Thoughts on Writing – Meme on What and How I Write

by Valerie on November 11, 2008 · 2 comments

I am coming up on two years of blogging (first with Beauty Musings and now with this blog), and lately I have been getting more questions about what else I write, and what I would like to do with my writing in the future. I saw this writing meme on Cherrye’s blog My Bella Vita, so I decided to join in the fun. Cherrye got the meme from another great blog, Bleeding Espresso. Be sure to go and say hi to both. They are very lovely ladies who both write full-time.

1. Do you write fiction or non-fiction? Or both? This may surprise some of you, but blogging is my main writing outlet for the present. So by definition, I write more non-fiction. Over the years, I have scribbled some chapters and short stories, but in the last two years I have written any fiction. I find blogging the perfect writing pursuit for me — it’s non-fiction, generally shorter pieces, and also interactive thanks to reader comments. I do have a book project that is non-fiction, as well, but it’s been in the background for a while now (I really should dust it off and get back into it).

2. Do you keep a journal or a writing notebook? Yes and yes and yes and yes. It’s not just because I have an addiction to notebooks, but also because it helps with inspiration and ideas for topics or posts. I thought of City Girl Lifestyle and content for a good three months before I took the plunge, and by then I had outlines of several ideas, and also the general theme of the blog took a lot of plotting.

3. If you write fiction, do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something you discover only after you start writing? Do you find books on plotting useful or harmful? When I wrote fiction, I always had a general sense, but was unsure — and that’s likely why most of my fiction writing is unfinished. So, in light of that, I would say that, yes, a good outline is probably key to staying on task.

4. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work? I really like writing this blog, so I often crave writing for that — but, let’s face it, when I am writing, I am generally procrastinating doing something else I would rather not do.

5. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time? The longest I have written is only about a couple of hours, but that’s more due to time constraints. There’s definitely been days where I wanted to spend more time planning posts and ideas. As for other projects, those generally require more time.

6. Are you a morning or afternoon writer? I am a sort of carpe diem writer – i.e. if I have an extra half hour, I will try to do some writing of some sort.

7. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate? In light of the carpe diem, that means I generally have to write anywhere, and put up with noise or music. It’s fine though.

8. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?) Computer if I am home or somewhere with my laptop, longhand otherwise (see notebook addiction, above)

9. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write? No — this blog is to have a creative fun outlet. Oddly, though, I got really interested in my one main non-fiction idea after realizing there’s very little out there on the topic that is useful.

10. Editing/Revision – love it or hate it? Love it. I wish I could spend more time editing to be honest.

As for what I want to do with my writing — well — I love my job, so I have no dreams to write full-time. But I would like writing to be a consistent part of my life – and if a project starts growing, I would make the time for it in addition to my career.

I won’t tag anyone, but feel free to do the meme on your blog or respond to some of the questions in the comments.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 michelle of bleeding espresso November 12, 2008 at 7:13 am

I definitely have a notebook addiction too. So much so that I specifically ask my mom to send me some (they’re just *different* here, and not in a good way).

You should definitely dust off that project, especially if there’s not a lot of info on it; I’m sure you could add a lot to the discussion as you always do when you share your thoughts and opinions :)

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2 mybellavita November 12, 2008 at 9:49 am

It must be something about writing and blogging that births the notebook addiction. I love em, too and I see Michelle does, as well.

I’m glad you did the meme. It is fun to think of how you write from a new angle.

Cherrye at My Bella Vita
http://my-bella-vita.com

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