#writerslife TAG!! (also, extreme funness)

A few days ago, I popped by Abbiee's blog and discovered that she'd tagged me in a #writerslife post! (thanks, girl!) I had a lot of fun with these questions - I hope you enjoy poking through some of my answers!

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WRITE FUEL: WHAT DO YOU EAT/DRINK WHILE WRITING?
Food and books are two things that I love a lot, but combining them is very difficult for one simple reason*: they both require a) my full attention, and (more importantly) b) the use of my hands. So if I have a crazy-amazing idea, I'll be typing away furiously with two hands, tongue caught between my teeth... or, if I'm in a slow spot, I might be munching on some crackers or maybe a handful of peanuts. Rarely do I try to attempt both simultaneously. (also, I suck at one-handed typing!)

*I belatedly realize that this is, in fact, two reasons.


WRITE SOUNDS: WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO WHILE WRITING?
Nothing! I find noise of any sort completely and totally distracting. That's very boring and unromantic, I know. 

WRITE VICE: WHAT’S YOUR MOST DEBILITATING DISTRACTION?

Ummm, everything. Mostly people. If there is anyone else around, no matter where they are or where I am in the house, I will leap up from my computer and HUNT THEM DOWN to tell them pointless facts and stories and other nonsense as a way of procrastinating. It's actually terrible. I've been known to flop all over Mum's bed when she's trying to fold laundry (and I'm supposed to be writing!) just to tell her a random fact about my Monday morning. From two weeks ago.

WRITE HORROR: WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO YOU WHILE WRITING?

Once, I thought of an amazingly witty sentence and then forgot what it was before I could type it down. (Actually, this has probably happened more than once. But still rarely enough that it can be classified as tragic when forgotten.)

 

WRITE JOY: WHAT’S THE BEST THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED WHILE WRITING OR HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES?

Hmm... I don't tend to celebrate too much until the book is done, and I can't think of one wonderful moment right now. The whole process is my favourite!!
 

WRITE CREW: WHO DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH OR NOT COMMUNICATE WITH WHILE WRITING?

Nobody!! I walk around with a mysterious smile, breathing secrets and making vague references to storyline that make sense to no one but myself.

(Except this is kind of a lie, because I usually end up blabbing about everything to everyone all the time. I simply cannot stay quiet about the things that excite me!)

WRITE SECRET: WHAT’S YOUR WRITING SECRET TO SUCCESS - OR HIDDEN FLAW?

Um. I guess my secret to success is knowing when to push through the tough bits, and when it's time for a break. Sometimes you have to pin your pants to the seat and just WRITE until you feel better, even if you don't want to - but sometimes, your brain needs a break. I'm usually pretty good at knowing when to take a few days off and read like crazy. It's like I write all the words right out of my brain and have to refill it before I can keep going.

Hidden flaw? I HATE forcing myself to write when I don't want to, even if I know it will be good for me. It's very, VERY slow going at these times and I can get really frustrated.

WRITE-SPIRATION: WHAT ALWAYS MAKES YOU PRODUCTIVE?
New ideas. Whether they apply to my current book or not, having a new idea for a scene or character or even a whole new story fills me with energy.
 

WRITE PEEVE: WHAT’S ONE THING WRITERS DO (OR YOU DO) THAT’S ANNOYING?

This is a really weird pet peeve of mine, but I really hate it when people use short sentences in their work. One or two is fine, but a whole paragraph of short, clipped phrases sets my teeth on edge. I just want to hurl commas and semi-colons at them until they get the hint!

(The flip side to this is that my own sentences can get very long... sometimes when I'm editing I have to add a period or four just to break up a paragraph. I'm sure you've noticed this if you've been around here for a while. I use ellipses, dashes, and parenthesis a LOT.)
 

WRITE WORDS- SHARE ONE SENTENCE FROM A PROJECT. PAST OR PRESENT

I haven't actually started writing this book yet (I'm hoping to do NaNoWriMo next month!) but I'll share a couple of sentences from a scene I wrote last week. I'm still playing around with a lot of things... but this part makes me smile. 

 

 

“I’m deaf,” I blurt, and watch her freeze in front of me. I can practically see the silence settling over the library, people’s heads turning from the bookshelves all the way by the front windows, and as everyone physically stills, a hot blush creeps up the back of my neck.

Oops. Maybe not quite the first impression that I wanted to make.

 

 
 
I tag -- everyone! If you're interested in completing this tag, go for it! Just make sure you comment below and let me know so I can pop by and read your answers! 

xx
Olivia