amberdreams | Writing questions meme (Reply)

Snaffled from

milly_gal because I should be doing other things. Yup, here's one answer to Question 7!

1. Have you ever written in an unusual place? Where?

In the changing room in the gym, on trains, planes and automobiles – what’s unusual? I carry at least a notebook around all the time now, and have one in my gym bag, because I often get ideas while I’m doing mindless exercise.

2. The word/phrase you know you overuse, but can't get rid of it.

Oh dear, so many bad habits... I use ‘just’ a lot, sometimes I do a word search at the end to chop 99% of them out. I also over use the passive tense. This is why betas are so valuable! Love you all, you’re my saviours.

3. Do you keep notes? Do you have a notebook? What does it look like? Add a picture/screencap of your notes.
I keep notes mostly on my laptop, I've got a couple of ideas folders where I keep stuff I think might be useful. But as I mentioned before, I also have a few notebooks, including one the lovely

dizzojay bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago. I'll leave you to guess which one! LOL

4. What's the hardest part of a fic to write for you? (angst/fluff/smut, exposure/plot twist/ending)

All of it? Ok, that’s a cop out. But it does depend on the fic – sometimes endings are a bugger; sometimes I have that sorted but can’t work out how to get there; sometimes starting is the hardest thing ever.

5. Have you ever based something in your fic on your personal experience? What was it?

Yup.

Do I have to tell you which ones and which bits?
Ok, examples – The Treadmill was based on the machines I use in the gym, and the whole idea came from the videos they have on there, that take you through a running route. But the most autobiographical fic I’ve written is The First Law of Holes - people who know me will probably recognise the outlines of the parts that are based on fact...

6. What's that one fic you want to write but somehow know you never will?

I have a pretty kinky SPN fic in my head but I seriously doubt I’ll ever write it for lots of reasons. Not least being I am not much good at writing kink.

7. What do you usually do when you procrastinate?

Ha ha ha – memes like this! Oh and emails, read fic, catch up on Facebook, chat to friends online, sit and think about all the things I should be doing. I’m very good at it.

8. What's the funniest typo you've made?

I have no idea! I’m sure I’ve made some good ones, but there’s no way I could remember them.

9. Do you listen to music when you write? What kind?

Sometimes, though once I get into the flow, I tend not to hear it at all. I do get a lot of inspiration from music though, song lyrics often spark an idea for a fic, or set the mood.

10. Your favourite comment a reader has left on your fic?

All of them! I’m not joking here, just about every comment makes me squee with delight. I don’t usually get that many, so I cherish each and every one of them.