49 Questions for Writers
Sep. 17th, 2015 03:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
london9calling1. What pen names have you published under?
London_Calling, London9Calling
2. Where do you usually publish fics?
AFF is my default (and is kind of my first line of posting, I cross post the stories I feel most confident in onto other platforms), LJ, and recently I have tried to join the cool kids on AO3.
3. Do you usually handwrite or type?
Type. I used to handwrite back in the day, I will still handwrite outline notes if they come to me suddenly, but otherwise I type everything.
4. How many words long are your very short, short, and long fics?
Very short - about 1k. Very long, usually in the 90k range.
5. How many stories have you written so far? (Finished, in progress, abandoned)
Not counting drabbles I have 15 stories finished, with *gasp* 16 fics caught up in exchanges/fests yet to be revealed, 1 chaptered fic in progress, and *sadly* 3 abandoned fics. There are also a few fic ideas I have had floating around for the last couple of months, but I haven’t had the time to fully flesh them out.
6. When did you first start writing?
Oh, hm – probably when I was ten or eleven. I loved reading and found a lot of enjoyment with scribbling down the stories that popped into my mind after finishing books (I guess I was meant to write fan fiction or something haha). I took several long breaks in between writing, and honestly the stuff I wrote as a pre-teen, teen, and young adult were mostly just messing around and pretty cringe worthy when I look back on them. I started writing regularly when I created a drama blog and very, very, very regularly when I fell into the pit that is Exo fan fiction (I say pit with the utmost affection, hehe).
7. What was your first story?
My first fan fiction was a hurried mess, born from a mega obsession with Xiuhan and binge watching Taemin and Naeun on We Got Married. It is a royalty!AU of all things, how that makes any sense at all - well, it probably does not.
8. Are most of your stories original or inspired by other work?
A mixture of both. I have written some stories very much inspired by other works (Listless, for example) and others that were an idea or feeling from prompts /books/dramas that I made my own. In general I usually have an idea and run with it, and some of the story elements are inspired by outside influences while the rest reflects my own life experiences.
9. Authors, books, or music that you believe have deeply influenced your work?
My inspirations are varied – historical events, a Korean drama, a silly soap opera I watched years ago, classic lit, the list goes on. In terms of deeply influence, I can’t identify one specific source. I have a lot of love when it comes to certain authors (Jack Kerouac, Richard Brautigan, Tolkien, Jane Austen, and Hemingway) but the type of stories I write are not necessarily influenced by them, if that make sense (except Austen, because Regency). The stories I write tend not to fit the style of my favorite authors, so they don’t really mesh in terms of influencing the direction.
10. Are there any things you avoid in your writing?
I am a sucker for a happy ending, if that tells you anything. I tend to avoid hard kinks, and I am not entirely comfortable with my ability to write smut (even if I try, a lot in some fics). I usually throw in a humorous edge to my writing, which limits some things, like hardcore angst.
11. Have you ever submitted stories for publication before?
Yes, but don’t remind me!
12. As above, if you have, have they been published? If you've never submitted, why not?
Or remind me. No, they were never published. About six years ago I wrote a full length novel and submitted it. I fully admit it was really crappy and had no hope of being published, but it still felt good taking the chance (it was a weird fantasy romance thing that I hope no longer exists).
13. In your own stories, who are usually the main characters?
Minseok or Luhan. I am most comfortable writing this pairing. I have been trying to branch out more by joining fic fests and exchanges with pairings I don’t usually write (which has been an interesting experience, to say the least).
14. Do you have habits when it comes to dividing chapters?
I am a terrible person when it comes to cliff hanger endings (hides).
15. As above, do you do so based on the scene or word count?
Usually word count. I tend to aim for chapters that are between 3k and 4k words.
16. Words that you try to avoid in your writing?
I have this weird hang-up on the words ‘just’ and ‘that’. I have no idea where it even started, to be honest, but I feel like I use them too often, yet cannot stop using them all the time *sighs*. Otherwise I try not to repeat descriptors too often.
17. What are your habits while writing?
I tend to write a lot at once – anywhere from 4k to 10k in a day, then I go a couple (or more) days without writing. I listen to the same playlist when I write (old Kpop songs, Exo, and a few random songs I like from the 60s and 70s) because it helps me focus and drown the world out. I am usually guzzling coffee while I type, and sometime alcohol (sipping, not guzzling - most of the time hehe). Oh, and without fail I will have a dog or cat somewhere near me while I write - because writing time means cuddle with “mom” time apparently.
18. Do you write at night or during the day?
I am usually more productive in the afternoon / evening / nighttime hours.
19. In writing, do you have anything you want to accomplish?
I would like to be able to convey a scene, a feeling, vividly. Overall, I want to accomplish writing a good story, one that will have readers interested and genuinely invested in the outcome / characters.
20. What keeps you going while writing?
Caffeine. He he. Honestly, what keeps me going is always striving to get to the “good part”. I write stories I would want to read, and what keeps me writing them is that I want to see the story progress, I want to get to the squeal worthy scene, I want to explain what happens to the characters. That probably makes no sense, but trust me, it does in my head.
21. When you do write, is your setting (time) usually past, present, or future?
Usually present, I write the present most comfortably.
22. As above, is your setting (place) usually in your home country or outside of it?
Outside of it. I don’t think I have ever set one of my stories in my home country.
23. Do you like a funny or tragic ending more?
Funny, fluffy, and happy endings are the best – but they do not always fit the story I am trying to tell. I have never written a truly tragic ending, however, maybe just an ambiguously angsty one.
24. Do you care about your character's sexual orientations?
Since I tend to write stories with romantic overtones, yes, it is kind of important.
25. Do you name your story before you write it, or at the very end?
At the very end or at the point I post the first chapter. I usually have a super blank look on my face and then start googling – looking for quotes, facts, or just anything to jog my mind into giving the story a halfway decent title. Most of the writing folders on my laptop are actually named by concept – “Regency fic” “Wolf fic” etc. which is how I think of the stories as I write them. Can you tell I suck at titles?
26. As above, how do you usually name your stories?
Like I mentioned, I tend to hit up my best friend google for ideas or sometimes something pops into my head that is related in some way to the story.
27. Affection, love, and friendship--have you written about the three topics above?
Yes, with varying degrees of success. I recently wrote my first platonic friendship story for an exchange and it felt a bit...different. But good, it felt good.
28. What do you think is the most important part in your story?
When Xiuhan get naked. No! No, definitely not when they get naked. Maybe (slaps perverted self in the face). I would say the most important part is usually the beginning, because that sets the stage for the rest of the story. In addition the climax or last quarter of the story is usually very important – it is the moment I have been building up to and the part of the story I definitely do not want to mess up.
29. What do others say about your writing style?
I had a friend tell me once that my writing had a lot of crack-ish elements (humor or what not). I have also had people say that I write plot twists very well, another person said that they liked how I made my characters cry so much. So, I don’t know? Humorous dramatic weeping with the overuse of the words ‘that’ and ‘just’?
30. Do you often use quotes from other sources?
Sometimes, if it fits the story. I had one character speak in Oscar Wilde quotes for the first part of his appearance, so that probably counts for something.
31. What do you think about this quote: "If this script has a gun, then the gun should be fired?"
I disagree. Sometimes the gun can hang out, maybe tell a few jokes, and then be used as a really weird table centerpiece.
32. Have you been plagiarized before?
No, thankfully.
33. Have you met any friends through writing stories?
Yes, I have made some really good friends through writing stories. One of the elements I really enjoy about the fan fiction community is how interactive it is – I have met some really cool people through the comments sections of fics.
34. Have you been praised before?
Yes, I have, and I swear I get all squealy, flailing around each time it happens.
35. If you were never able to write again, what would you be willing to exchange for a chance to write?
If I could never write again I would want to find another artistic medium as an outlet. I am tone deaf, so music would be something really cool to be able to do, since I honestly can’t. Also drawing/ painting – but then I would probably spend all my time drawing Xiuhan sex scenes so the world should probably rejoice I can’t draw (scratch that – the world should be openly weeping that I can’t draw).
36. What place does writing have in your life?
It is my hobby, but kind of more than that. It gives me a way to express myself, to funnel some of the more intense emotions I deal with. Writing makes me happy, I have fun doing it (most of the time, anyway), and I can’t imagine stopping.
37. What is usually the heart of your story?
When Xiuhan gets naked. Wait- no. Why does my brain keep doing this?! The heart of my story is usually the conflict, the challenge, that the main characters face – and how they subsequently overcome that problem. From being part of a hunted breed, to being unable to trust, to being faced with insane and unbelievable events, the heart of each story is how the hero is able to overcome. And when Xiuhan gets naked.
38. When you can't write anything, what do you do?
I listen to music, I watch variety shows (I have this weird addiction, okay, don’t judge), I read, I learn. I think it is important to always keep learning, and I spend each night before bed reading articles and puttering around online, finding out more about a topic that interests me. I also spend a lot of time looking at Exo pictures, which is learning at its finest.
39. Have you been pressured by deadlines to update before?
Yes, I am terrible when it comes to deadlines. As soon as I have one I want to meet it, even if it is months away. I have driven my beta nuts with how quickly I write stories, and I am trying to get better about taking the time given to me so I can plot out and create a better story.
40. Are there people who pressure you to update?
Yes, I think that is fairly common. I tend not to be offended by it, unless the person is super pushy or inconsiderate of my time. If I know I won’t be updating regularly I try to let readers know that so I can nip “update now” requests before they begin.
41. Have you thought about how long you want to write?
I love to write, so ideally forever. How long I will be writing Exo fan fics, I have no idea. Three years ago I would have said I could never, ever stop writing about Korean dramas and now that is a distant memory.
42. Words that often appear in your stories?
A reader pointed out that I used the phrase “I have wanted you since the moment I saw you” in two different fics (both Xiuhan, of course). Again, I use ‘just’ and ‘that’ way too much. I also probably make people glare and scowl and narrow their eyes too much. Hm, other than that, probably words I use during smut scenes?
43. Are there people who you don't want to see your fics?
Ha..ha…ha…grabs bottle and chugs. Seriously, I don’t want anyone from my “real” life to read my fics. It isn’t because I am embarrassed of my writing, but I know those around me and how little enjoyment they would find in reading stories about two guys falling in love (sad, I know). So far it hasn’t happened, and I am cool with it staying that way. My husband knows I write, and the general idea of what I am writing, but he has never read any of my fics. As for everyone else – I just don’t want to go down that road with them.
44. How many times do you revise a story once you finish it?
I usually do a read through twice, and then pass it on to my lovely, irreplaceable, amazing beta for her feedback. Once a story is completely finished, as in beta’ed and posted, I usually do not go back and make revisions.
45. What is the story you've spent the most time writing?
Probably The Masquerade or Love Unexpected because of the sheer lengths of those fics.
46. What are the stories you're most satisfied with up until now?
Love Unexpected, The Masquerade, Marry Him if You Dare, Listless, and a couple fics that are currently in fest/ exchange land, yet to be revealed.
47. As above, why?
Love Unexpected was my first long chaptered fic, and I was kind of figuring things out as I went along. I loved writing Xiuhan this way and I enjoyed hearing that the story was something people were invested in.
The Masquerade was a story that was a fluke – I sat down one afternoon and started writing off a vague idea and it became this Regency world. I really enjoyed the subsequent planning I did for The Masquerade and in the end it was the story I did the most backend work for. I love the time period it is set in and I am proud of how I wrote the characters.
Marry Him if You Dare was a blast to write, I seriously had so much fun with that story. It was a mad mix of Korean drama WTF moments, Running Man, and Exo and it made me so happy to write.
Listless was so, so difficult for me to write. It was a huge challenge because I was writing something darker than I usually do and I never switched POVs. I am proud of it because I seriously felt so accomplished after I finished it.
As for the stories that are yet to be revealed – I can’t really say too much for fear of spoiling them.
48. What are your thoughts about this questionnaire?
I never realized 49 questions was…so many?! But I had fun! Plus I got to use the phrase naked Xiuhan a few times, so that is always a plus.
49. Tagging anyone who wants to do it!
Go crazy, peeps! Anyone that wants to, answer away (and tell me so I can read your awesome answers ;)
London_Calling, London9Calling
2. Where do you usually publish fics?
AFF is my default (and is kind of my first line of posting, I cross post the stories I feel most confident in onto other platforms), LJ, and recently I have tried to join the cool kids on AO3.
3. Do you usually handwrite or type?
Type. I used to handwrite back in the day, I will still handwrite outline notes if they come to me suddenly, but otherwise I type everything.
4. How many words long are your very short, short, and long fics?
Very short - about 1k. Very long, usually in the 90k range.
5. How many stories have you written so far? (Finished, in progress, abandoned)
Not counting drabbles I have 15 stories finished, with *gasp* 16 fics caught up in exchanges/fests yet to be revealed, 1 chaptered fic in progress, and *sadly* 3 abandoned fics. There are also a few fic ideas I have had floating around for the last couple of months, but I haven’t had the time to fully flesh them out.
6. When did you first start writing?
Oh, hm – probably when I was ten or eleven. I loved reading and found a lot of enjoyment with scribbling down the stories that popped into my mind after finishing books (I guess I was meant to write fan fiction or something haha). I took several long breaks in between writing, and honestly the stuff I wrote as a pre-teen, teen, and young adult were mostly just messing around and pretty cringe worthy when I look back on them. I started writing regularly when I created a drama blog and very, very, very regularly when I fell into the pit that is Exo fan fiction (I say pit with the utmost affection, hehe).
7. What was your first story?
My first fan fiction was a hurried mess, born from a mega obsession with Xiuhan and binge watching Taemin and Naeun on We Got Married. It is a royalty!AU of all things, how that makes any sense at all - well, it probably does not.
8. Are most of your stories original or inspired by other work?
A mixture of both. I have written some stories very much inspired by other works (Listless, for example) and others that were an idea or feeling from prompts /books/dramas that I made my own. In general I usually have an idea and run with it, and some of the story elements are inspired by outside influences while the rest reflects my own life experiences.
9. Authors, books, or music that you believe have deeply influenced your work?
My inspirations are varied – historical events, a Korean drama, a silly soap opera I watched years ago, classic lit, the list goes on. In terms of deeply influence, I can’t identify one specific source. I have a lot of love when it comes to certain authors (Jack Kerouac, Richard Brautigan, Tolkien, Jane Austen, and Hemingway) but the type of stories I write are not necessarily influenced by them, if that make sense (except Austen, because Regency). The stories I write tend not to fit the style of my favorite authors, so they don’t really mesh in terms of influencing the direction.
10. Are there any things you avoid in your writing?
I am a sucker for a happy ending, if that tells you anything. I tend to avoid hard kinks, and I am not entirely comfortable with my ability to write smut (even if I try, a lot in some fics). I usually throw in a humorous edge to my writing, which limits some things, like hardcore angst.
11. Have you ever submitted stories for publication before?
Yes, but don’t remind me!
12. As above, if you have, have they been published? If you've never submitted, why not?
Or remind me. No, they were never published. About six years ago I wrote a full length novel and submitted it. I fully admit it was really crappy and had no hope of being published, but it still felt good taking the chance (it was a weird fantasy romance thing that I hope no longer exists).
13. In your own stories, who are usually the main characters?
Minseok or Luhan. I am most comfortable writing this pairing. I have been trying to branch out more by joining fic fests and exchanges with pairings I don’t usually write (which has been an interesting experience, to say the least).
14. Do you have habits when it comes to dividing chapters?
I am a terrible person when it comes to cliff hanger endings (hides).
15. As above, do you do so based on the scene or word count?
Usually word count. I tend to aim for chapters that are between 3k and 4k words.
16. Words that you try to avoid in your writing?
I have this weird hang-up on the words ‘just’ and ‘that’. I have no idea where it even started, to be honest, but I feel like I use them too often, yet cannot stop using them all the time *sighs*. Otherwise I try not to repeat descriptors too often.
17. What are your habits while writing?
I tend to write a lot at once – anywhere from 4k to 10k in a day, then I go a couple (or more) days without writing. I listen to the same playlist when I write (old Kpop songs, Exo, and a few random songs I like from the 60s and 70s) because it helps me focus and drown the world out. I am usually guzzling coffee while I type, and sometime alcohol (sipping, not guzzling - most of the time hehe). Oh, and without fail I will have a dog or cat somewhere near me while I write - because writing time means cuddle with “mom” time apparently.
18. Do you write at night or during the day?
I am usually more productive in the afternoon / evening / nighttime hours.
19. In writing, do you have anything you want to accomplish?
I would like to be able to convey a scene, a feeling, vividly. Overall, I want to accomplish writing a good story, one that will have readers interested and genuinely invested in the outcome / characters.
20. What keeps you going while writing?
Caffeine. He he. Honestly, what keeps me going is always striving to get to the “good part”. I write stories I would want to read, and what keeps me writing them is that I want to see the story progress, I want to get to the squeal worthy scene, I want to explain what happens to the characters. That probably makes no sense, but trust me, it does in my head.
21. When you do write, is your setting (time) usually past, present, or future?
Usually present, I write the present most comfortably.
22. As above, is your setting (place) usually in your home country or outside of it?
Outside of it. I don’t think I have ever set one of my stories in my home country.
23. Do you like a funny or tragic ending more?
Funny, fluffy, and happy endings are the best – but they do not always fit the story I am trying to tell. I have never written a truly tragic ending, however, maybe just an ambiguously angsty one.
24. Do you care about your character's sexual orientations?
Since I tend to write stories with romantic overtones, yes, it is kind of important.
25. Do you name your story before you write it, or at the very end?
At the very end or at the point I post the first chapter. I usually have a super blank look on my face and then start googling – looking for quotes, facts, or just anything to jog my mind into giving the story a halfway decent title. Most of the writing folders on my laptop are actually named by concept – “Regency fic” “Wolf fic” etc. which is how I think of the stories as I write them. Can you tell I suck at titles?
26. As above, how do you usually name your stories?
Like I mentioned, I tend to hit up my best friend google for ideas or sometimes something pops into my head that is related in some way to the story.
27. Affection, love, and friendship--have you written about the three topics above?
Yes, with varying degrees of success. I recently wrote my first platonic friendship story for an exchange and it felt a bit...different. But good, it felt good.
28. What do you think is the most important part in your story?
When Xiuhan get naked. No! No, definitely not when they get naked. Maybe (slaps perverted self in the face). I would say the most important part is usually the beginning, because that sets the stage for the rest of the story. In addition the climax or last quarter of the story is usually very important – it is the moment I have been building up to and the part of the story I definitely do not want to mess up.
29. What do others say about your writing style?
I had a friend tell me once that my writing had a lot of crack-ish elements (humor or what not). I have also had people say that I write plot twists very well, another person said that they liked how I made my characters cry so much. So, I don’t know? Humorous dramatic weeping with the overuse of the words ‘that’ and ‘just’?
30. Do you often use quotes from other sources?
Sometimes, if it fits the story. I had one character speak in Oscar Wilde quotes for the first part of his appearance, so that probably counts for something.
31. What do you think about this quote: "If this script has a gun, then the gun should be fired?"
I disagree. Sometimes the gun can hang out, maybe tell a few jokes, and then be used as a really weird table centerpiece.
32. Have you been plagiarized before?
No, thankfully.
33. Have you met any friends through writing stories?
Yes, I have made some really good friends through writing stories. One of the elements I really enjoy about the fan fiction community is how interactive it is – I have met some really cool people through the comments sections of fics.
34. Have you been praised before?
Yes, I have, and I swear I get all squealy, flailing around each time it happens.
35. If you were never able to write again, what would you be willing to exchange for a chance to write?
If I could never write again I would want to find another artistic medium as an outlet. I am tone deaf, so music would be something really cool to be able to do, since I honestly can’t. Also drawing/ painting – but then I would probably spend all my time drawing Xiuhan sex scenes so the world should probably rejoice I can’t draw (scratch that – the world should be openly weeping that I can’t draw).
36. What place does writing have in your life?
It is my hobby, but kind of more than that. It gives me a way to express myself, to funnel some of the more intense emotions I deal with. Writing makes me happy, I have fun doing it (most of the time, anyway), and I can’t imagine stopping.
37. What is usually the heart of your story?
When Xiuhan gets naked. Wait- no. Why does my brain keep doing this?! The heart of my story is usually the conflict, the challenge, that the main characters face – and how they subsequently overcome that problem. From being part of a hunted breed, to being unable to trust, to being faced with insane and unbelievable events, the heart of each story is how the hero is able to overcome. And when Xiuhan gets naked.
38. When you can't write anything, what do you do?
I listen to music, I watch variety shows (I have this weird addiction, okay, don’t judge), I read, I learn. I think it is important to always keep learning, and I spend each night before bed reading articles and puttering around online, finding out more about a topic that interests me. I also spend a lot of time looking at Exo pictures, which is learning at its finest.
39. Have you been pressured by deadlines to update before?
Yes, I am terrible when it comes to deadlines. As soon as I have one I want to meet it, even if it is months away. I have driven my beta nuts with how quickly I write stories, and I am trying to get better about taking the time given to me so I can plot out and create a better story.
40. Are there people who pressure you to update?
Yes, I think that is fairly common. I tend not to be offended by it, unless the person is super pushy or inconsiderate of my time. If I know I won’t be updating regularly I try to let readers know that so I can nip “update now” requests before they begin.
41. Have you thought about how long you want to write?
I love to write, so ideally forever. How long I will be writing Exo fan fics, I have no idea. Three years ago I would have said I could never, ever stop writing about Korean dramas and now that is a distant memory.
42. Words that often appear in your stories?
A reader pointed out that I used the phrase “I have wanted you since the moment I saw you” in two different fics (both Xiuhan, of course). Again, I use ‘just’ and ‘that’ way too much. I also probably make people glare and scowl and narrow their eyes too much. Hm, other than that, probably words I use during smut scenes?
43. Are there people who you don't want to see your fics?
Ha..ha…ha…grabs bottle and chugs. Seriously, I don’t want anyone from my “real” life to read my fics. It isn’t because I am embarrassed of my writing, but I know those around me and how little enjoyment they would find in reading stories about two guys falling in love (sad, I know). So far it hasn’t happened, and I am cool with it staying that way. My husband knows I write, and the general idea of what I am writing, but he has never read any of my fics. As for everyone else – I just don’t want to go down that road with them.
44. How many times do you revise a story once you finish it?
I usually do a read through twice, and then pass it on to my lovely, irreplaceable, amazing beta for her feedback. Once a story is completely finished, as in beta’ed and posted, I usually do not go back and make revisions.
45. What is the story you've spent the most time writing?
Probably The Masquerade or Love Unexpected because of the sheer lengths of those fics.
46. What are the stories you're most satisfied with up until now?
Love Unexpected, The Masquerade, Marry Him if You Dare, Listless, and a couple fics that are currently in fest/ exchange land, yet to be revealed.
47. As above, why?
Love Unexpected was my first long chaptered fic, and I was kind of figuring things out as I went along. I loved writing Xiuhan this way and I enjoyed hearing that the story was something people were invested in.
The Masquerade was a story that was a fluke – I sat down one afternoon and started writing off a vague idea and it became this Regency world. I really enjoyed the subsequent planning I did for The Masquerade and in the end it was the story I did the most backend work for. I love the time period it is set in and I am proud of how I wrote the characters.
Marry Him if You Dare was a blast to write, I seriously had so much fun with that story. It was a mad mix of Korean drama WTF moments, Running Man, and Exo and it made me so happy to write.
Listless was so, so difficult for me to write. It was a huge challenge because I was writing something darker than I usually do and I never switched POVs. I am proud of it because I seriously felt so accomplished after I finished it.
As for the stories that are yet to be revealed – I can’t really say too much for fear of spoiling them.
48. What are your thoughts about this questionnaire?
I never realized 49 questions was…so many?! But I had fun! Plus I got to use the phrase naked Xiuhan a few times, so that is always a plus.
49. Tagging anyone who wants to do it!
Go crazy, peeps! Anyone that wants to, answer away (and tell me so I can read your awesome answers ;)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2015-09-18 12:23 am (UTC)(with love)
(no subject)
Date: 2015-09-18 12:50 am (UTC)PS- I am hurt by your use of the word goodbye, but the with love part thawed all my anger. Stop messing with my mind!