Writing meme. Stolen from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rainjoyous.
May. 1st, 2008 01:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miserywhipConsidering half of everything I answer will mean nothing to most people- I'll try and cover original work and fan-fiction, even if I haven't done much on the original topic in the past few years.
This did getkind of long.
Um.
What's the last thing you wrote?
Um... *Gets out notebook.* Well, 'hotel paper' is the last prompt I -completed- although it's not typed up yet, for sheer lack of internet access. I've started 'on the side of the road' since then, but it's not actually done... and I'm not sure how much longer it'll be.
On original work, I used the prompt 'I saw it all in a shard of glass' to add more to Damien's suicide. About the only thing I can consistantly come up with a muse for, that boy's misery.
Was it any good?
As far as I'm concerned, 'hotel paper' certainly has plenty of room for improvement. It's hand-written though, so hopefully I'll be able to fill out the sentences better as I type it. That's always been how I work, when I hand write anything.
Um, 'I saw it all in a shard of glass' was good, in my opinion. My only concern with that is... that it's been so long since I wrote in their universe- I hope it doesn't contradict anything I'd come up with, before. I hate having to decide between two contradicting facts.
What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
Oh, God... The first thing I ever wrote, maybe? I have plenty of that 'novel' floating around the house. I find bits and pieces of it sometimes, while organizing. I have papers from fiction older than ten years, around somewhere.
Write poetry?
I quit poetry. Hated it in school, worst subject I've ever had to sit through- but I still wrote a lot of it, on my own. I got through a lot of things, via poetry. Self-help, much? But. Even if I wasn't writing poetry... As a teen, I had an uncontrollable habit of rhyming when I was really upset. Which, at the time I blamed on writing so much poetry, but probably had more to do with me being insane, and having OCD.
Angsty poetry?
The angstiest. I have very few happy poems, I -tried- to write a few once. I think I can count them on one hand.... My actual fiction is, um... not nearly the same genre. I can't write real angst to save my life, in fic form.
Most fun character you ever wrote?
Das. Definitely, Das. God, I bet there was someone else, but right now all I can think is "Das! Das! Das!"
Um. I'd say Ed, as far as fan-fic goes. Only because he's the only one I can do justice to, fully. Actually, you know what? Edward and Alex from Skeletons. God, they were a blast to portray, and since the fic is always half Ed, and half Al, it's hard to -pinpoint- which was more fun... Maybe Ed. Funny, I usually -hate- first person POV in writing, and that's how his was always done.
.... I hate fan-fic of fan-fic too. It just seems wrong, for some reason.
Most annoying character you ever wrote?
Winry, in fan-fic and Avedis in original work. Why? Because they're both horrible to write. Even having written them and feeling satisfied to an extent, I -always- feel like they're out of character. Which is sad... considering I -made- Avedis.
Best plot you ever wrote?
...............
Pass?
Well. I rather like how 'perfect' came out. Even if that wasn't my intent, at all and it was supposed to be about Al more than Ed.
Original work is a bit harder to pinpoint, since I didn't come up with the plots all by myself. I guess I'm still proud of the whole species mating for life concept I gave Tag, even if the reasoning was a bit twisted.
Coolest plot twist you ever wrote?
Um. I rather liked the concept of Ukarri becoming God, although I really don't remember who came up with that idea, I assume it was me since... the whole 'underworld' plot was mine.
Or, Damien having a kid for each sin. Because personification is my friend.
Let's see... Fic. Umm. Everything's a plot twist, isn't it?
I rather liked 'the second hand moved' just because it amused me... blame House of the Waiting Family for that one, Ed doesn't know the first thing about winding a watch.
and, I still have a sick sense of overwhelming pride every time I read the last line or so of 'life's a show'. I thought that idea was brilliant, and I usually don't stay humored by my own ideas for very long.
How often do you get writer's block?
Minor occasional, 'this will go away tomorrow' writer's block? Uh, probably about once or twice a week. I can only write when I'm exhausted, so naturally it's hard -because- I'm exhausted. I have to find the right moment between an idea and too tired to write, or I lose the chance to write that day.
Which makes it hard to judge if I'm writing anything -worth- reading, and I have to go back and re-read it once or twice before determining whether or not I'm actually satisfied with it. I do the same thing reading other people's work. Attention span, what?
Real, crippling 'Dear God, I may never write again' writer's block? I've had that twice, that I can recall. Recently, scared me half to death since I didn't know what I was going to -do- with myself if I lost even the ability to write fic.
Before that, I went into a painful writer's block for about three years, in which RPing was the only form of writing I could really do. Then I started journaling again, and after awhile even attempting fan-fic. I'm still unable to really sit down and get any original fiction going, but fan-fic is enough for me to keep sane for now, so I accept that.
How do you fix it?
I wanted to steal Laura's answer for this, it was so perfect. I don't know. For the most part I just stew about things. Different things work for different ideas, I guess. I used to just -ignore- writing ideas until they came at me full force and I -had- to write them, and that worked for me. Now... sometimes I just lose the prompt, if I let that happen. So, it's all about balancing the 'ignoring it until it demands to be seen' and 'obsess over it, until you form a solid idea.' until something can be written.
Do you type or write by hand?
I've always preferred writing by hand, but in recent years I haven't had a computer set up that allows for easy transfer from notebook to computer. Two years ago, during the RP that I was in, I hand wrote pretty much all of Ed's entries, before posting them online. The desk setup for that computer was easier (although still difficult for what I was used to.) for me to do. Now... It's near impossible, and I don't have the patience. Also, I've pretty much lost all the will I had to write it out long hand, and then edit as I typed it, that was the driving force behind doing it that way.
Now I only seem to want to type them up, alone in my room when there's little else to do.
More often than not, if I'm on Greatest Journal or ... have a certain person or thing in mind.
Do you save everything you write?
Yes. I have one-line stories in my notebooks that I can't bring myself to throw away in hopes that I'll one day find the muse again and finish them. I look at old stuff in my notebooks with greater hope than half-written entries posted online.
There are several prompts I've started, and know how they're meant to end, or where they're meant to go and just -can't- for the life of me determine how to get from here to there.
Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
Wait, I think I just answered this one.
What's your favorite thing that you've written?
Oh God. As far as ideas go, not actual fic... Um. Damien and Salina, and nearly everything revolving around -them-, together. I don't really have a favorite story, in particular. Which might have more to do with being unable to remember -specifics- so much as huge clumps of time line. My writing was so weak back then, I'm sure if I tried to read and pick something- I'd merely cringe at the thought.
I was really proud of a lot of my RP work. Introductions, when a character first entered a scene and we had to describe what they looked like and how they entered- those were the most fun for me. I saved some of Das' just because I liked them so much, but that was years ago.
Fic? Uhh.. Well, it's a toss up between The Birthday Surprise, and the other ... birthday fic, I wrote. Ha.. Umm... I don't even -remember- The Birthday Surprise, but I do recall starting it off with Ed's narration in the same fashion the author wrote her own, and that made me happy. God, I'm sure there's something else I'm forgetting. So many prompts, so many... I'm trying not to reference the same stories more than once.
What's everyone else's favorite thing that you've written?
I don't share much... I think the happiest review I got to something was in response to 'perfect' but- I know some other ones got responses, too and I don't remember what they were.
The only public thing that really got any rave review was The Waiter Fic. In which Ed was retired from the military, restored and a waiter; Roy wanted to get back into the Elric's lives and the fans wanted to see some RoyxEd. Heaven forbid anyone write gen-fic in the FMA fandom.
Tried to keep that one 'insinuative' without any direct relationship, in actual Fullmetal Alchemist fashion. Since that was one of my favorite aspects of the anime.
Since the original work was all private- I do remember that Antonio -really- liked Damien back in high school, despite the incest aspect. I'm not sure about anything else.
Do you ever show people your work?
Yes. I showed any of my original work with whoever was writing it with me. So Jen, and Andy of course. Antonio got to read some in high school, because he didn't read, and it's a crime not to read. So I made him read my stories, because the art I did in class made him curious. Never understood what he liked about Damien... one part angst, one part twincest. A few other people too, but I don't think naming off everyone's entirely important.
Fic, I used to post publicly, but gave that up after some mod hypocricy in a certain community that pissed me off. So, now it's all private and the most I've shown anything in the past six months has been to two people. One of which was only to determine that their character was IC, since he was borrowed for a particular story.
I'm very paranoid, about my original work in particular. Because I don't think I ever will get published, and I'd hate to see someone take anything I've worked on and bastardize it for their own work. Yeah, like I said. Paranoid.
Who's your favorite constructive critic?
I don't do criticism well. On either end, I'm terrible at wording things, and taking things unless they're worded a very certain way. Uhh... That said. I do try to accept constructive criticism, and I would -ask- for it, if I wasn't so overwhelmingly sensitive. Generally, I take it better from strangers than friends, and I'm not entirely sure why that is- but I can't stand people I'm close to commenting on my faults.
Um. I had a very cool beta for awhile, but I wrote so rarely that eventually we fell out of contact. Then I acquired another one, because she wanted to see The Waiter Fic finished and she never got back to me when I sent the last part. Which ... is about when I stopped writing it all together, again. I'm very particular about how things are done, so I hate having to acquire a new beta, or be one for anyone else... Incase we don't 'click' on that level very well. Which again... Is hard for me to do.
So.... All of that aside. I find that the best critic I've ever had help from, was when I was working on Skeletons and requested Moon Maiden check that her characters were IC, for what fic I wrote. She was very helpful and patient with my quirks, and we worked around a way for a certain thing to happen that would have been otherwise OOC, and that was really cool. I rather liked writing her fics... Okay. Ramble over.
Did you ever write a novel?
Working on it.
Have you ever written fantasy, sci-fi, or horror?
Um. *Taps finger.* Sci-fi... I'm not so sure. There's a .... thin line, between sci-fi and fantasy in some instances. Would FMA be sci-fi? I'm not even sure. Also, it probably depends on your definition of horror, since mine seems to fall more under drama/angst/suspense even when I think it's horror.
So, fantasy definitely, anyway.
Ever written romance or teen angsty drama?
My romance is always... vague. Or horrifyingly mushy or smutty and I hide it away forever, because Dear God, I can't believe I wrote that garbage. I write a lot of angst, and have since I was young. Um, I'm not sure about 'teen angsty drama' since I don't know -what- that is. Dear God, I was reading Dragon Lance when I was twelve.
and a lot of stories that I 'write' in my head, never make it to paper or full conscious thought. So, do those count?
What's one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Never say never, because then you're practically guaranteed to go and do something stupid like whatever you swear that you won't. Um, kids. Frankly, I write too adult. The dynamics are too advanced, the sentence structure too complicated and the words too big- I've written for adults and 'mature teens' since I was ... I don't know, ten. I didn't know how to write as a kid when I -was- one, so I don't think I can start now. Is that a genre?
Real, legit horror, I think. I swear I've written horror before, but again.
God only knows, looking at real horror if it would even come close.
How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Oh God, there's over 200 prompts, 80-something that I actually have ideas for. More prompts are posted every day, and that doesn't include that ones that don't come from that prompt list. Like the song fics... The Simple Lies arc got quiet again, but I re-read that Adema one and realized it's not nearly as bad as I remember, so- ... I'm in trouble?
Which, doesn't even touch on original writing, but they're all quiet enough to ignore for the most part. At least until I can start getting my facts straight again.
Do you want to write for a living?
I did. Then I decided that I wanted a job that actually gets paid on occasion and opted for photography, instead. To anyone that's not laughing- ... God I suck at career choices.
Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?
Yeah, actually. Um, do school newspapers count? Because I did that for awhile, in high school. I don't remember specifics about the other one, but I was really surprised to have gotten published in it.
Have you ever won an award for your writing?
First place, in the poetry contest in school. It was a poem about an ant, of all things... Grade school, though I'm not sure what range was covered since the school had preschool to eighth grade, and I was in fifth.
I got a little gold and marble statue that I still have, somewhere at my father's house.
Ever written something in script or play format?
....... *Covers face* A fic, in middle school. Um, yeah... There was something else too, but I don't remember what. It was something I worked on with someone else... might have related to the never-ending novel of doom that's not going to be finished or published ever.
What is your favorite word?
God, the sad thing is I probably had an answer for this, once.
Do you ever write based on yourself?
In a sense, I think everything is derived from within, so I suppose so. I don't tend to write things based on an auto-biographical stand, but I have, and it's hard not to write from one's self, when the character(s) they portray the most in work is thought to be so similar to them. In a lot of cases, I do have to pause and wonder how Ed would handle something, how I'd handle it, and whether or not the two are one and the same.
Because, sometimes, it has to be.
Which of your characters most resembles you?
Once, I would have said Tag. Now I think I'm more like Damien or Lex. Which again, fails to be entirely like me. I would say I can probably relate to Damien the most, at this point. Considering his mentality after Erica and returning home. Which sounds... bitter and very 'martyr-dom' but I really am at the point now... that I just- give up.
Um, in fic. Well, normally I'd say Ed because I relate most to Ed and the whole reason I can't stand the little bastard is because it's like he's there to broadcast my faults for all the world to see. I've never liked or even seen a character I could relate to so fully, and never really -understood- when people said a certain character was exactly like them until I saw Heart Of Steel. Which. Has a lot to do with my mixed feelings on that episode, nevermind that character.
So, moving on. Because I generally warp AU situations that involve an older more mellow Ed, generally broken from being such a fiery little brat for so long- and have Al evolved into the new 'Ed' of the story. Maybe, in my own writing, I relate more to Al because of that.
... Or maybe, I write Ed the way I do to compensate for my own changes. Whichever.
Where do you get ideas for your characters?
They just happen. I'm sure they're stolen, borrowed, inspired.... something from somewhere. Das, I think I pulled from myself. I think all of my characters are just -me-, if you divided me up like that. Uh, their names are not quite so creative. One of which is going to be my dirty little secret to the grave, I swear to God.
Fan-fic characters aren't mine, so the ideas -for- the characters is ... clearly just, from the series itself. Inspiration for the situations I'm writing them, and which part of their personalities I'm borrowing from, at the time- varies depending on the subject matter of the fic, clearly.
Do you ever write based on your dreams?
I'm ... more prone to drawing, based on my dreams. But. A lot of Ed's entries in the RP were from dreams, if that count as writing. And since I tend to mull over fic topics before bed, if I dream anything after that, then I consider including them in the actual work, too.
Do you prefer happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?
I prefer what fits for the fic. Which is a damn problem more than it should be. If I start a fic out and work around a set decision, and something alters that, I get .... way more upset than I ought to. Sometimes, I'll write two endings, just to avoid losing my original idea, or the new one.
Basically, if a fic was -supposed- to end sad, it pretty much has to, or I'm not happy with it. Doesn't matter how well-written the new 'happy' ending is. If it doesn't 'fit' if it's not supposed to be there... It upsets me. Same for a fic that's supposed to have a happy ending. If it tries to have a sad 'ending' instead, I'll try to continue it until I can work it back around to my original happy ending, moving the 'sad' part more to the middle.
I hate cliff-hangers in other people's work, so it would be hypocritical to enjoy them in my own. I like closure, I like -answers-, and even if everything else is settled... if that one thing I wanted an answer to is left without being tied up, I obsess over it, because I can't -work out- an answer in my head. .... I wonder if that's an OCD thing.
Have you ever written anything based on an artwork you've seen?
Considering some prompts are just that, yes, I've had to. I know I've done this in the past too, and I'm aggravated because I -can't- for the life of me think of what it was for, or about.
Something to think about anyway...
Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Yes. I'm terrible with grammar, and writing for me is a very free-flow thing. I come up with ideas, and write around what happens, stream of conscious style. Without thinking, without structure, just -write-. I try to tidy up anything that's difficult to read, before finalizing my work but sometimes sentences just stubbornly remain The Anti-English, to spite me. Since I only write for private matters now, I'm less concerned with it, when it comes to having a final product. A fic with feeling and poor English is better than a flat piece of -nothing- that's written well, as far as I'm concerned.
So, in short. It's a struggle for me, because I tend to have to sacrifice either way.
Ever write something entirely in chatspeak?
Have you ever splashed your eyeballs with toxic acid? God, I can't even stand to look at chatspeak. Which is sad, because I tend to lose a lot of the humor in cat macros, when I cringe upon seeing them. When I'm feeling particularly goofy or in a good mood, I may jokingly use a phrase or two... but to write something entirely in 'netspeak?
I think I just gave myself anxiety, trying to imagine that.
Does music help you write?
Music helps me breathe.
Are people surprised and confused when they find out you write well?
I'm surprised and confused when others praise my writing. Does that count?
Quote something you've written.
No.
Honestly, the only thing I'd want to even consider quoting here would be a line from Ed's journal. I just- don't have the willpower or attention span to go hunting around there for something clever to add. It would probably be angst-ridden and miserable, since I found those to be the most impressive lines.
Dear God, I've exhausted myself.
It's 3:53, this took me two and a half hours to do.
I'm going to bed.
This did get
Um.
What's the last thing you wrote?
Um... *Gets out notebook.* Well, 'hotel paper' is the last prompt I -completed- although it's not typed up yet, for sheer lack of internet access. I've started 'on the side of the road' since then, but it's not actually done... and I'm not sure how much longer it'll be.
On original work, I used the prompt 'I saw it all in a shard of glass' to add more to Damien's suicide. About the only thing I can consistantly come up with a muse for, that boy's misery.
Was it any good?
As far as I'm concerned, 'hotel paper' certainly has plenty of room for improvement. It's hand-written though, so hopefully I'll be able to fill out the sentences better as I type it. That's always been how I work, when I hand write anything.
Um, 'I saw it all in a shard of glass' was good, in my opinion. My only concern with that is... that it's been so long since I wrote in their universe- I hope it doesn't contradict anything I'd come up with, before. I hate having to decide between two contradicting facts.
What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
Oh, God... The first thing I ever wrote, maybe? I have plenty of that 'novel' floating around the house. I find bits and pieces of it sometimes, while organizing. I have papers from fiction older than ten years, around somewhere.
Write poetry?
I quit poetry. Hated it in school, worst subject I've ever had to sit through- but I still wrote a lot of it, on my own. I got through a lot of things, via poetry. Self-help, much? But. Even if I wasn't writing poetry... As a teen, I had an uncontrollable habit of rhyming when I was really upset. Which, at the time I blamed on writing so much poetry, but probably had more to do with me being insane, and having OCD.
Angsty poetry?
The angstiest. I have very few happy poems, I -tried- to write a few once. I think I can count them on one hand.... My actual fiction is, um... not nearly the same genre. I can't write real angst to save my life, in fic form.
Most fun character you ever wrote?
Das. Definitely, Das. God, I bet there was someone else, but right now all I can think is "Das! Das! Das!"
Um. I'd say Ed, as far as fan-fic goes. Only because he's the only one I can do justice to, fully. Actually, you know what? Edward and Alex from Skeletons. God, they were a blast to portray, and since the fic is always half Ed, and half Al, it's hard to -pinpoint- which was more fun... Maybe Ed. Funny, I usually -hate- first person POV in writing, and that's how his was always done.
.... I hate fan-fic of fan-fic too. It just seems wrong, for some reason.
Most annoying character you ever wrote?
Winry, in fan-fic and Avedis in original work. Why? Because they're both horrible to write. Even having written them and feeling satisfied to an extent, I -always- feel like they're out of character. Which is sad... considering I -made- Avedis.
Best plot you ever wrote?
...............
Pass?
Well. I rather like how 'perfect' came out. Even if that wasn't my intent, at all and it was supposed to be about Al more than Ed.
Original work is a bit harder to pinpoint, since I didn't come up with the plots all by myself. I guess I'm still proud of the whole species mating for life concept I gave Tag, even if the reasoning was a bit twisted.
Coolest plot twist you ever wrote?
Um. I rather liked the concept of Ukarri becoming God, although I really don't remember who came up with that idea, I assume it was me since... the whole 'underworld' plot was mine.
Or, Damien having a kid for each sin. Because personification is my friend.
Let's see... Fic. Umm. Everything's a plot twist, isn't it?
I rather liked 'the second hand moved' just because it amused me... blame House of the Waiting Family for that one, Ed doesn't know the first thing about winding a watch.
and, I still have a sick sense of overwhelming pride every time I read the last line or so of 'life's a show'. I thought that idea was brilliant, and I usually don't stay humored by my own ideas for very long.
How often do you get writer's block?
Minor occasional, 'this will go away tomorrow' writer's block? Uh, probably about once or twice a week. I can only write when I'm exhausted, so naturally it's hard -because- I'm exhausted. I have to find the right moment between an idea and too tired to write, or I lose the chance to write that day.
Which makes it hard to judge if I'm writing anything -worth- reading, and I have to go back and re-read it once or twice before determining whether or not I'm actually satisfied with it. I do the same thing reading other people's work. Attention span, what?
Real, crippling 'Dear God, I may never write again' writer's block? I've had that twice, that I can recall. Recently, scared me half to death since I didn't know what I was going to -do- with myself if I lost even the ability to write fic.
Before that, I went into a painful writer's block for about three years, in which RPing was the only form of writing I could really do. Then I started journaling again, and after awhile even attempting fan-fic. I'm still unable to really sit down and get any original fiction going, but fan-fic is enough for me to keep sane for now, so I accept that.
How do you fix it?
I wanted to steal Laura's answer for this, it was so perfect. I don't know. For the most part I just stew about things. Different things work for different ideas, I guess. I used to just -ignore- writing ideas until they came at me full force and I -had- to write them, and that worked for me. Now... sometimes I just lose the prompt, if I let that happen. So, it's all about balancing the 'ignoring it until it demands to be seen' and 'obsess over it, until you form a solid idea.' until something can be written.
Do you type or write by hand?
I've always preferred writing by hand, but in recent years I haven't had a computer set up that allows for easy transfer from notebook to computer. Two years ago, during the RP that I was in, I hand wrote pretty much all of Ed's entries, before posting them online. The desk setup for that computer was easier (although still difficult for what I was used to.) for me to do. Now... It's near impossible, and I don't have the patience. Also, I've pretty much lost all the will I had to write it out long hand, and then edit as I typed it, that was the driving force behind doing it that way.
Now I only seem to want to type them up, alone in my room when there's little else to do.
More often than not, if I'm on Greatest Journal or ... have a certain person or thing in mind.
Do you save everything you write?
Yes. I have one-line stories in my notebooks that I can't bring myself to throw away in hopes that I'll one day find the muse again and finish them. I look at old stuff in my notebooks with greater hope than half-written entries posted online.
There are several prompts I've started, and know how they're meant to end, or where they're meant to go and just -can't- for the life of me determine how to get from here to there.
Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
Wait, I think I just answered this one.
What's your favorite thing that you've written?
Oh God. As far as ideas go, not actual fic... Um. Damien and Salina, and nearly everything revolving around -them-, together. I don't really have a favorite story, in particular. Which might have more to do with being unable to remember -specifics- so much as huge clumps of time line. My writing was so weak back then, I'm sure if I tried to read and pick something- I'd merely cringe at the thought.
I was really proud of a lot of my RP work. Introductions, when a character first entered a scene and we had to describe what they looked like and how they entered- those were the most fun for me. I saved some of Das' just because I liked them so much, but that was years ago.
Fic? Uhh.. Well, it's a toss up between The Birthday Surprise, and the other ... birthday fic, I wrote. Ha.. Umm... I don't even -remember- The Birthday Surprise, but I do recall starting it off with Ed's narration in the same fashion the author wrote her own, and that made me happy. God, I'm sure there's something else I'm forgetting. So many prompts, so many... I'm trying not to reference the same stories more than once.
What's everyone else's favorite thing that you've written?
I don't share much... I think the happiest review I got to something was in response to 'perfect' but- I know some other ones got responses, too and I don't remember what they were.
The only public thing that really got any rave review was The Waiter Fic. In which Ed was retired from the military, restored and a waiter; Roy wanted to get back into the Elric's lives and the fans wanted to see some RoyxEd. Heaven forbid anyone write gen-fic in the FMA fandom.
Tried to keep that one 'insinuative' without any direct relationship, in actual Fullmetal Alchemist fashion. Since that was one of my favorite aspects of the anime.
Since the original work was all private- I do remember that Antonio -really- liked Damien back in high school, despite the incest aspect. I'm not sure about anything else.
Do you ever show people your work?
Yes. I showed any of my original work with whoever was writing it with me. So Jen, and Andy of course. Antonio got to read some in high school, because he didn't read, and it's a crime not to read. So I made him read my stories, because the art I did in class made him curious. Never understood what he liked about Damien... one part angst, one part twincest. A few other people too, but I don't think naming off everyone's entirely important.
Fic, I used to post publicly, but gave that up after some mod hypocricy in a certain community that pissed me off. So, now it's all private and the most I've shown anything in the past six months has been to two people. One of which was only to determine that their character was IC, since he was borrowed for a particular story.
I'm very paranoid, about my original work in particular. Because I don't think I ever will get published, and I'd hate to see someone take anything I've worked on and bastardize it for their own work. Yeah, like I said. Paranoid.
Who's your favorite constructive critic?
I don't do criticism well. On either end, I'm terrible at wording things, and taking things unless they're worded a very certain way. Uhh... That said. I do try to accept constructive criticism, and I would -ask- for it, if I wasn't so overwhelmingly sensitive. Generally, I take it better from strangers than friends, and I'm not entirely sure why that is- but I can't stand people I'm close to commenting on my faults.
Um. I had a very cool beta for awhile, but I wrote so rarely that eventually we fell out of contact. Then I acquired another one, because she wanted to see The Waiter Fic finished and she never got back to me when I sent the last part. Which ... is about when I stopped writing it all together, again. I'm very particular about how things are done, so I hate having to acquire a new beta, or be one for anyone else... Incase we don't 'click' on that level very well. Which again... Is hard for me to do.
So.... All of that aside. I find that the best critic I've ever had help from, was when I was working on Skeletons and requested Moon Maiden check that her characters were IC, for what fic I wrote. She was very helpful and patient with my quirks, and we worked around a way for a certain thing to happen that would have been otherwise OOC, and that was really cool. I rather liked writing her fics... Okay. Ramble over.
Did you ever write a novel?
Working on it.
Have you ever written fantasy, sci-fi, or horror?
Um. *Taps finger.* Sci-fi... I'm not so sure. There's a .... thin line, between sci-fi and fantasy in some instances. Would FMA be sci-fi? I'm not even sure. Also, it probably depends on your definition of horror, since mine seems to fall more under drama/angst/suspense even when I think it's horror.
So, fantasy definitely, anyway.
Ever written romance or teen angsty drama?
My romance is always... vague. Or horrifyingly mushy or smutty and I hide it away forever, because Dear God, I can't believe I wrote that garbage. I write a lot of angst, and have since I was young. Um, I'm not sure about 'teen angsty drama' since I don't know -what- that is. Dear God, I was reading Dragon Lance when I was twelve.
and a lot of stories that I 'write' in my head, never make it to paper or full conscious thought. So, do those count?
What's one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Never say never, because then you're practically guaranteed to go and do something stupid like whatever you swear that you won't. Um, kids. Frankly, I write too adult. The dynamics are too advanced, the sentence structure too complicated and the words too big- I've written for adults and 'mature teens' since I was ... I don't know, ten. I didn't know how to write as a kid when I -was- one, so I don't think I can start now. Is that a genre?
Real, legit horror, I think. I swear I've written horror before, but again.
God only knows, looking at real horror if it would even come close.
How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Oh God, there's over 200 prompts, 80-something that I actually have ideas for. More prompts are posted every day, and that doesn't include that ones that don't come from that prompt list. Like the song fics... The Simple Lies arc got quiet again, but I re-read that Adema one and realized it's not nearly as bad as I remember, so- ... I'm in trouble?
Which, doesn't even touch on original writing, but they're all quiet enough to ignore for the most part. At least until I can start getting my facts straight again.
Do you want to write for a living?
I did. Then I decided that I wanted a job that actually gets paid on occasion and opted for photography, instead. To anyone that's not laughing- ... God I suck at career choices.
Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?
Yeah, actually. Um, do school newspapers count? Because I did that for awhile, in high school. I don't remember specifics about the other one, but I was really surprised to have gotten published in it.
Have you ever won an award for your writing?
First place, in the poetry contest in school. It was a poem about an ant, of all things... Grade school, though I'm not sure what range was covered since the school had preschool to eighth grade, and I was in fifth.
I got a little gold and marble statue that I still have, somewhere at my father's house.
Ever written something in script or play format?
....... *Covers face* A fic, in middle school. Um, yeah... There was something else too, but I don't remember what. It was something I worked on with someone else... might have related to the never-ending novel of doom that's not going to be finished or published ever.
What is your favorite word?
God, the sad thing is I probably had an answer for this, once.
Do you ever write based on yourself?
In a sense, I think everything is derived from within, so I suppose so. I don't tend to write things based on an auto-biographical stand, but I have, and it's hard not to write from one's self, when the character(s) they portray the most in work is thought to be so similar to them. In a lot of cases, I do have to pause and wonder how Ed would handle something, how I'd handle it, and whether or not the two are one and the same.
Because, sometimes, it has to be.
Which of your characters most resembles you?
Once, I would have said Tag. Now I think I'm more like Damien or Lex. Which again, fails to be entirely like me. I would say I can probably relate to Damien the most, at this point. Considering his mentality after Erica and returning home. Which sounds... bitter and very 'martyr-dom' but I really am at the point now... that I just- give up.
Um, in fic. Well, normally I'd say Ed because I relate most to Ed and the whole reason I can't stand the little bastard is because it's like he's there to broadcast my faults for all the world to see. I've never liked or even seen a character I could relate to so fully, and never really -understood- when people said a certain character was exactly like them until I saw Heart Of Steel. Which. Has a lot to do with my mixed feelings on that episode, nevermind that character.
So, moving on. Because I generally warp AU situations that involve an older more mellow Ed, generally broken from being such a fiery little brat for so long- and have Al evolved into the new 'Ed' of the story. Maybe, in my own writing, I relate more to Al because of that.
... Or maybe, I write Ed the way I do to compensate for my own changes. Whichever.
Where do you get ideas for your characters?
They just happen. I'm sure they're stolen, borrowed, inspired.... something from somewhere. Das, I think I pulled from myself. I think all of my characters are just -me-, if you divided me up like that. Uh, their names are not quite so creative. One of which is going to be my dirty little secret to the grave, I swear to God.
Fan-fic characters aren't mine, so the ideas -for- the characters is ... clearly just, from the series itself. Inspiration for the situations I'm writing them, and which part of their personalities I'm borrowing from, at the time- varies depending on the subject matter of the fic, clearly.
Do you ever write based on your dreams?
I'm ... more prone to drawing, based on my dreams. But. A lot of Ed's entries in the RP were from dreams, if that count as writing. And since I tend to mull over fic topics before bed, if I dream anything after that, then I consider including them in the actual work, too.
Do you prefer happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?
I prefer what fits for the fic. Which is a damn problem more than it should be. If I start a fic out and work around a set decision, and something alters that, I get .... way more upset than I ought to. Sometimes, I'll write two endings, just to avoid losing my original idea, or the new one.
Basically, if a fic was -supposed- to end sad, it pretty much has to, or I'm not happy with it. Doesn't matter how well-written the new 'happy' ending is. If it doesn't 'fit' if it's not supposed to be there... It upsets me. Same for a fic that's supposed to have a happy ending. If it tries to have a sad 'ending' instead, I'll try to continue it until I can work it back around to my original happy ending, moving the 'sad' part more to the middle.
I hate cliff-hangers in other people's work, so it would be hypocritical to enjoy them in my own. I like closure, I like -answers-, and even if everything else is settled... if that one thing I wanted an answer to is left without being tied up, I obsess over it, because I can't -work out- an answer in my head. .... I wonder if that's an OCD thing.
Have you ever written anything based on an artwork you've seen?
Considering some prompts are just that, yes, I've had to. I know I've done this in the past too, and I'm aggravated because I -can't- for the life of me think of what it was for, or about.
Something to think about anyway...
Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Yes. I'm terrible with grammar, and writing for me is a very free-flow thing. I come up with ideas, and write around what happens, stream of conscious style. Without thinking, without structure, just -write-. I try to tidy up anything that's difficult to read, before finalizing my work but sometimes sentences just stubbornly remain The Anti-English, to spite me. Since I only write for private matters now, I'm less concerned with it, when it comes to having a final product. A fic with feeling and poor English is better than a flat piece of -nothing- that's written well, as far as I'm concerned.
So, in short. It's a struggle for me, because I tend to have to sacrifice either way.
Ever write something entirely in chatspeak?
Have you ever splashed your eyeballs with toxic acid? God, I can't even stand to look at chatspeak. Which is sad, because I tend to lose a lot of the humor in cat macros, when I cringe upon seeing them. When I'm feeling particularly goofy or in a good mood, I may jokingly use a phrase or two... but to write something entirely in 'netspeak?
I think I just gave myself anxiety, trying to imagine that.
Does music help you write?
Music helps me breathe.
Are people surprised and confused when they find out you write well?
I'm surprised and confused when others praise my writing. Does that count?
Quote something you've written.
No.
Honestly, the only thing I'd want to even consider quoting here would be a line from Ed's journal. I just- don't have the willpower or attention span to go hunting around there for something clever to add. It would probably be angst-ridden and miserable, since I found those to be the most impressive lines.
Dear God, I've exhausted myself.
It's 3:53, this took me two and a half hours to do.
I'm going to bed.
