‘Beautiful People’ is a project created by a book blog that I love (Paper Fury), aimed at writers. They used to post a list of ten questions for people to answer every month, designed to help you get to know their characters – their quirks, their flaws, their personality, and who they are. Occasionally, there are groups of questions aimed at the writers and their writing progress, rather than just what they’re writing about. In this case, it’s inspired by NaNoWriMo!
For this blog, I’m going to be answering a group of questions. I believe that this is the November 2016 group and I’d love to see everyone else’s responses to these questions. I’ll put the complete list of questions at the very end of the blog.
Let’s begin!
Overall, how is your mental state, and how is your novel going?
I’m currently suffocating with the amount of work I have to do for college and preparing for university at the moment so my mental state isn’t the best, but regarding the novel, I’m still enjoying it and I’m pretty optimistic about the story so far!
What’s your first sentence (or paragraph)?
Here’s the full first paragraph because why not?
“There are over seven hundred songs on Ryn’s iPod, yet he can’t find one that fits his mood. From the bench at the peak of the cliff, wind tears at his jacket while pop singers croon love in his ear or rockers disguise their anger with contagious guitar riffs that he will never learn to play. Out of seven hundred songs, not one of them manages to portray the overwhelming numbness that he feels. Not one song can replicate the feeling of being empty.”
Who’s your current favourite character in your novel?
Ryn is my favourite character so far and probably forever. He might also be one of my favourite characters I’ve ever written. Writing his scenes is incredibly therapeutic as he is basically an embodiment of some of the things I don’t like about myself, literally the worst version of me. But he has hope.
What do you love about your novel so far?
I’m quite proud of the opening scene. I like the description. I like the backstory. I like the character development. The words also came straight to me: I opened a Word document and the words came flowing out without any thought.
Have you made any hilarious typos or other mistakes?
A few typos, a few severe continuity errors, but nothing hilarious yet.
What is your favourite to write: beginning, middle, or end — and why?
I love beginnings because, when writing, I always start with writing the opening scene (I know some people who write their novels in a non-chronological way). It’s a blank document so the first line doesn’t have to be better than something great I’ve already written, and it doesn’t have to be that great. It has no expectations.
What are your writing habits? Is there a specific snack you eat? Do you listen to music? What time of day do you write best? Feel free to show us a picture of your writing space!
I’m someone who writes in short bursts: I write a hundred or so words in a few minutes, take a break for a bit, then write another hundred or so words. It’s not a very practical method – especially since NaNoWriMo is about reaching goals and making progress – but I’ve found that it’s the only method that gets me to write something.
To actually answer the questions: I don’t eat while writing, I have a book soundtrack playlist playing very quietly or not at all as I’m easily distracted, I write best at night or during school holidays when time doesn’t exist, and I write on my bed because I have a small room and big bed.
How private are you about your novel while you’re writing? Do you need a cheer squad or do you work alone (like, ahem, Batman)?
I am so incredibly private that some people didn’t read my last novel until it was released. No one that I know in my personal life reads anything while I’m writing, but I sometimes post my work to Movellas – an online writing community – as there are people there that give great constructive criticism and I really value their opinions.
In the comments below, let me know how your novel is going so far! What’s your first sentence?
Complete list of questions:
- Overall, how is your mental state, and how is your novel going?
2. What’s your first sentence (or paragraph)?
3. Who’s your current favourite character in your novel?
4. What do you love about your novel so far?
5. Have you made any hilarious typos or other mistakes?
6. What is your favourite to write: beginning, middle, or end — and why?
7. What are your writing habits? Is there a specific snack you eat? Do you listen to music? What time of day do you write best? Feel free to show us a picture of your writing space!
8. How private are you about your novel while you’re writing? Do you need a cheer squad or do you work alone (like, ahem, Batman)?
9. What keeps you writing even when it’s hard?
10. What are your top 3 pieces of writing advice?
TandeWrites 