Five Ways I Raise My Vibrations

Five ways I raise my vibrations:

1. Eating. It's not comfort food. It's motivational food. I always feel better and therefore more likely to write when I've eaten something tasty.

2. Hot drinks. One mug of milk. One microwave. One jar of coffee (or hot chocolate). When I sit down to write I like to have a hot drink to hand. It's a ritual that helps me focus.

3. Exercise. It's easy to dismiss exercise as something other people do but I find endorphins seem to be accompanied by ideas and ideas = stuff to write.

4. Talking. When I write I invariably have one or two people on messenger chatting away. I like to be able to fire ideas at them or just commentate on my own thoughts.

5. Sleep. That time when you're not quite awake and your thoughts start to collide is one of the best times for ideas. I keep a notebook by the side of my bed as ideas have a tendency to develop on their own.

Just as mundane as anyone else. I can't be bothered to tag anyone else... If you read this feel free to tag yourselves!

Writer Meme

I was tagged by Ali!

What's the last thing you wrote?
A step outline for a short story set in a fantasy world. It features a murderer and his former victim.

Was it any good?
I really like the idea but it's not exactly a "nice" story. I'm tempted to write it as a script instead.

What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
My coursework from a writing class I took several years ago. I mean I've still got stuff I wrote while at uni but you'd be hard pressed to call it "writing" since the process I went through is such a far cry from how I work now.

Write poetry?
I tried once it didn't exactly end well. I went through a phase of writing a haiku every day and I was quite happy with a few of those.

Angsty poetry?
Once upon a time...

Favourite genre of writing?
Definitely sci-fi/fantasy but I'm trying to branch out.

Most fun character you ever wrote?
A man called Derek. I just had a lot of fun with his dialogue.

Most annoying character you ever wrote?
I'm not really sure. I've written some pretty unpleasant characters in the past so I guess they'd be annoying. Any character I name Lucille?

Best plot you ever wrote?
Right now I'm quite liking the story I just wrote about a king who imprisons the sun. The possibilities for other stories set after the climax of that story are really grabbing me at the moment.

Coolest plot twist you ever wrote?
I honestly have no idea.

How often do you get Writers block?
I don't get blocked. I get tired. There are always ways around block if you're determined.

Write fan fiction?
Nope. I've just got zero interest in writing non-canon stories about other people's creations.

Do you type or write by hand?
Type. I make a lot of hand-written notes though.

Do you save everything you write?
Absolutely.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you've abandoned it?
Yup. I didn't finish it the second or third time though. I enjoy dabbling.

What's your favourite thing you've written?
Derek's Story. It's a bit of mundane sci-fi. I didn't like the twist too much but Derek had some lovely turns of phrase.

What's everyone else's favourite thing you've written?
The God in the Tower... I think. But so few people see my work it's hard to tell.

Do you even show people your work?
Yes. Friends and family.

Did you ever write a novel?
I did nanowrimo in 2006. I managed to finish the 50k but I never went back and looked at it again. I know it's that bad.

Ever written romance or teen angsty drama?
Nope. Not outside of parody.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?
A few:

• This blog.
• A ten minute script (coursework).
• A fantasy story/script set after The God in the Tower.
• A piece for our course anthology.
• Developing the logic of my fantasy world.
• Reading textbooks as often as I find time...

Do you want to write for a living?
It'd be nice but I have no illusions of ever being able to. I already have a career and writing is a passion rather than a dream.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?
None.

Ever written something in script or play format?
Yep. Since starting the MA I've written several short film scripts.

Do you ever write based on yourself?
I have done. I don't tend to show people the intensely personal things.

What character that you've written most resembles yourself?
I couldn't say. I do my level best to avoid wish fulfilment characters.

Where do you get ideas for your other characters?
Books, TV, film, other people... Lots of stuff!

Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Some of my nanowrimo attempt from 2006 was a sort of fever dream. I don't keep a dream diary though.

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings or a cliff hanger?
Satisfying endings. I tend to hate on cliff hangers a lot (but only because they annoy me on TV).

Have you ever written based on an artwork you've seen?
Nope.

Are you concerned with spelling or grammar as you write?
Not especially.

Ever write something entirely in chatspeak? (How r u?)
Ugh. Don't get me started.

Entirely in L337?
No really. Don't get me started!

Was that question completely appalling and un-writer like?
No. They just touched on a couple of my pet hates.

Does music help you write?
Absolutely. I couldn't write without it.

Quote something you've written. The first thing to pop into your mind.
"I’ve been friends with Harriet a long while now and she knows my feelings on poultry. Not trustworthy. Just like seagulls. Crafty feathered buggers."

And now I tag... Sally!