Thursday 4 May 2017

The Writer Stag

I've picked up a Writer's Tag from Elena at A Homeschooled Nerd's Tale. She left who she tagged fairly open, and I came under the Blogger who doesn't have a TV category, so I've considered myself tagged. (because I was too impatient to wait until someone tagged me by name?? besides, I figured this would be a fairly easy post idea, while telling you guys a bit about me as a writer. win-win!)

So! It didn't come with rules, but I'll do my best. ;)

(Credit to the creator of this tag... whoever that was. I have no idea where it came from originally, because the blog trail's pretty unclear. As far back as I can track it, this tag came into the blogosphere from Paper Fury, who got it off Instagram?)

(And apparently on another blog #thewriterstag was read as 'The Writer Stag' and that is a thing now, if you'd care to check [it's in the comments]. I think it should be a thing. I'm naming this post after it because it should be a thing.)

Thanks for the tag, Elena! (even though it wasn't for me specifically xD)


I think the Writer Stag should become as much of a writerly legend as, I don't know, plot bunnies?

--{ What Genres, Styles, and Topics Do You Write About? }--


I write mixed-up fairytales, some fairytales of my own but without any fairies and I have no idea what to call that??, and some contemporary runaway stories. And some short stories which could be anything.

I tend to write in third person POV, and always past tense (short stories, once again, don't necessarily follow this). Now I think about it, as a beginning 'writer' I used first person, and made my stories a little too autobiographical. (Or not. It was what I wished my life was like, but the main character was definitely me.) But that's probably why I tend not to use first person POV extensively: it reminds me of my cringe-worthy attempts as a pre-teen.

Topics? um... a few themes that seem to develop by themselves are identity, family, and betrayal, if that's what 'topics' meant? Adventure with a touch of romance??

--{ How Long Have You Been Writing? }--


Almost forever, but that probably isn't what you meant: I was homeschooled, and started fairly young. I wrote. Schoolwork. And the textbooks we used, well, the writing prompts were frankly horrible. (At least, I believed so then and still do now.)

I hated writing. Fiction (and newspaper articles) especially.

I don't remember when or why I changed to being a writer. But the first novel idea which I still have (albeit in drastically modified form) is from when I was thirteen, half a decade ago. I have a few short stories from before that. (They're dreadful.)

--{ Why Do You Write? }--


Why do you ask such a hard questions??

I don't know why! I just have characters pop into my head, and I have to write them a story because I want to know what happens to them.

Oh, wait, that's right. I write because I want to read the story. Huh.

--{ When is the Best Time to Write? }--


Late at night. Probably 8 to 10:30? The problem is, of course, that my parents want me to be in bed then (and they're completely right, I should be). Also, I procrastinate my writing until late, and then it's really easy to miss it. So instead, I try to write in the morning - not first thing, but after breakfast and the jobs are over. Not that it ever works. I am a Master Procrastinator.

--{ What Parts of Writing Do You Love? What Parts Do You Hate? }--


Character journalling for the first question; first drafts for both questions.

--{ How Do You Overcome Writer's Block? }--


I have a dozen story ideas, several of which are half-finished first drafts, so I really don't have any excuse not to write. If I get 'blocked', I can switch to another WIP. (No wonder none of them are finished...)

That said, I don't really get blocked - it's always procrastination, not the dreaded 'block'. What I really need is not to switch WIPs, but to sit down and force myself to write. Maybe go on Pinterest? (hahaha because that will totally help me beat procrastination, right??)

--{ Are You Working on Something at the Moment? }--


No.

Well, yes. I should be. I haven't touched Three Sisters since a few days before Camp ended, when I reached my goal of 15k. But I'd like to get another 20k - at least - before the end of June. Three Sisters is nowhere near finished, but I hope that it might one day be [my first ever draft to be] finished.

--{ What Are Your Writing Goals This Year? }--


Finishing just the first draft of Three Sisters would be a monumental achievement for me; I'd also like to rewrite it to get a second draft. Because it's currently in NaNo condition. *winces*



I tag - um... *looks sideways at followers list* Faith's already done it... Gray has too... How about:

Audrey at Audrey Caylin
Andrea at a surge of thunder
Micaiah at Notebooks and Novels 

Just if you guys want to, of course. (As far as I can see you haven't done this tag yet? I stalked your blogs to check ;) )


What about you? How would you answer the question 'Why do you write?' When do you write? What's your current WIP and your goals? Comment! Tell me all the things!

20 comments:

  1. Yay! Jem did the tag! *squeals* I can never think of anyone to tag when I'm doing this kind of post, so.... yeah.
    Character journaling... so many people swear by it, but I still have basically no idea what it is or how to do it. Post on that? *puppy dog eyes*
    Beautiful post, Jem, thanks!!!

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    1. Oooh, okay - character journaling it is! *quickly googles to check that what I'm calling character journaling is what other people call character journaling* *not really??* *will write post anyway*

      You're welcome, Faith!

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  2. I like the sound of "The Writer Stag" what a cute little mistake! My favorite quote about why writer's write is: "A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity" by Franz Kafka
    I think that explains why most writers write, lol! xD

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    1. Maybe writers go on quests to find the mythical Writer Stag, hoping he'll help them discover why they have this compulsion to write?? (If you have a alternate idea for what he does, I'd love to hear it!)

      YES THAT that is an excellent quote, Gray!

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  3. I AM DEFINITELY DOING THIS TAG. It's so cool! :D And your answers are great! First drafts are my favorite but worst favorite part of writing too.

    I haven't heard much of character journaling either! It sounds familiar, but... a post on it would be awesome!

    audrey caylin

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    1. Great! I'll keep an eye on your blog, Audrey!

      And yes, for me, first drafts be like "Yesss! Freedom!! ... wait ... Nooo! Freedom!!" I like a bit of structure to guide me. (why don't I plot, then? no idea.)

      Okay, I'll do a post on that. :)

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  4. AAAAH I love this! Your answers are amazing and helped me to get to know your writing style more <3 Thank you so so much for the tag?!? I will definitely be doing this!

    - Andrea at A Surge of Thunder

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    1. Thanks, Andrea! And I see you've done the tag already! Will head over and check that out. ;)

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  5. AAHHHH I LOVE THIS TAG!!! Thanks for tagging me-I'll definitely be doing it! =D Love getting to know more about you and your writing! =)

    Micaiah
    www.notebooksandnovels.com

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    1. You're welcome, Micaiah! I hope you enjoy the tag! :D

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    2. I will! Oh, and I tagged you with the Sunshine Blogger Tag over at my blog. =) http://www.notebooksandnovels.com/2017/05/the-sunshine-blogger-tag.html

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    3. My first time actually getting tagged! *dances* Thanks, Micaiah! I'll definitely go look at that. :)

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  6. Good luck with finishing Three Sisters! *sends encouragement and tons of motivation your way* You can do it! Believe in yourself and your story! <3 It was super cool to know more about you as a writer. :D
    My current WIP is Golden Revenge, and I'm right in the middle of second draft edits. I love it and hate it at the same time, if you know what I mean! XD

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    1. *jumps up and down in motivation confetti* Thanks! ;)

      'Golden Revenge'? That sounds cool! Is it... ah... a Midas retelling? ...I'm a brilliant guesser! *cue shrieks of 'tricksy hobbitses cheats!* *and such* (I'm actually a bad guesser. I read that on your blog. xD Definitely an awesome idea!)

      I've never actually finished a first draft, so I don't know about second draft edits, but I know the feeling - I love and hate first drafts? So maybe it's a constant thing - we think it'll change, but every draft is the same?? *thinks about all the future drafts* *stops thinking* *too scary* ;P

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  7. Pretty neat! The Writer Stag....that's hilarious! It should most definitely be a thing. But character journals...*gasp* I love them!!! I love them so much I rarely do them because I will fall in love with the side character and want the whole story to be about them... anyone else have that problem?

    ~Julian D.

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    1. Feel free to contribute to the folklore about the Writer Stag, Julian! ;)

      YES that's such a problem for me!! The first story I got serious about finishing, I preferred about three side characters over my MC... they had better backstories, better motivation, better guilty secrets, they were all-round far more interesting! *sympathizes intensely*

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  8. I tagged you on my blog for the Liebster Award.

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    1. Awesome! Thanks so much, Gray! I'll go check that out :)

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  9. Fun tag and great answers! Congrats on finishing Camp Nano and hopefully on finishing The first draft of Sisters too. I would answer this tag so much like you did it's actually scary LOL 'Why do you write?' same as you did. Stories just keep coming and if I don't give them life I go crazy :) I also write better late at night and pinterest is also my answer to writers block! :). I'm actually posting about it next week. How Pinterest is my most productive way to procrastinate because at least sometimes I get inspired :)

    My current WIP is a Dark Fantasy "Daughters of the Desert". I added 20K during camp nano and my goal is to add the last 20K to the first draft now in May and start editing in the summer.

    That's all the things for now :)

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    1. [Sorry I haven't responded earlier, 'Dragonfly' - Blogger ate my original reply.]

      Thanks! I haven't finished Three Sisters, but I'm hoping to get another chunk written in the next few months. I'll have to read that post - if I'm going to procrastinate on Pinterest, I'd like to have a method to make it PRODUCTIVE procrastination. ;)

      'Daughters of the Desert' sounds like a fascinating story! I hope it goes well for you. Do you have an ending planned out?

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