Writerly meme thinky-thought thingy...

[cairistiona]

Because working on a WIP for B2MeM that hit me out of the blue last night has given me too many Halbarad feels to continue at the moment, thus... I procrastinate.



Seen all over the place but I snagged from dreamflower02:

1. Of the fic you’ve written, which are you most proud of?
Probably... my Bowen Rushlight stories (including the WIP no one's seen yet). I really have been working hard to make the OC's very real and multi-dimensional, which I find really, really fun to do.

2. Favorite tense (past/present/future)
Past. I don't mind the occasional present tense tale but usually that throws me off too much as a reader.

3. Favorite POV (first/second/third/etc)
To read, 1st person. To write, 3rd person limited. I like staying in the head of a single character and seeing the story through his/her eyes.

4. What are some themes you love writing about?
Brotherly love and friendship, usually between men who aren't related but are as close as brothers. I don't purposefully write themes into my stories. I've found that when I try, it feels clunky and contrived, but when I simply focus on telling a story, and showing character interactions, whatever themes it may have will flow out more organically and to me, much more satisfactorily.

5. What inspires you to write?
With fanfic writing, it's the gaps the author left behind, or the continuing story beyond where the original story ends. With Tolkien, it's more gap-filling; with some television shows I've written fanfic for, it's been because I didn't want to see the series end and so I made up stories that might have happened after the screen went dark. AU doesn't interest me as a writer... I feel far more challenged to try to stay within the lines. I'd rather write original fiction than AU fanfic, because I'd rather spend my creative energies creating my own world rather than change someone else's, if that makes sense.

6. Thoughts on critique.
I like it when a beta reader/editor really gets into the nitty gritty when giving me feedback. I'm not a huge fan of public concrit in reviews... to me, it's best done privately, and then only if the writer has asked me. I've seen too many people, especially at ff.net, say "Concrit welcome" only to get their feelings hurt and never write again when concrit is actually offered. So I focus on the positive when I review a story, but when someone asks me to beta, I get more "concritty". But I always try to keep the writer's story in mind, and I always, always try to be gentle and reassure the writer that I'm only offering my own opinion and that they can ignore me. Well, except when I point out spelling/grammar issues. *g*

7. Create a character on the spot…. NOW!

The Laundress of Bree...

Nelda Oakleaf glared up at the man, her chapped, reddened hands never breaking the rhythmic slap of wet cloth against stone. Her heavy brows drew together in a suspicious wrinkle above a nose that thrust out like an crow’s beak. "What, then?" she demanded. "Quit yer gawkin' and speak, if you've a tongue in yer head."

"My cloak is torn," he stammered. "Could you--"

"Can ye not read? I'm a laundress. I clean clothes, I don't fix 'em. Take your ratty cloak to the tailor, if you’ve the coin."

He hurried off.

Rangers. She had no use for 'em.

(Heh. That was kind of a two-fer... I don't know who the skittish, unnamed Ranger is in this drabble.)

8. Is there a character you love writing the most? The least? Why?
Most: Aragorn. I love getting into his head and exploring how he maintains hope in the face of such a hard life and impossible odds. I also really like writing Halbarad, Elladan and Elrohir, and my various OC's.
Least: Really evil, awful villains. Not a fan of going into such dark places. Cranky Bree-landers I *do* enjoy, however, because they're not villainous, for the most part. Just rather clueless and misguided, Bill Ferny excepted.

9. A passage from a WIP.

From a WIP about Halbarad's youth:

The troll thundered into the clearing, heading straight for Elrohir. It swiped a giant hand toward Elrohir, but he leapt out of reach and then vaulted up several boulders until he was standing above the troll’s head. He taunted it, shouting what sounded like curses at it in several different languages, most of which Halbarad didn’t know. The troll again lunged for Elrohir, but he danced away, still singing and baiting as he did.

“Dullard! Dolt! You’re far too slow!” he cried, laughing. “But then your father was an orc and your mother a rock! And you have the wits of neither!”

Who knows if that humongous story will ever be finished, but I hope so, someday.

10. What are your writing strengths?
Hmm, this always seems a question better answered by readers, but I think I'm fairly good at dialogue and action scenes. And mixing in humor with angst.

11. What are your writing weaknesses?
Yeah... I have a long list, topped by a lack of organization. I tend to write without outlining and that often gets me stuck. I also don't really have a Master Plan for my universe, so my stories tend to be all over the place as far as when they take place. I admire those who can plan from Point A to Point Z without ever straying.

12. What’s your favorite place for writing, resources?

My desktop computer. Resources... I have a lot of books on writing, and of course, I keep Tolkien's books at hand. I also make use of Encyclopedia of Arda's site, and google, for finding synonyms etc.

13. Who are your favorite writers?
Tolkien, obviously! Michael J. Sullivan, Douglas Hulick, Dick Francis, CJ Box, Bernard Cornwell's earlier works (the Sharpe series, mostly). Um, who else... Lee Child, Philip DePoy, Louis L'Amour, Elmer Kelton. These are all authors who, for the most part, I read and enjoy anything and everything they put out. I have other books that are my favorite, though I might not care much for most of the rest of the authors' works. Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" fits that category, though the rest of his stuff is too dark. Lois McMaster Bujold's "The Curse of Chalion", which I love, though I could never get into her Vorkosigan series. Brent Weeks' Night Angel trilogy, though I'm having trouble with his current Lightbringer series. RA Salvatore's first three books about Drizzt, though the ones after didn't hold me. I tend to fall in love with characters, but not necessarily "worlds", so a lot of times fantasy authors lose my interest if they move on to tell of different generations following whichever one I first encounter. Not always, though. I'm fairly inconsistent that way!

Comments

[suzll.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaha, I love the laundress!! *g*

I did about half of this meme on Tumblr over the weekend, but I'm bored at lunch, so I might go finish it up... :)

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I kinda like her, too! I've been meaning to populate Bree for my stories, so she'll no doubt have a walk-on part in my Bowen WIP. As might the unknown shy Ranger, although maybe in some other story since by the 3rd Bowen tale, the Rangers are leaving. Whoever he is, he's young and too easily intimidated. LOL

[mikononyte.livejournal.com]

Oh I like this! There is so much to learn about one's self as well as others with memes like this!

And I really enjoyed the scene from your WIP. What's happening next? We wanna know nooooow! LOL

I should do this later today. It might actually get me off my lazy butt to do some writing. I've been saying that for nigh on 5 years now. :(

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

And I really enjoyed the scene from your WIP. What's happening next? We wanna know nooooow! LOL

Oh gosh, that WIP is sooooo very far from being ready. And I want to concentrate on getting my story about Bowen Rushlight finished first. But this young Halbarad story has been on my mind again. I expect it'll be next up in the queue.

As for what comes next... um, a massive troll battle! There, I don't think that's too spoilery. *g*

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Ah, Drizzt. Loved those first three volumes of Salvatore as well as his Elminster series.

- Erulisse (one L)

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I wish all the Drizzt novels were as good as those first three!

[shirebound]

I don't mind the occasional present tense tale but usually that throws me off too much as a reader.

I'm glad to hear someone else say that. I always find present tense very jarring to read.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

If it's written really, really well, then I can usually get into the flow of it. I've read stories where it leant a certain immediacy to the pace that worked, but I've also given up after the first paragraph because it sounds like something written by a middle schooler! It's a risky choice for authors, but done right, it can be brilliant.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I love Nelda!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

She's kind of interesting, isn't she. I'm going to have to see what else there is to this crotchety old gal!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

"My cloak is torn," he stammered. "Could you--"

My initial thought was a young Aragorn!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

My initial thought was a young Aragorn!

Hee hee... after I wrote it, I figured everyone would think it was Aragorn. And it might be, though I have a feeling Aragorn would have just fixed it himself. Of course, we don't know exactly what the young Ranger was going to ask... maybe directions to the tailor or maybe to borrow a needle and thread. *g*

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

So here she is! I like Nelda Oakleaf, though I would love to see her change her mind about rangers.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I would love to see her change her mind about rangers.

Sadly, that probably won't happen. Too many long-held prejudices, I fear.