#tagging a lot because i keep seeing unfortunate accidents w people who don't want to get rid of their plants

[the-puffinry]

Useful tip for people who have animals prone to nibbling (whether that's a cat, dog, parrot or something else!) but really love plants that might be toxic to them; invest in large glass vases/bowls. No, not to put the plants in, to cover them with!

I had a few plants I really didn't want to get rid of when I got my bird, but I also absolutely did not want to take any risk with her. So I went to a 2nd hand store and bought some of the largest vases I could find. Then I put them on top of the plants I thought might hurt her. I think it actually looks very nice! Like an interior design choice unrelated to my bird's safety.

As a bonus a lot of tropical plants actually seem to do better this way. I hardly ever need to water them anymore, and the polka dot begonia I thought was beyond saving has started growing a few leaves since I put it beneath a glass bowl. I suppose the air inside is more humid.

Large plants of course might not fit beneath even the largest vase you can find, but this will allow you to at least keep a number of toxic (but beautiful) plants you would otherwise have to give away.

[wolgerrswraith]

Writerly Questionaire

Tagged by @winglesswriter for this writer questionnaire. I'll do my best to answer them!

About Me

When did you first start writing ?

Probably around 9 or 10. Terrible little stories I did in stapled together pages that have been lost to time. I tried to write "seriously" in my late teens. A lot of that is also lost, but what got kept shows some promise.

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

No, not really. I'm big into YA/fantasy these days, so a lot of what I write falls into the fantasy or YA genre as well. Not everything, but a lot of it.

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you're often compared?

I consider Holly Black, Madeleine Roux, and Stephen King my biggest inspirations, but I don't try to copy them. I wouldn't compare my work to them, either, but I'd like to think a little Holly Black gets into my writing sometimes.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

Nothing too special, unfortunately. Just my usual desk with my pc. I need to dust it, probably.

What's your most effective way to muster up some muse?

It happens at random sometimes. I'll have an idea, and the story comes into being from it. My novella was inspired by a DVD cover, for example. (Not the film itself, though, just the art.) Other times an idea sticks in my mind from a book or film, and I work it into something original. An entire story I wrote once was based off a single moment in Crimson Peak, for example.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

Absolutely not.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

Broken homes, unflattering parental figures, and found families keep cropping up. I'd say it's surprising, but at this point I just accept it as the way my writing goes.

My Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

I like all my characters, but my favorite is always my elf guy, Lestrain. I need to actually put him into stories more often, but I default to him in games if I need to make an avatar, and currently the most chaotic Sims playthrough to ever exist stars him.

Which of your characters do you think you'd be friends with in real life?

Wolgerr (who is sometimes human), and Jonah (usually human). They're both down to earth, modern types who don't judge a lot and try to get along with people.

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Scarlett, mostly because I made her the biggest bitch to ever live (for story reasons!). She'd pick too many fights for me to ever like her.

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

Honestly? Accidents. Almost all of them. A prime example is Lestrain, which came from a rewatch of Interview With the Vampire. Lestat somehow morphed into a disgraced prince, who then morphed into a man who loved too freely and got banished off the throne for it. The elf bit was for fun. And the amazing hair.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

A lot of bisexuals. And sassy assholes. Wouldn't know why that keeps happening!

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc

Cliche as it is, all my main characters have actor "face claims" to help me visualize. I'm at the point I see the claims when writing my characters, so I guess it worked.

My Writing

What's your reason for writing?

Mental health. Life is hard, sometimes I need to write about pretty elf people fucking up the patriarchy.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

I don't get as many comments as I'd like (it's too hard for someone to post feedback apparently) but I'm always glad to see my stories are interesting, and even funny (when they're supposed to be).

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who "gets" the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

I'd like to think people read my work and think "Wow! This guy is super nuts and this plot is ridiculous! I must finish it!"

But seriously, I'd just like someone to think the story is good enough to finish reading.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I think my dialogue comes across well. Banter, jokes, gentle jabs between friends. (Not pillow talk, though... don't ask!)

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

Dialogue and weirdness. Combining elements that don't feel like they'd work but somehow do, with people who can banter with the best of them.

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

That it's awful, and everything I write is trash can worthy. Because  intrusive thoughts are real, and hard to ignore.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Probably. Someone would have to.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it's a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

I attempt to put a little thought into what other people might want to read, but I'm also writing a novella with samurai teaming with elves to fight dragons because I like those things. And because no one can stop me.

Tagging @aintgonnatakethis @fortunatetragedy