do that when I'm away from home, but I'd never do it at the one down the street.
I dont think I ever write with my eyes closed...
I just cant SEE anything with them closed, I need them open so I can stare blankly into space and envisage scenes in my mind...
If they are closed my mind is just all, well black.
Unless Im sleeping, thats when the best thinking happens.
1. Eyes closed,no. In the dark,yes. The words seem to be the only thing that matters. 2 ish. I write several things at once. I never know when they are complete and it is time (or not time)to look for an agent. 3. My first book will get published. Everyone liked it. I didn't like things they asked me to do. So, I sat it out of the way and wrote something else. I really like it. No one else seems interested. So, I pulled the other one out. I have a clear picture of what needs to be done. I like it. I stuck with my gut. Now, I have better luck with publishers than agents. Why is this? I feel the need for an agent. I'm thinking MASSIVE edits on book #1 then look for an agent again before giving in to a friendly publisher? The second one. Wait. Re read and consider Indie publication. Thoughts?
Titles usually come to me first.
I love this tag. For the next few weeks my posts are planned, but I'd like to answer these mid-November.
I can't listen to music while I write. I'm easily distracted. I can't even play a song before I start writing. If I try, the next thing I know is that I've listened to five songs and still haven't written a word. :P
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