Writing Meme

Have I done this meme before? Honestly, I can't remember. Anyhow, I saw it at Julia's and thought it looked like fun.

1. List one of your writing goals for the upcoming month and how likely you are to accomplish it.

By the end of September, I would love to finish rough-drafting (the rewrite of) Heart's Chalice. I work hard on it every day, and last night, I broke 70K. It's flowing well -- I'm in a sweet spot. In all likelihood, I will reach my goal. But the story continues to develop as I write it, and I don't want to shortchange it by holding to a hard and fast deadline. While writing this story, I'm never sure what (or who) is around the next corner... but that's what makes it fun.


2. What genre or subject would you like to write about that you aren't currently?

Someday, I'd like to write a novel about a person who works with big cats (lions, tigers).


3. What is your writing lifestyle, habits? How do you manage the interruptions with your writing? How do you stay positive? Believe in your writing success?

a. Writing Lifestyle / habits: I'm a night writer. My day looks like this: get up, do housework and errands. Then I hike, if it's a hiking day. After hiking, I settle into Writer Mode, maybe work in some blogging but focus on the WIP.

b. Managing interruptions: I do what's required of me then get back to my writing ASAP.

c. Staying positive: Hiking helps me stay positive, gives me perspective. When I'm on the mountain, petty concerns fall away, and I'm better able to slough off anything which might be bringing me down.

d. Believing in my writing success: I feel most optimistic about my success when I keep my productivity humming. And in the meantime, I love what I do, so that is its own reward.


4. Are you a pantser or plotter?

For the most part, I've been a panster, but for one book (my novella Thy Eternal Summer, which was e-pubbed before the publisher went belly-up), I was a plotter (came up with an outline before writing the story, then mostly followed the outline). For Heart's Chalice, it's 50% - 50%. Because of Heart's Chalice's world-building elements, I did a great deal of pre-writing. I came up with a rough outline for the story, but as I wrote, my characters let me know in no uncertain terms that I could take my outline and stuff it where the sun doesn't shine. So now I have the foundation for the story built and many of its support structures are in place, but my characters let me know, as I write, which materials they want me to use and what style of decor they want.


5. Who are two of your favorite current authors and why?

Khaled Hosseini. I was blown away by both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I enjoyed learning about Afghanistan through the eyes of his masterfully-drawn characters, who came to life in my mind to such an extent I feel like they're old friends.

Joyce Carol Oates. A stunningly effective storyteller, and stunningly prolific, too! She's one of those rare authors who seamlessly combine a compelling story with powerful, poetic prose. Among her best: The Goddess and Other Women, Blonde, Mysteries of Winterthurn, Solstice, A Bloodsmoor Romance.


6. How does your family feel about your writing?

My husband is sweet, supportive, and my #1 fan. With regard to other family members, some are very supportive (waving "hi" to my wonderful mother-in-law), some are casually supportive, some just don't get it. Others think my writing is kind of cool but they don't understand that yes, writing is work. So the support factor varies all across the family spectrum. All in all, I'm quite lucky.

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The weather has been beautiful here, but very dry. We desperately need rain. The greenery on the mountain is looking droopy, as you'll see in these pictures I took on today's hike: