#series 7 outtakes part one and series 16 outtakes part 2 if anyone's curious

[eternal-confusion-of-han]

how it started

how it's going

[javistg]

ok, so the writer as memes. I want all the answers. ALL. OF. THEM.

Here you go, @everlarkingjoshifer! Thanks for the ask, I loved doing this!

I answered some of the questions in previous asks so, to simplify, I added the links here.

1. Favorite place to write. 


2. Favorite part of writing. Plotting and outlining. I just let my mind wander, coming up with scenarios and possibilities.


3. Least favorite part of writing. Second guessing the choices I make, followed by all those pesky questions that sometimes creep into my mind.

4. Do you have writing habits or rituals? 


5. Books or authors that influenced your style the most. THG trilogy, obviously, that’s the universe that got me into fan fiction in the first place. But Graham Greene has also had a great impact on my writing.


6. Favorite character you ever created.
 I haven’t really created many original characters, but there’s this girl from D1 who will make an appearance in WIWTTW. I like her a lot. I might even write an outtake from her POV.

7. Favorite author. 


8. Favorite trope to write. 


9. Least favorite trope to write. 

10. Pick a writer to co-write a book with and tell us what you’d write about. I’d love to write something with Mary Hoffman. I love her “Stravaganza” books. It would be awesome to work on something like that. In the fan fiction world, I’d love to do something with @notanislander. Yes, Carrie, you! I think we’d have a great time figuring out a story. Probably something about Everlark not getting together right away ;)

11. Describe your writing process from scratch to finish.

A. Have an idea (usually these come when I’m watching/reading something that inspires me, or while I’m in the shower. 

B. Write down the basics. 

C. Fill in the gaps in the plot (sometimes I even include bits of dialogue into this step) 

D. Divide de plot into segments (chapters). E. Write, aka develop each one of the points in the outline. 


12. How do you deal with self-doubts? Depends on how much of the story I have. Sometimes I ask someone to read my stuff and comment. But mostly I just clench my jaw and hit the “post” button. 


13. How do you deal with writers block? Sometimes I go back to reread stuff I’ve written, or I go over the plots I have stored to see if something catches my eye. I also ask for prompts from other blogs or participate in writing challenges. @promptsinpanem​, @everlarkficexchange​, and  @everlarkbirthdaydrabbles have all been great for me, having an idea and a due date pushes me to get my act together. 


14. What’s the most research you ever put into a book? I haven’t done a lot of research yet. But I always try to check small facts here and there. 


15. Where does your inspiration come from? Most of my inspiration comes from THG trilogy. Everything I’ve posted so far is fan fiction and most of it is either canon compliant or in Panem. So that entire universe has proven to be a great source of inspiration for me. 


16. Where do you take your motivation from? Have you ever reread something you wrote and wondered where those words or ideas came from? I’m constantly surprised by some of the passages I’ve written and I’m curious to see what else I can come up with. That curiosity is what drives me to keep on writing. And, on the days when that isn’t enough, the comments and reviews from my readers also stop me from giving up.


17. On average, how much writing do you get done in a day?  


18. What’s your revision or rewriting process like? Slow. Basically I read and reread what I have. This is where most of my insecurities creep up on me. Sometimes I’ll change a single sentence many times, only to discover that the best version was the first one. 


19. First line of a WIP you’re working on. 

Gale Hawthorne couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Her blond hair, loosely tied in a messy bun at her nape, shone like spun gold under the relentless summer sun.” (Strawberry Swing my submission to this year’s @mores2sl​ collection)

20. Post a snippet of a WIP you’re working on.


21. Post the last sentence you wrote in one of your WIP’s.
 

“It looks great. The ground floor looks like one of the houses from the old merchant quarter.” Looking out into the street, Haymitch added, “I hope you’re prepared for a big shock, a lot has changed since you left.” (Why I Went to the Woods)

22. How many drafts do you need until you’re satisfied and a project is ultimately done for you?
 Depends. Usually, my first draft is little more than a simple outline. Sometimes my second draft fells complete but, most times, it takes three drafts to add all the details and points that I want into a story.

23. Single or multi POV, and why? I like multi POVs because they give you allow a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the story. I like exploring the different sides of every story.


24. Poetry or prose, and why? Prose. My brain simply doesn’t compute poetry. 


25. Linear or non-linear, and why? 

26. Standalone or series, and why?

27. Do you share rough drafts or do you wait until it’s all polished? Sometimes I share rough drafts but I try to polish as much as possible before showing my drafts to anyone.

28. And who do you share them with? I have a handful of betas I rely on from time to time. 
@burkygirl, @xerxia31​, @thegirlfromoverthepond​, @everlarkingjoshifer​, @titaniasfics​, @pinksnailsaver​, and @randomnoteforfuturereference​ have all come to my aid at one point or another.

29. Who do you write for? Me!


30. Favorite line you’ve ever written.
 Wow, that’s a difficult question! This is the first one that came to mind: 

Anyone watching would have noticed how they mirrored each other, flustered and humming with nervous energy. But no one was watching, and they were so consumed with each other’s presence they failed to notice the reciprocity in each other’s gaze. (One Victor CH9)

31. Hardest character to write. Gale Hawthorne. 
Maybe it’s because I’m nothing like him, or because Gale’s Window was my very fist fic. But I’ve always had a hard time channeling him.

32. Easiest character to write.
 It depends on the day and the story. For the most part, I enjoy writing Peeta. He’s usually easier than Katniss. And I absolutely loved writing Haymitch! Can’t wait to do it again.

33. Do you listen to music when you’re writing? Not if I’m alone. Sometimes I write during my commute, or while the hubs is watching TV, so I use music to block out the noise.


34. Handwritten notes or typed notes? Typed. Always. 


35. Tell some backstory details about one of your characters in your story Capitol Life. Both Katniss and Peeta are recruited by Haymitch to become spies for the rebels.
 Peeta has to fake his death in order to escape District 12.

36. A spoiler for story Why I Went Back to the Woods. Peeta and Katniss will run into each other in the woods.


37. Most inspirational quote you’ve ever read or heard that’s still important to you. Here are two:

Procrastination is the thief of time. Charles Dickens. It’s simple, but it reminds me of what I’m losing when I just let time slip by.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde. A beautiful reminder that we have to look beyond what’s there and strive for something better.


38. Have you shared your outline of your story One Victor with someone? If so, what did they think of it? Yes, I have. They thought it was good but suggested a few changes for the ending. I haven’t reached that part yet, but I’ll probably follow the advise they gave me.


39. Do you base your characters of real people or not? If so, tell us about one.
 I always try to keep my characters as close to canon as possible, but my version of Peeta in Weekend Getaway is heavily inspired by someone I met when I was a teenager.

40. Original Fiction or Fanfiction, and why? As a reader I love both. As a writer… Fanfiction, at least for now. Who knows what the future holds. 


41. How many stories do you work on at one time? Honestly, I can’t really focus on more than one story at a time. That’s why my WIPs progress so slowly. If I get distracted by a new project I put everything else on hold while I finish the new thing. 


42. How do you figure out your characters looks, personality, etc. The characters I’ve created so far exist within THG universe, so I’ve based my descriptions on information from the books. 


43. Are you an avid reader? YES!


44. Best piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten. “Describe what the character is feeling as if you want the reader to feel the same thing.“


45. Worst piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten. An anonymous comment from someone who clearly didn’t even finish reading the chapter and who had issues with the relationship portrayed in the fic in question. The truth is that I shared the reviewer’s POV. If they had finished reading, they would have seen that the characters were discussing those exact issues. 
The way it was the review was angry and useless.

46. What would your story One Victor look like as a tv show or movie? Here and Here are two inspiration boards for it.

47. Do you start with characters or plot when working on a new story? Since I always use the same characters… plot. 


48. Favorite genre to write in. Romance, humor, suspense.

49. What do you find the hardest to write in a story, the beginning, the middle or the end? The middle. The beginning is always exciting and the end feels like you’ve accomplished something. But the middle is no man’s land. 


50. Weirdest story idea you’ve ever had. Honestly…. I’m drawing a blank…


51. Describe the aesthetic of your story Capitol Life in 5 sentences or words.
 Let’s see… cold, dreary, desolate, opulent, soft. I know it sounds a bit contradictory, but the story is divided into two sections. It’s probably easier to check out my inspiration board for it.

52. How did writing change you? It’s made me happier. It’s allowed me to get in touch with myself. I get to explore my thoughts and my imagination in a way I didn’t before. It’s liberating.


53. What does writing mean to you? It’s a challenge. The challenge of finding the right words to tell a good story. I don’t always succeed, but I really enjoy trying. 


54. Any writing advice you want to share? Write to find peace, to find freedom, to fill your life with fantasy and adventure, with romance. Write to make yourself smile.