Hello and happy new year everyone! Though I'm a little late on the greeting. This will be my first entry for the year 2013 and I wanted to make it special. It may not be special to those of you who are reading this now but at least it's special for me.
I sent out some questions to two of the writers in LiveJournal that I look up to: novemberbaby (chasingpolaris) and frostbittenlove (showersuperstar). The first one who sent an answer was novemberbaby. Below you will be able to read my questions and her answers.
I have read almost all of novemberbaby's journal entries at her writing journal and I really like her works. If you have the time visit her journal: chasingpolaris.livejournal.com.
Question & Answer:
1. What do you write mostly
about?
I write mostly simple love stories between Arashi members and
actresses. I have written slash before but I realized it early on that I just
wasn't that into it.
2. Where do you get
inspirations for your drabbles/fan fictions?
Everywhere. I think it's hard to actually pinpoint a source of
inspiration because you never know when it might strike. There might be
instances where random scenes creep into my mind as I'm reading emails or news
articles. Something just clicks and I may or may not settle on writing it out
right away. It all sort of depends on my mood and my work load.
3. How many years have you
been writing?
Hm, this is a tough one. I can't really give you the number of years
and it's not because I don't want to reveal my age, but it just seems like I
have always been writing. If not writing, then maybe making up stories. But if
you really want a number, I'd give you 15 years.
4. Did you take any formal
lessons for writing or did you self-study writing?
Yes and yes. I wouldn't call them formal writing lessons but I was
enrolled in an AP English class during high school and all I did was write
until my hands fell off. There was so much to read and absorb and spit out in
the form of a paper. It definitely wasn't creative writing but it did push me
to become a better writer.
As for self-studying, I think just reading my favorite novels and
experimenting with different styles helped me to develop my creative writing
skills. All I did back then was just write and write and write some more. I
think I must have churned out a dozen fanfics during high school because of
that. The quality of them varied but it was good practice and that's what I
needed.
5. Have you ever done a
writing collaboration with anyone?
I have. I'd like to do it again sometime!
6. Is there a particular
writer you look up to?
I look up to Murakami Haruki a lot just because he’s able to take
the most mundane subjects and turn them into interesting pieces. When I first
delved into his works, I was determined to skip a few stories in his collection
because the synopses had seemed so boring. But somehow I was pulled into
reading each and every one of them. He doesn’t use a lot of big words and yet
all the right imagery is there. Sometimes less is more and better. That’s what
I want to do with my writing.
There’s also Gail Tsukiyama and Yoko Ogawa who are very, very
awesome with subtlety and creating beautiful imagery. I highly recommend them
if you haven’t read their works.
7. Out of all the pairings
you have used in your fan fictions, which of them do you enjoy writing about
the most?
There are some pairings that get a chunk of my attention and there
are some that I’ve only written once. But I enjoy writing them each and every
pairing, and I have honestly never thought of which one I’d liked spending time
on the most. I just write whichever pairing seems to be gnawing at me for
attention.
8. Give some tips to those
who loves to write as well:
As a reader and a writer, I dislike seeing my favorite idol being
portrayed as someone he is not. Take Nino, for example. Yes, we do know that he
is a manipulative brat, but there is no need to turn him into a PMSing bitch or
have him bark at fellow members each time they offer advice or comfort. Don’t
go overboard with characterization. Do lots of research and observations.
Also, a beta is wonderful friend to have. You can help you fix your
flaws and strengthen what you already have.
9. A message to your
readers:
Are you guys still with me? I’m sorry for the lack of updates. I
can’t promise I’ll be back anytime soon, but I am always thinking about fic
ideas and occasionally jotting down notes for them. Once again, I’m sorry!
---
And there you have it! My short Q&A with novemberbaby. My first entry in 2013! To make up for the lack of updates in this blog I will be posting two or three more entries today.
Thanks a lot for giving time to read this. Take care!
---Gel
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