1. How many years have you been writing? When did you officially consider yourself a writer?
I began writing my first story at age nine, so for almost nine years now. I think I considered myself a writer once I started to do it out of purpose, rather than simply out of pleasure. Although writing is one of my greatest joys in life, if I am to ever publish anything I must make myself write even when I don't want to. I must write with equal excellence under the influence of inspiration as I do without it.
2. How/why did you start writing?
I remember the day when I was sitting in my room with an empty red spiral and a pencil in my hand. I started writing my first story just because I wanted to try my hand at it, as the majority of people do at least once in their lifetime. Yet what I found was that it didn't tire me and I never wanted to stop, unlike most people who begin blindly writing a chapter story. Everyday I wrote a little more and I swiftly realized that writing was what I wanted to occupy myself with for the rest of my life.
3. What's your favorite part of writing.
Reading over something you've proudly completed. The actual process of writing is wonderful and beautiful of course, but I'm happiest when I've finished something, am able to read it and think, yeah, I made something good.
4. What's your biggest writing struggle?
Right now, it's maintaining a schedule. In days of yore, gladly dedicating two hours to clicking away on my computer each night was a luxury that I don't have anymore. At times, I can go a full week without writing in my novel. Yet between poetry, journaling, blogging, and school assignments, I'm at least writing something every day.
5. Do you write best at night or day?
Day, I'm a daytime person. I like to sit near an open window with the sun streaming in.
6. What does your writing space look like?
Since there are multiple places where I write, I won't show you pictures this time. Yet wherever I am writing be it on my bed, on my desk, on the couch or even out on the back porch, I always have instrumental music playing and a cup of coffee nearby.
7. How long does it typically take you to write a complete draft?
On average, I'd say about three months. Writing a complete draft is the easiest part of writing a story. It's the hours, and sometimes years of editing which follow, that take the longest by far.
8. How many projects do you work on at once?
I typically only dedicate my time to one large project; I couldn't imagine writing multiple books at once. However, between that, I'm always reading and writing little poems.
9. Do you prefer writing happy endings, sad ones, or somewhere in between?
Happy endings, without a doubt! I like books that make me cry, yet I prefer for the sadness to be somewhere in the middle, so that everything can be alright in the end. However, I do like an unexpected ending. So while I may prefer for the story to finish on a happy note, I like to throw in something that the audience may not have entirely suspected.
10. List a few authors who have influenced your writing journey.
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, L.M Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, James Herriot, C.S Lewis, John Stienbeck, and Victor Hugo, just to name some favorites.
11. Do you let people read your writing? Why or why not?
Of course! I need honest feedback in order to improve. However I don't let my friends and family see my first complete copy. It can take quite a while before I feel confident enough in what I've written, that I'm willing to let other look at it.
12. What's your ultimate writing goal?
I think I speak for a majority of writers when I saw that I want to publish a bestseller.
13. If you didn't write, what would you want to do?
Hmm, to be honest, there aren't very many things I'm good at, so it would probably just wind up being some other creative outlet. Maybe I'd be an English teacher, an actress, a photographer, or pursue something music related.
14. Is there a book which you would like to write on day yet you don't feel ready to attempt yet?
I've always wanted to write a complex and thrilling mystery novel. I've had an idea for a mystery series for a while, but I think until I reach adulthood, I'm going to continue gaining the tools to write that story rather than go for it at this time in life.
15. Which story has your heart and won't let you go?
Ugh! So.many! This is kind of a cruel question. I'd say perhaps, Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery. At the moment I'm re-reading a book from the series and even though I first read it when I was seven, those stories never seem to grow old.
On a different note, I realize I've been a bit of a crappy blogger lately, but I finally have some new content coming soon! Thanks so much for reading. your comments are invaluable! :)