<sub>Stolen from the journal of miss *rottenpeeches . ( )

Her poems are always a fun read, by the way, and you should go check out her gallery!
Here are some of my favorites by her:
[link] - domestic violence
[link] - psych ward
[link] - leningrad</sub>





1. What led you to write?
I first started writing seriously because I wanted to make up my own version of the Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire storyline. (LOOOOOL.) Basically, I wanted to be the one in charge, to decide what goes.

2. When did you start writing?
I made up lots of very strange little stories when I was four; I didn’t know how to write yet, so I made my neighbors and relatives write them down for me. I started really getting into it and trying to perfect my craft around the sixth grade, so I was eleven or twelve.

3. What does writing represent in your life?
Lately I’ve been using it to vent. (According to my psych textbook, the idea of catharsis doesn’t actually work as well as people think it does, because focusing on angry thoughts just makes you angrier…but I’ve been getting some good stuff out of my anger, so it’s okay.) Overall, it’s a way to say what I really think but can’t say, all those things that sound awkward out loud. All the things you don’t want to admit out loud. It’s also a way to make sure that I’m heard and understood for once. I love to talk, but I’m always tripping over my own tongue and saying things wrong; when I write, though, I have time to sit and rewrite and edit and make sure I say it right.

4. Are you happy with your current style?
Yeah, actually! I’m sure as I continue to grow, I’ll look back and be embarrassed of my latest stories n’ things—that’s inevitable—but I like it right now.

5. Do you do editing?
Uh, yeah. What kind of question is that?

6. Do you read about writing (creative writing books, grammar books...)?
Occasionally, but it’s not like I treat those kind of books like the holy Bible of writing. Experience is the best teacher. And if it stops being fun, it usually stops being fun to read.

7. Favourite genre?
Hard to say. I like a variety of things, as long as it’s well written.

8. Favourite author(s)?
Deb Caletti. Barbara Kingsolver. Sylvia Plath. +More.

9. Favourite book?
Oh jeez, so many. The Bean Trees. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Inkheart. The Bell Jar. A Thousand Splendid Suns. The Poisonwood Bible. The Golden Compass. Tithe. Watership Down. The Wee Free Men. Jane Eyre. Pride and Prejudice. Till We Have Faces. A Great and Terrible Beauty. Flowers for Algernon. …+ more.

I love stories about how f***ed people are—it’s always fascinating.

10. What do you prefer to write?
Prose. I’m really into nonfiction lately, because I have a blast reworking my mundane little life and making it sound interesting. I like stories about people. I’d rather write about an emotional journey than about some action-packed journey across the world.

11. Is there anything you can't write?
Murder mysteries.

12. What is the weirdest thing you have ever written?
Those little stories I wrote when I was four were pretty spectacularly strange.

I dunno, I’ve written a lot of weird stuff. That first story I wrote in the sixth grade involved a girl randomly running into a lamp post, ha ha.

13. Choose a topic: love, death, friendship. Now write a couple of lines about it.
Aw man, do I have to? Right now? …Well, here goes.

It can be used as a weapon, believe it or not. Expertly aimed, then a thrust and a twist, “I love you,” becomes a threat. It says, if you love me too, you’ll agree with me. Love can have cold, hard fingers, pulling hard at the back of his coat. Some people don’t understand what it’s supposed to mean, I guess.

Bleh. And wow, is that bitter or what?

14. Do you think you have influences from any professional writer? If so, which ones?
Well, who isn’t? I’ve been using lots and lots of fragmented sentences these days, which could’ve been inspired by Caletti. I’ve really been influenced by poets this year. (Especially DA’s selection. ) I love reading prose that borders on poetry, and I’ve found out that I like writing it, too.

15. Worst book you have read so far?
Twilight almost takes the cake, but I think I’ve actually read worse. I accidentally bought the wrong book from Barnes and Noble’s online store. What I wound up with as a book called Smart Boys and Fast Girls by Stephy Davis. (I think that says it all right there.) It included phrases like, “Stop farting around and do your geometry homework!”

16. Why is it so bad, in your opinion?
Cardboard cutout-flat characters. No real plot to speak of. Craptastic diction.

17. Choose one of your characters and describe them in three words.
Let’s go with Natalie, I guess. She’s reckless, stubborn, and cheerful.

18. Does your character feel ‘alive’?
Um? Not quite sure what that question’s about, but I suppose so.

19. Could you kill this character?
Er, I suppose so, if it was necessary to the story, but I don’t think it’ll be an issue, ha ha. Like I said, when my characters do dangerous things and climb mountains, they’re usually just in their own minds.

20. Do you hate any of your own characters?
Mmmmm no. There is one I wouldn’t get along with very well in RL, but I would be too interested by his dysfunctions to hate him. I’d try to help him, lol.

21. Now, let's be honest. Every writer has their own favourite creation. What's your favourite story, out of everything you have written/planned to write? And character?
Oh jeez, I dunno.

22. Have you ever abandoned an idea for a story? Why?
Uh, YEAH. I’ve ditched so many story ideas it’s ridiculous. I’ve yet to finish any big project I start in terms of writing. I do usually recycle and rework my ideas though.

23. Have you ever deleted a whole piece of work? Why?
Yup. Because I lost confidence in it and got frustrated with myself.

24. And finally: make up a completely original character right now and describe them briefly. It doesn't even have to be human!
Um. Okay. Jonathan is tall and scrawny, black hair. He like to push people’s buttons and see what he can get away with, just to. He’s a thrill- seeker. His hobbies include breaking into places he doesn’t belong (not to take anything, just to be spiteful and prove to himself that he could if he wanted to), and people watching. He likes to make up stories for people he sees walking by: “That guy right there, the one in the red jacket, he’s a murderer. He just left the crime scene, see? He’s walking fast because he wants to get away, but he knows it would be suspicious to just run.” Jon is the kind of guy who would sneak into some fancy party, and break off a piece of an ice sculpture of a swan to cool his drink. Just to do it. He’s a smart guy, but he never does his school work, because it bores him. He doesn’t care enough. No ambitions, I guess. Impulsive. Has a temper. Atheist, and scornful of anyone who has strong religious beliefs. For all that, he’s a charmer—got a clever tongue. Those kinds of people are always darkly fascinating.

…Okay, that wasn’t very brief at all.





Feel free to do it too, and link me up. Take care, guys.
-TA


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



LINKS AND THINGS

<sub>[link] - Daily prompts. How much can you write in a minute?

[link] – Creative writing prompts for every occasion.

[link] – Brush up on your vocabulary and help end world hunger!

[link] – The coolest way to repurpose those ugly socks your aunt gives you every Christmas!

[link] – Look for Fowl Words

[link] - Weekly word-association prompts

[link] - Write or die. You know you’re curious. Or you have a death wish.</sub>