Tag--you're it!

Okay, I'm playing! Here's the latest meme going around. Wendy tagged me yesterday, and I'm supposed to tag two other bloggers... Oh man, I'm late in the game... everybody's done this one already! Wait, not these two... I tag Catherine and Mary! 

So I have to answer all these questions about my writing. I'm all about inclusion, so if you feel left out and want to play, let me know and I'll tag you too and add your link here as officially "playing!"

Okayyyy, now for the questions. I don't share very well, but here goes (cringe.):

1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?

The last thing I wrote was a chapter in my wip, Fated. The first thing I wrote, that I still have, is a horrible, 120K novel that I have no plans on bringing back from the dead. Then it would be a zombie. Hmm... a zombie novel... (I'm kidding! No zombie novels from me!)

2. Write poetry?

Not on purpose. Accidental rhyming narrative is definitely not poetry.

3. Angsty poetry?

Ayyyyy, I will admit that in high school I filled notebooks with angsty poetry. I don't like being reminded of those humiliating works of desperate, heartbreaking love and longing. Double-cringe... and also, ewww!

4. Favorite genre of writing?

YA romance. 

5. Most annoying character you've ever created?

MOST annoying... she was a new grad, I can't remember her name but she bothered me so much I never finished her story. Stupid, annoying whiner. (Annoying whiner was trapped on an island with no food or shelter, blah blah whine whine. That kind of story needed a stronger MC).

6. Best Plot you've ever created?

Fated, naturally.

7. Coolest Plot twist you've ever created?

The one in Fated... and it's fabulous. Or horrible. Depends on my mood.

8. How often do you get writer's block?

Mostly I don't get fully blocked... I get sluggish. Writer's sluggishness doesn't have the same ring to it, though. And sluggish makes it sound like I need more writer fiber in my diet.

9. Write fan fiction?

No way, dude. My head can't wrap itself around writing someone else's stories. Besides, I don't have the time!

10. Do you type or write by hand?

Type. I can't read my own handwriting.

11. Do you save everything you write?

Yes, ever since starting the first, horrendous novel.

12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?

Yes. I abandoned Sinister for a while, then I reworked the beginning and changed the whole story from 1st person to third. And going back to an old idea is also how Fated was reborn. I started Fated after writing my second novel, Sinister, but I couldn't get a handle on Fated. I went with a different idea and wrote Wishmaker. After finishing that, Fated wouldn't leave me alone so I went back to it. Now things seem to be going good :)

13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?

A short story that was accepted for publication. The magazine, Arabella, went out of business before my slotted month came up :( Super sadness, validation to friends and family lost, a publishing credit lost, boo hoo poor me.

14. What's everyone else's favorite story that you've written?

I have no idea.

15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?

Yes on both. My short story is romance, and my first horrendous novel is romance. Sinister and Wishmaker are both angsty teen drama. I'm pretty sure Fated is too.

16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?

Hmm. I like writing about the beach.

17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?

One and a half. Fated, obviously. Also, I keep going back to Sinister. Eventually I'd like to take a good look at Wishmaker and decide what went wrong there (I'm not pleased with the story, now that the dust has settled).

18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?

Nope. But can I still be a winner?

19. What are your five favorite words?

I want to steal Wendy's, but I'll do my own. "Diana Paz, represented by agent..."

20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?

They're all a little like me, and they're all nothing like me. I can't really decide.

21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?

I have absolutely no idea, but I think places inspire them. I was at my mom's, looking at the funky Snow White cottage across the street-- the same one I'd seen since I was in tenth grade, and all the characters from Sinister appeared out of nowhere, fully formed and walking around in my head. For Fated, I was looking through prom pictures (my prom was on the Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor) and the characters came out of nowhere, like actual people. I wanted to write their story.

22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?

I don't think I do. Maybe they're dreams that I've forgotten.

23. Do you favor happy endings?

Yes. 

24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?

As far as my spell check reminds me, yes. Otherwise, only during revisions.

25. Does music help you write?

It helps me get ready to write, but once I start writing I like it as quiet as earthly possible.

26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.

Whatever pops into my head? Can I cheat and look? This must be what comedians feel like when someone randomly asks them to "be funny." 

Okay, here's mine: 

"Julia, are you almost done?" Mom asked. "It's after midnight. I thought you said it was only a five page essay."

Julia stared at the solitary sentence on her screen. The French and American revolutions were the same and different in many ways. "Yeah Mom," she called back. "I'm basically almost finished. I'm just going to-- you know-- read over the whole thing and make sure it sounds right. Look for typos and stuff."