Been tagged to do this by Niina at Northern Chapters so I figured I would give it a go.
Rules of the tag:
- Please link back to A Little Bookish, A Little Writerly’s post, so that the original rules are always accessible to anyone who is curious and wants to participate!
- Acknowledge the person who tagged you in your post.
- Tag your friends and fellow writers – it’s up to you how many!
The Confessions of a Writer Tag was created by Nicolette at A Little Bookish, A Little Writerly. It is a ‘get-to-know’ the writer interview tag, dedicated to spotlighting the creative process, works in progress, and connecting to other writers.
When did you first start writing? Was being a writer something you always aspired to be?
I aspired to be many things as a kid from a vet to a nurse to a pop star, all the usual little girl ambitions. I wasn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the pack at the time and had no interest in anything remotely academic. It took a teacher pointing out I was good at writing that something seemed to start to click in my mind. I did start writing but the switch wasn’t fully turned on though until I discovered the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. After that, everything clicked into place.
What genre do you write?
I gravitate mostly to fantasy and crime with romance sub plots in most of my stories. Family drama, social commentary and thriller also make appearances in a few of my stories, something that didn’t hit me until a tutor pointed it out. I have attempted forays into the science fiction genre but they rarely work out well to be honest.
Can you tell us a little about your current work in progress? When did you start working on this project?
I’m working on my magic school story from July Camp NaNoWriMo. Anyone who follows my blog will know it started just from an idea after a failed sci-fi story and has continued since then. The story revolves around a teen girl, coming from a dark magic family involved in criminality, trying to escape and be different. Not sure what I will do with the story later. We’ll see.
What was your first piece that you can remember writing? What was it about?
The first story I chose to write was a fan fiction based on Flint The Time Detective, about one of the detectives called Merlock Holmes and his daughter. It never was finished and is absolutely awful, with stuff borrowed from the Cardcaptors/Card Captor Sakura, Lord of the Rings and the Malory Towers series to name but a few. It did have the first version of the school my FMC from the above answer attends so it was not all bad really.
What’s the best part about writing?
Creating new things and exploring the world through the written word. One day, I want to explore the world myself, not just through stories.
What’s the worst part about writing?
Hitting a wall in the creation of the first draft then editing and rewriting. Ugh! Necessary but still hate it.
What’s the name of your favourite character and why? (This can be from a book by another author or from your own work. Book crushes are perfectly acceptable here as well).
Oh! I have no idea! I love characters like Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third from the How To Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell because he’s not your typical hero, and Hermione Granger, because she was smart and her description is very similar to how I was as a kid. Those sorts of characters appeal to me.
How much time a day/week do you get to write? When is the best time for you to write (morning or night)?
I tend to write in the evening most days because it is the only free time I have available to me in a typical day but I do prefer to write and work on an afternoon. I’ve run my errands, had something to eat and drink, checked the news and e-mail, etc. I can just sit and write (and watch some YouTube and television). It’s a routine that was developed at university and has proven the most productive.
Did you go to college for writing? Or if you haven’t been to college yet, do you plan to?
I did Professional Writing at university (or college as it is in the USA), with the idea that it would set me up not just for writing in general, but was applicable to other jobs too. I’m not working as a writer in any capacity at the moment sadly but I do have ideas and career plans that relate to writing, even just part-time.
What bothers you more: spelling errors, punctuation errors, or grammar errors?
Has to be grammar mainly but the others drive me up the wall too, especially if it is in a document or something that you would expect to be correctly spelt, punctuated, grammar checked and formatted correctly.
What is the best writing advice that anyone has given you?
It’s actually a philosophy quote by Confucius that applies to every part of life: “It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop.” In other words, keep writing!
What advice would you give to another writer?
I hate the advice write what you know. You could write about everything you know very easily and quickly and end up stuck. I prefer the advice write not what you know, but what you would like to find out about. Write about the things that you want to find out about. The world is a big place so explore it!
What are your favourite writing sites or blogs that you turn to for help, tips or encouragement?
My friends are usually my first port of call for help but I also follow a lot of Tumblr prompt and advice blogs, such as Write World and Writing Cafe, as well as seasonal picture blogs that have some stunning picture ripe for prompts, Rayne Hall’s Twitter (her books are brilliant too) and love using Seventh Sanctum.
Besides writing, what else do you enjoy doing? What are your hobbies?
Love to read, watch a lot of TV, films and stand up comedy, like Call The Midwife, The Big Bang Theory, How To Train Your Dragon 1 and 2 (I love Toothless!) and comedians like Russell Howard, baking and chatting to friends.
What is the best book you’ve read this year?
This year has to be Lockwood & Co: The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud! Second in the series with a cliffhanger to match the first book, The Screaming Staircase. I am in love with this series!
What is the best movie you’ve seen this year?
Has to be Kingsman: The Secret Service. The church scene! The church scene!
What is your favourite book or series of all time?
It changes but I do default to Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society by Adeline Yen Mah. Mah weaves a beautiful story of a girl playing her part in World War 2 in occupied Shanghai with wonderful teachings from Chinese philosophy and culture.
Who is your favourite author?
My all time favourite is JK Rowling as she is also my heroine.
What are your plans for the rest of the year in terms of your writing?
Mostly just to write, as I haven’t been in a place to do so for a while due to life. More focused goals are to hopefully get my second NaNoWriMo win and to keep writing my Camp story.
Where else can we find you online?
Aside from here, my main ones are Tumblr and Twitter but you can also find me on NaNoWriMo.
Finished! I am tagging Kit from Where Landsquids Fear To Tread, Lizzie from mylittlebookblog, Diane from Tales from Baggins Bottom and Charles from Legends of Windemere. Anyone who I haven’t tagged but would like to do this, go for it!
SleepyBkDragon 
Thanks for taking the time to answer! It’s always nice to learn more about people. Also thanks for mentioning Chinese Cinderella. I looked it up and it seemed really interesting. I’ll have to take a look around the local library in case they have a copy.
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No problem.
Make sure to read Chinese Cinderella as well as Dragon Society. Chinese Cinderella is the children’s version of the author’s autobiography and it informs the book Dragon Society fairly heavily.
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Thank you for participating in the tag!! 😀
I can totally relate to wanting to be so many things as a kid, and I love how discovering J.K Rowling is one of those things for people that really spurs their life in a certain direction, whether that be writing or something else entirely, the HP books are special in that they had/have the power to change people. I am definitely in that category of people who were heavily influenced by Rowling, so I’m absolutely on board with you there!
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Not a problem!
I definitely believe the HP books STILL have the power to change people. They’re not the Classics, like Dickens and Bronte and Austin, that we are told we have to read that turn people off reading. They are the books that inspire, inform and teach us about so much that can turn people on to reading and expanding their horizons.
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Yes! That is so true! Encouraging reading by promoting interesting books in school will encourage kids to want to find other books they enjoy too, as opposed to squashing their interest early on with required readings that are too difficult for them to read (usually as a result of their lack of reading in general).
I was introduced to HP at school as required reading, best rr I’ve ever had in my life as a kid! Lol 😄
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I am an advocate of getting children to read what interests them, whether that’s the back of a cereal packet, a recipe book or even the sports pages in a newspaper.
If they are reading, then what can anyone complain about?
I never was interested in reading and only learnt of the Harry Potter series by listening to JK Rowling talking about Goblet of Fire on the radio. I seem to remember announcing I want to read that book and my mum almost crashing the car in shock.
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You are so right about children reading whatever interests them. It’s so sad to see young children/kids/adults who hate to read or cannot comprehend what they read as a result of reading not being encouraged early on.
The problem, at least what I’m seeing where I live, is that no one read to these college students when they were young. So they didn’t realize it could be fun. When they got to high school they were given required readings that were beyond their comprehension and their deep dislike for reading began. It’s very sad.
One another note, I loved what you said about rewrites and hitting that wall, I’ve been doing that a lot lately and it’s nice to see that I’m not the only one who does/pushing through despite the agony, lol! X-)
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I live in the UK where our libraries service is being destroyed because of Government cuts.
Whilst we do have communities saving some, we are losing vital resources. I am a big advocate of libraries, both as a patron and having volunteered during summers. I have seen how much these resources mean to whole communities. There are programs and initiatives and so many other things encouraging families to join and use the libraries, not just for books but for other services provided, such as jobs clubs. Reading begins at home at a young age. Those families who may not be able to buy books need their libraries and they need them local, not a bus journey away!
However, if we lose too many more of these fabulous resources, whole generations will be cut off from a world of reading, books and so many other things that can be a lifeline for so many people.
Sorry. I can soapbox on the issue but it’s because I am passionate about reading, writing and the world of possibilities that can be opened up through the encouragement of it.
Rewriting is necessary but I always end up wincing when I realise I missed punctuation here or a word there!
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I love the soapbox, no need to apologize, I am tracking with you all the way and agree 100%. My mother instilled in me a love for reading early on and the library was one of (and continues to be) my favorite place in the history of ever. So you won’t hear any dissension on that front from me, lol!
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My mum got me signed up to the library once it became apparent reading was a serious thing with me. She also introduced me to the Malory Towers series, which has influenced me a lot. Libraries are also where I have turned for quiet places to read, work and just relax.
For children who might not have that sort of environment at home, it increases the need for our libraries and why we must protect them at all costs!
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Absolutely! You are so right!!!
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