snagged from triciabyrne1978


1. Do you outline?
Not usually. If I know I'm going to be writing something long, or if I'm in the middle of something that gets really complex, I'll jot down an outline. I do find writing from an outline to generally be easier, though, because I've already planned out the high points and know what I need to hit and when.

2. Do you write straight through, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
I usually write straight through, but if I get stuck (or if I'm writing a mosaic or disjointed piece) I may write out of order to get myself back on track or just because it works for me mentally.

3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
I prefer to write on the computer, but sometimes I just need to write with a pen. I usually write with a pen when I'm stuck. Writing a few paragraphs by hand is sometimes just the trick.

4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
I have no preference. I write whatever the story dictates.

5. Do you listen to music while you write?
Nope. It's way too distracting to listen to other words while I'm trying to craft my own.

6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
I listen up for names while I'm out and when I hear an interesting name, I catalogue it. I used to flip through a Baby Names book, but I don't do that so often any more. That was something that I did more while I was in the stage of naming characters things like Electra and Blaze and other overly dramatic names. (Ah, to be sixteen.)

7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your story as a television show or movie?
Always. I describe all action as cinematically as possible. I frequently get up and act out actions.

8. Have you ever had a character insist on doing something you really didn't want him/her to do?
Not necessarily something I didn't want the character to do, but sometimes something I wasn't expecting. That happens less when I've outlined, but when I'm writing off-outline, sometimes things happen that I wasn't expecting. It makes for very fun discoveries.

9. Do you know how a story is going to end when you start it?
Again, unless I outline, not necessarily. I often have a goal in mind, but that's not necessarily an ending, you know?

10. Where do you write?
I write most often at home on my computer. Usually I'm at my dinner table or on the couch. Sometimes I write in bed, but that's only when I'm writing very lazily. For the most part I'll write wherever it's quiet and whenever I have time.

11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
I go back and edit/revise, read someone else's fic, watch tv, and then ultimately realize that not writing isn't going to fix my writer's block so I try to force something out. Talking to someone about the story in question usually does quite a bit to help, though sometimes it's only time that does the trick.

12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of wordcount, or as a percentage of the fic as a whole)?
It greatly depends on the time I have. I usually write in about 800-word increments or for about two hours.

13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
Well . . . I'm currently on draft 3 of my current project. I imagine that will go through another draft or two before I'm done.

14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
Ugh. Worst thing to do, but yes I've done it.

15. Do you let anyone read your story while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
Absolutely. Sometimes the only way to work out a problem is to have someone else read behind me and help me sort out issues. Once I've completed a full draft, I always have someone beta read work over 500 words.

16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Edit? Send it to someone to beta read?

17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
While I'd love to only have one at a time, I usually have my fingers in a few pots. If I get stuck in one, I can jump into another, but really, I only concentrate full-tilt on one at a time.

18. Do your stories grow or shrink in revision?
They almost always grow. Even when I condense scenes to get a smoother read, it usually ends with me including another scene or taking a different scene a few steps further to flesh it out more.

19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
Absolutely. When I get back to original writing I'm sure grass_stained and turalu_21 will be eager to read and for fanfic I have several people I go to. And I love all of them for the help they give me. :D

20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
I love revising. There's something about crafting what already exists that really gets me.

Well, that was fun.