#literally I opened my notebook to work on part 2 wrote a paragraph. hated it. went fuck this. and habe not attempted since.

[imwritesometimes]

I've reached that stage in creativity stagnation where I once again go back and read my own fics and go omg this is good.... how'd I ever do this???

[fayeisnowwriting]

8, 9 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20

(I love you)

8. Which OC is your favorite?

DAMN. What kind of question is this, my word. I’ll go by WIP.

Vanishing Act: Victoria because of her personal growth.

Laws of Immortals (series): Vincent because of his heart, all he’s gone through and his dedication. And love for black. (I admit I also have a bit of a soft spot for Julius because he’s so open to being himself)

Absit Omen: Striker because despite all the trash he has to go through in this story he’s a ride or die with Deborah.

Coded: THADDEUS. Because he’s the voice of reason and the goth dad of everyone. Also love his marriage, 10/10 relationship goals, he loves Dante.

9. Which OC is an absolute pain to write?

Lol not long ago I wrote that it’s Keith Reeds from Coded because he’s damn stubborn. I can do as many OC development exercises and prompts, AUs, memes, anything, and I still struggle to get a hang of him. You can read my wails here.

11: Share the last paragraph you wrote.

That’d be from Coded, and it was the following:

“He hates me.” Victoria said, drinking from the mug. Thaddeus took a very deep breath and said, “…yes.” Victoria clinked her nails with the mug and looked down.

“I never meant to let you guys down.” she whispered, then wiped a stray liquid drop from the corner of her mouth, “I was scared but…I let it take the best of me.”

“You did.” Thaddeus replied

“I don’t want to be like Titus.”

“You’re not.” Victoria turned to look at the mob boss, “For starters, you came back to us.” Victoria offered him a shy smile as Thaddeus went on, “Titus only thinks of himself and didn’t think twice about sacrificing his own friends. You came back to us, even after such a mistake, to own up to it and help. Oh, Vicky,” he pulled her into a hug, which she reciprocated by resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes, “You could never be like Titus.”

“Thanks, Thaddeus.”

12. Share a dumb line from an old WIP.

Although I delete old WIPs unless I keep working on them (which means I can’t find lines per se from old WIPs), I can tell you that Absit Omen was originally called “Trixie Trillian and the Soul Hunters” and was about a 20 something year old named (you guessed it) Trixie Trillian that had to hunt down specific souls and bring them to Death before some other guys got them in exchange of seeing her brother one last time. It was going to have a sequel, “Trixie Trillian and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” but I got bored with it and abandoned the WIP until I adapted the plot and characters to today’s Absit Omen.

14. How long does it take you to write 500 words on a good day? On a bad one? 

On a good day, 500 words come to me in an hour an a half, approximately. On a bad day, it takes me all day. Literally. There’s no in betweens.

15. How do you name settings/characters?

It depends, and varies on each case. I generally start by guiding myself with the setting of the story.

With Laws of Immortals, which is set in 2001-2009 England, I firstly looked through baby names databases/pages for English names for some characters, and kind of…felt it? Idk, I just would go like “don’t like Bruce…don’t like Ethan…don’t like Harold…hm, Derek’s fine. Ok, MC’s name is Derek. Derek what?…don’t like Harrison…don’t like Georges…don’t like McDonald…Wells? Derek Wells? Sure, why not.” Of course, there’s cases where I had to change the database to either another country (Jacques, Julius and his real name, Xitlali, Adam, Stefan, Paul) or another time era (Vincent, Marbella, Sylvester) because of other cultures in England and, y’know, vampires. I use real places in England/London so I didn’t have to make much up.

Coded is a sci-fi cyberpunk story where I had to make up settings as well as some names, so I used the “feeling” method a lot. I also took words on my native language (Spanish) and either changed the order or took away/added letters to already existing words to make names or surnames (one of the rebels is called Halley Kaderno, for her surname I grabbed the word “cuaderno”, notebook, and started to play around with it until I got “Kaderno”, or simply replacing an “a” with a “u” for Pandu). Some characters felt alright when I made up their names, others felt better with “normal” names that were adapted to this universe. It was pretty similar with places. I gave myself a bit more freedom to use “normal” names in Vanishing Act since it’s set in a steampunk-meets-1920′s world, so while there’s folks named Walter, Gabrielle, Zoe and Anna, I also wanted interesting names for the people in the circus, like Magnus and Balthazar.

Absit Omen is a mix of these two because while the town is set in fictional Sento, California (and, I admit I used the help of a generator for this one), people’s names were sought in baby name websites and I would just go through them until I found the one that would fit. Except Striker’s. Striker’s name came to me in a dream, no joke. And the AngerPassion’s was a headache to come up with. Had to read a whole lot of angelology and demonology for their name and the other angels’.

17. How far along are you in your current WIP? How long have you been working on it? 

I’m not as far as I’d like to be due to college and my own negligence when sitting down to write. I used NaNoWriMo in November 2017 to progress Laws of Immortals but real life got in the way, and pretty much the same happened during Camp NaNoWriMo earlier this year. However I’ve discovered that when I have people waiting and expecting for a new part of the story I’m writing, it’s easier for me to produce because I want people to enjoy something I made, so hopefully a tag for my art and telling more of my friends will help me write more.

As for the second question, I’ve spent on average 2 or 3 years per WIP because I like to take my time when fleshing them out, creating characters, settings, plot, etc. I want things to be ready and clear before writing.

20. What’s the most time you’ve ever spent on one WIP?

…this is the saddest answer I’ll ever give with my writing, it’s probably the two weeks in last year’s NaNoWriMo lmao that’s bad, but in those two weeks I progressed considerably so I know that if I organize myself this year and work daily and with discipline, I can progress much faster and maybe even finish one of my WIPs.

[douxbebearchives]

Author Profile: IWrite4Olitz

Stories on FFN; tumblr: @iwrite4olitz​

Your name/nickname/alias: 

Lynn, iwrite4olitz

How long have you been writing? 

Is “forever” too vague? Since I could properly grip a pencil...

How long have you been writing Olitz?

Since July 10th, 2015.

What drew you to Olivia & Fitz? 

Their combustible chemistry. Is there any other reason?

Outside of Olitz, where do you get inspiration to write? 

Everywhere. Anywhere. But my favorite inspiration comes from music. If I get stuck, I read a book. ;)

How do you describe your style of writing? 

::hyperventilates:: I...don’t have one compact sentence to describe it. I suppose it’s because I choose words and sentence structure to suit whatever tone I’m trying to convey, while also considering the “voice” of the character whose point of view I’m writing. So, for example, if I’m writing something romantic, I use more flowing sentences, but choose words that I think the character whose head we’re in would actually use. If I’m trying to convey something tense or urgent, I’ll use more concise, clipped language and structure. If I need to drive an emotion home, or incite a reaction of some kind, I choose visceral language. Ugh, this sounds so clinical! But I promise it’s not. It just happens naturally. I’ve been called “poetic” and “evocative” by readers. I’ve also taken this super fun quiz:

https://iwl.me/

...the results of which told me I write like Stephen King, which contradicts the poetic thing. Haha. Love Stephen though. Do you guys follow him on twitter? Follow him. He’s one of my best friends in my head. And he’s woke.

Do you write (journal, pen/paper) or type first? Depends. If I have it clear in my mind how a scene should go, I type until my brain is empty. Then I edit until it’s as close to my mental picture as possible. If it’s not clear in my mind, my brain automatically goes on high alert, snatching inspiration from anywhere, at any time. That’s when I scribble things in notebooks or type notes into a document to piece together later. Dialogue, action, events, settings...

Do you have a special notebook or writing utensil? 

I have several notebooks, Evernote, and Baby (my touch screen computer). But I plan on replacing her with a Mac soon, because she’s prone to viruses and my tech medical bills have been piling up!

Do you incorporate visuals, music, and/or poetry to help you get into the writing mood? 

Yes! Music is the most powerful inspiration for me. I can get several scenes, or a chapter, or an idea for an entire story from one song. I love creating inspiration boards to visualize big scenes more vividly (and sharing them is fun). I don’t read much poetry, sadly. I have a book of famous love letters and poetry collecting dust on my bookshelf if anyone’s interested. It’s red, vintage-looking, really pretty...

Do you use mood boards/aesthetics/Pinterest? 

Yes! Here’s the one for Pas De Deux: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorLynnTurner/pas-de-deux/

Favorite kind of music or podcasts to listen to before/while you write? 

I don’t listen to podcasts as part of my process. I find them too distracting. My taste in music is all over the place. I have the same affinity for jazz or soul that I have for pop or indie. That’s not very helpful, I suppose, but it just boils down to whatever moves or inspires me. Would you believe that Pia Mia’s “Do It Again” inspired the one-shot that became No Regrets? She was a 19 year old youtube sensation at the time, and it was her summer smash hit (possibly her only hit) about a one night stand. Hey, I’m not proud. “Locked Away” featuring Maroon 5 inspired the gala scene at the end of that story. “Garden” by Emeli Sande played as I wrote the garden love scene in Pas De Deux, and “Dreamland” by Emilia Ali was playing when I wrote the scene that opens PDD Chapter 10. :-)

Where do you like to write (Home, coffee shop, etc.)? 

I prefer to write in isolation. I love cafes, but I tend to spend my time there doing research, or outlining, or creating inspiration boards. At home, I tend to write very early in the morning or late at night when everyone’s asleep...or during “me time” when certain tiny humans aren’t around to tug at my proverbial coat tails. If I have my headphones, I can pretty much write anywhere.

How long does it take you to write a chapter? 

Oh gosh...Okay, in a vacuum, with a chapter fully formed in my mind, tons of coffee and wine coolers, I can crank one out in a single day. Outside of that vacuum, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. There are so many variables: mood, inspiration, time. I’m trying to be better at forming good writing habits. John Grisham says if you aren’t writing at least a page per day, you’re not writing a book. Stephen King writes 600 words a day. Stephen King is not human.

A favorite line or paragraph you’ve written. 

This changes all the time, and I have different ones for each work, haha. By the time anyone reads this, it likely will have changed again. (There are some things I’ve written for the next Pas De Deux update that might upstage this, I dunno)...but I think this paragraph from Olivia’s point of view in Chapter 9 is my current favorite, It shows their dynamic so well, I think, and is quintessentially the Olitz I recognize no matter the writer, or whether the story is AU or canon:

She shivered, unnerved to be in his head, to see for herself the irrefutable evidence that he knew her. He knew her and she hadn’t told him a single thing.

Describe yourself in 5 words/phrases: 

You could give me 24 hours and the fate of the universe on my shoulders and I still couldn’t do this, hahaha. In a perfect world, my self is constantly evolving, so how about, in keeping with the theme of fifths, I choose something in iambic pentameter?

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Suess

Favorite TV shows/movies: 

This question is a rabbit hole. You’d need a “read more” button, and once clicked, readers would be subjected to pages and pages...so I’ll just list the ones I’d grab in case of a fire, or the apocalypse.

TV: Gilmore Girls, House, Girlfriends, A Different World, Living Single, the travelogue adventures of Samantha Brown and Anthony Bourdain, Sense8, Queen Sugar, Greenleaf, Underground, House Hunters, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black

Movies I can watch repeatedly and not get bored: Pride and Prejudice, The Devil Wears Prada, Focus, Pretty Woman, Love Jones, Ever After, The Wedding Date, Trainwreck

Movies with romantic elements: The Proposal, Trainwreck, Maid in Manhattan, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Something New, Serendipity, While You Were Sleeping, Maid in Manhattan, The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, The Cutting Edge, A Walk in the Clouds, Return to Me, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Under the Tuscan Sun, Love Story, Beyond the Lights, Circle of Friends, Belle, Closer, Stompin at the Savoy, Memoirs of a Geisha, Dangerous Beauty, Cinderella (the one where Whitney Houston plays the fairy godmother), Coming to America, Juno, You Me & Dupri, Parent Trap, Overboard, Braveheart, The Preacher’s Wife, Palm Trees in the Snow

Favorite vacation spot: 

Hawaii

Favorite books: 

You’d think that, since my movie list is a rabbit hole, my book list would be a labyrinth, but even with all of the books I’ve read, I’m selective about what makes my favorites list:

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid, Literally every book by Penny Reid, Hadassah: One Night With the King by Tommy Teney, The Twentieth Wife & The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan, The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer, Wildseed & Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler, The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer (YES, okay? It’s not literary genius but it’s very entertaining, if you skip book two), Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, Master of the Game by Sidney, Sheldon, Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh

*With the advent of fanfiction, I’m much pickier about published books, which I’m sure you all understand. ;)

Favorite authors:  

I have a to-read list half a mile long, so I’m sure this will change, but these are authors whom I find consistently write entertaining stories, even if they don’t make my favorites list:

Penny Reid, Alyssa Cole, Alisha Rai, Nalini Singh, Philippa Gregory, Farrah Rochon, Stephen King, John Grisham, Octavia Butler

What do you like better? AU or Canon?

I enjoy both, so long as they’re written well. Writing-wise, I’m more comfortable writing AU. With canon, I’m constantly aware that these aren’t my characters, so I’m sort of hyper aware of the constraints. And I have control issues. Lol.

Favorite trope/scenario to read? 

Enemies to lovers, love at first sight

Favorite Olitz TV moment/conversation? 

Seriously??? Only one? How about top three? Top five? Okay, fine, since you’re twisting my arm, I’ll give you my top ten in no particular order. (You drive a hard bargain):

1. VERMONT

2. “You almost died.” “Yes.” “Don’t do it again.” (she went in there to get him to comply, but then she actually LISTENS to him, like, really listens...and he changes her mind. They show a united front in this scene that was gorgeous to watch)

3. “I hate you.” “I know.” ...which morphed into…”You are everything and I am nothing.” ::ugly, mucous-dripping crying::

4. “Sit with me and watch me earn you.” (and obviously the AMAZING sex that came after)

5. Can the entire episode of The Trail be one?

a.  “I got a guy.” “You got a guy? Another guy? Hell’s angel? Mobster? A kind hearted felon who owes you a favor?” “Technically, he’s on probation.”

b. Camp David. Allll the Camp David. They were so in love, cute and care-free.

c. Love scene from The Trail (It’s their best, IMO. Organic. Combustible. Raw.)

d.  One minute on the couch

6. Pre-State Dinner shenanigans, Post-State Dinner Navy t shirt

7. Literally every Olitz phone call

8. 503 Oval Office Kiss ::swoon::

9. Truman Balcony kiss, because he was so vulnerable

10. Fitz saying “I still want you” in the AU episode, because it was so real, and I *believe they’re destined to be together in every universe.

*Honorable mentions: Rose Garden, Deskgate, Constitution (These were gripping, but I have personal, nitpicking reasons why they’re not in my top ten), allll the Season 6 bedtime snuggles, and every hug.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Ava DuVernay is my other BFF in my head.

Someday, when I’m confident enough in my knowledge of the era I choose (which will take years and years of research and development), I will write a historical fiction with a WOC heroine...possibly with elements of science fiction.