Writing Survey stolen from limyaael

[beccastareyes]

What's the last thing you wrote?
A scene from Chapter 2 of The End is Only the Beginning. And a lot of computer code, but that doens't count.

Was it any good?
I think I'm getting better with descriptions. I also introduce my second fanfic OC since I learned what a Mary Sue was (all OCs before then are suspect).

What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
Me personally? Well, I think I have some stories from grade school in my room somewhere -- or Mom does, but the only thing I have right now is my third fanfic.

Was it any good?
The grade school stuff was clumsy, with painfully tacked-on morals, but I was 10. The fanfic needs descriptive work. Stat. It's like I'm writing about talking heads in space.

Write poetry?
When forced to.

Angsty poetry?
No... mostly me trying to communicate the sheer neatness of the universe without using math.

Favorite genre of writing?
Eithe science fiction or fantasy. Leaning towards fantasy.

Most fun character you ever wrote?
In fanfic, I have a lot of fun writing Gourry from Slayers because he is actually pretty versitile. I mean, I can use him as comic relief, but he's a good character for stating the obvious -- which is rarer than one would think. In my original stuff... well, it's hard to pick. I have a fondness for all of my characters. I suppose I liked writing Phillee from my webcomic, because she can go from serious to silly at the drop of a hat. She's just avery relaxed person.

Most annoying character you ever wrote?
In fanfic... I don't think I could ever write Xellos in anything other than a comedy fic or as a cameo. Not only is he powerful, he's also far cleverer than me. I have the same problem with Delwyn in my webcomic and a lot my villains. I like villains (and heroes) that are far too clever about people and plans, but I'm not nearly as clever about those things. Of course, it helps that I control the world they work in, but I don't like plans that rely on the fact the heroes are idiots, unless the heroes ARE idiots, and then why the hell are they gonna win?

Best plot you ever wrote?
Dunno. I like some of the stuff I'm working on now, though my original ideas are all dancing at the edge of conciousness. Bah. Most of my finished stuff just seemed cliche.

Coolest plot twist you ever wrote?
Well, the one I'm working on now for "In the Shadows of the Flames" should turn out well, I hope.

How often do you get writer's block?
About once a year... for months at a time.

How do you fix it?
I just force myself to write. It's all in my head. Or I start talking with writer friends.

Write fan fiction?
I should think the answer shopuld be obvious by now.

Do you type or write by hand?
I usually write by hand, because I work on it whenever I have time -- and the computer has the Internet and the Internet has the shiny distractions. Plus, it forces me to do drafts.

Do you save everything you write?
No, because some of it is crap.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
Yes. A lot fo the plots I'm exploring right now -- fanfic and original -- have been bouncing around in my head until they fully flesh out.

What's your favorite thing that you've written?
Well, I like Faces, and In the Shaodws of the Flames, even if the damn thing is unfinished and I have to write a fight scene next chapter.

What's everyone else's favorite thing that you've written?
Probably To Be Human -- the thing needs work, but it's romance and semi-angsty, so the fans eat that up. As for my friends, some of whom are actually discerning in what they read, well... you guys tell me.

Do you even show people your work?
Of course. It's easy using the anonymity of the internet. I show my work to strangers all the time! I just feel self-concious when showing it to family and friends.

Who's your favorite constructive critic?
My friends... yuuo, zannechaos I don't know what I would do without ya... and if I ever find you guys being too easy on me because we're friends...

Do you have a web site for your writings?
I post stuff on ff.net, fictionpress, and mm.org. I like to think I raise the quality of those sites by jsut a little. I also have stuff on my personal website, and someone once asked if they could archive one of my Slayers fics. I was very flattered.

Did you ever write a novel?
Tried once. Failed. Still working on it, and alread I want to revamp it.

Have you ever written fantasy, sci-fi, or horror?
Heavens, YES. I don't really like the stereotypical fantasy setting, because it usually doens't make sense to me, since there seems to be no technological advances from medieval levels for centuries and magic doesn't leeap in the pick up the slakc. I tend to focus on a tech level somewhere from 19th century to futuristic -- either through technoligy, magic or a mix.

Ever written romance or teen angsty drama?
Romance, yes, though apparently, I'm not romantic enough because my stories never end with hawt s3xx0rz or a storybook wedding. Teen angsty drama? Well, usually when my characters go into angst fits, someone else staps them down and tells them to get over themselves. Which is as it should be.

What's your favorite setting for your characters?
Wherever fits. One of the signs of an Author's Darling or Mary Sue is the fact they don't fit thier world -- especially Mary Sues. Harry Potter belongs in his world. Serenity Starlight Katherine Garnet Elen Sakura Greenleaf-Inverse the beautiful half elven soceress doesn't belong in Harry Potter's world (or probably any other).

What's one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Well, I tried to write contemporary but failed. Does that count?

How many writing projects are you working on right now?
At least three fanfic, technically my unfinished NaNo project, plus two original stories and another two fanfics are bouncing around in here.

Do you want to write for a living?
Unless you count grant propsals and research papers, and maybe the odd textbook or popular science book, no. Writing is something that can be both a hobby and aprofession. Astrophysics is much more difficult to practice as just a hobby.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?
A few angry letters to the editor.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?
No, but my teachers in high school liked to read it in front of the class. I didn't even win a fanfiction award last winter at mm.org.

Ever written something in script or play format?
I wrote a play for an English class once. I don't really like it -- it makes me be lazy with descriptions. I'm in an intersting debate with some people at mm.org which don't like my claim that any fic can be made better by writing it in decent prose.

What are your five favorite words?
"Want to go get sushi?" Seriously, words are just tools. The words that can describe the image for a scene in my brain as well as possible are my favorites at the moment.

Do you ever parody?
I try.

What's your favorite thing to parody?
Traditional fantasy and/or gaming cliches. Or fanfic... heavens, I have never seena more boring pit of cliches and unoriginality (the concept, not the person) as ff.net. Not every fic on there is like that, but I just don't get how so many people can type out 'Girl falls into Midle Earth' and expect the reader to be willing to read theirs over the 1,000 other fics that fit that premise.

Do you actually like that thing, or are you spitefully making fun of it?
I like it, but some times the things can be so darned stupid. Like the video game (and fantasy) coupon-collecting quests. As for fandom, I like showing an idea can work.

Do you ever write based on yourself?
Well, to some extent every character has a bit of myself in them. I also like taking jokes from my life and putting them into stories -- sometime real life cna be the best comedy. For example, a friend once told me about a Physics student going to a wedding who had to borrow a suit form my professor -- and let's just say that they did not share the same sense of style. Well, changed a few names and relationshyips and events, and stuck it into a story (To Be Human, chapter 3).

What character that you've written most resembles yourself?
Probably Riki. He's the closest thign I have to an Author Darling, except for the fact I think that he needs a few good whacks upside the head, because he is a clueless idiot sometimes... like me in middle/high school, except he is supposed to be in his 20's. Stupid engineer.

Where do you get ideas for your other characters?
All sorts of places. I take an achetype and flesh it out, I take a cliche and put a twist on it, I base it off of friends and family, I start out with a basic skeleton and let it grow...

Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Well, within the last couple of months I had two really awesome dreams -- very full of imagery, very well-structured, with characters and everything. It was decidedly weird, and I want to do something with those.

Do you favor happy endings, sad endings, or cliffhangers?
I favor the ending that fits. It's usually happy, though, but not completely. I dont like "And they lived happily ever after." and more than "They all died. The End."

Which is probably why my romance stories never caught on.

Have you ever written based on an artwork you've seen?
Not really, but I've drawn things from stories before.

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Yes. I probably should wait to proofread until I'm done, but I can't help it. But, no one sees unproofread work, not even my beta-reader. While the beta might catch a few typos, I don't expect her to be my proofreader as well.

Ever write something entirely in chatspeak? (How r u?)
I don't even write chats in chatspeak, except for a few acronyms.

Entirely in L337?
People seriously use l33t to communicate?

Was that question completely appalling and un-writerlike?
Not considering some of the writers I've seen -- if you write, you are a writer... even if you are a thirteen year old girl who likes having herself the wonderful Hikari Moonstar becoming the true love of Orlando Bloom Legolas or Will Turner. Therefore, you had the right to ask how seriosuly I take my hobby.

Does music help you write?
It doens't hurt. DOn't really think it helps, save to create background noise.

Do you have a weblog or livejournal?
Um....

Are people surprised and confused when they find out you write well?
Well, considering I project a very science-focused exterior, yes. They are even more surpised I draw, though.

Quote something you've written. The first thing to pop into your mind.
Damn it... you are making me look up things...
From Chapter 1 of In the Shadow of the Flames:
As Allen turned to follow the other men out the door, Queen Millerna pulled him aside.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" he asked.

"I've been spending night and day reading all the books on politics and tactics in Father's library, but this is the first time I had to speak to people who actually knew if I was getting it wrong. How do you think I did?" No longer the stately queen, she was acting much more like the young princess she used to be.

"Excellent, Your Majesty."

"You were probably wondering why you were present," Millerna paused to collect some stray papers she had left on the table.

"It had crossed my mind," Allen nodded, wondering when she would get to the point.

"Well, as far as those with knowledge of Zaibach tactics go, you are one of our more experienced knights. I'll need you..."

"To determine who this raider really is," Allen finished.

"Exactly. I'm having you take the Crusade and patrol the Zaibach border. The outposts are instructed to send up a signal fire if another attack is reported. With luck, we can catch the raider in action."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Allen turned to go, his mind already making a list of preparations needed to be made before they launched. We'll need to stock the galley for a long trip, and check the sails and levistones -- I better send word to Gaddes to start immediately...

"Oh, Allen? One more thing," Millerna stopped him at the door. "How certain are you that Dilandau Albatou is dead?"

All of the dread that had been hovering over Allen's head suddenly collapsed into a stone in his stomach. "I... er...what?" he stammered.

"How certain are you of his death? You were the one who reported it. His guymelef was found, but no body was ever located. I've been trying to confirm the whereabouts of all the higher-ups in the Zaibach military to calm the nobles, and this one had been a thorn in my side."

"I'm certain. Dilandau Albatou is dead," Allen said firmly.

"How do you know?"

"I know," Allen crossed his arms, "Your Majesty," he added as an afterthought.

"Sir Schezar, you saw how the nobles are taking this. People are afraid, and people like Lord Alaric are gaining favor. If the nobles knew we couldn't confirm Dilandau's death..."

"I understand, Your Majesty." He didn't want to tell her... one more person was one more chance the secret would get out. They would never understand his sister wasn't that monster anymore. She'd be killed or taken from him. Still... for someone like Lord Alaric to start poking around... Better Millerna than them. He glanced around. Everyone else was long gone. He reached for the doorknob and closed the door, just to be sure. "Your Majesty... Millerna... You know that my sister went missing ten years ago. The Zaibach military took her... I'm not entirely sure what they did to her, but it involved the Fate Alteration techniques Emperor Dornkirk was experimenting with.."

Millerna considered this. "During the end of the war, you were asking Folken about Dilandau -- what he knew about him. Folken mentioned the sorcerers of Zaibach... and experimenting on children. Then you said something about your sister... something you didn't finish. I thought the mention of missing children just reminded you of her at he time." She paused. "Allen, do you mean to tell me that your sister is Dilandau Albatou?"

Allen nodded. "As the war progressed, whatever they did to her started to... to wear off. She hasn't been Dilandau since the war's end. Believe me, if I thought she was a threat to anyone, I would have..."

"Of course you would have," Millerna turned away from him, her hands clasped behind her back. "First Prince Chid, now Celena. Why am I always the last to know your family's little skeletons in the closet? Are they any other Schezar family secrets I should know about? Was your father really Emperor Dornkirk? Was Hitomi your second cousin?" She turned to face him, her hands on her hips.

"That's not funny, Your Majesty," Allen said, his hand on the doorknob.