Five Questions Meme
This meme has been going around since I first created my LJ, but it never gets old. Since apparently I never get tired of talking about myself, I like doing it. ;) Please leave a comment if you want me to ask you questions.
Thought-provoking questions from jassyskie :
1. Why do you think you're not a "real" writer? What's your definition of a real writer?
2. You wrote that you've been channeling Legolas. Which do you prefer - the movie or the book version, and why?
3. I know you really like your job, but is it your dream job? If not, what is?
4. And while we're talking dreams, what's your dream vacation?
5. Finally, ultimate present you could give yourself, cost and impossibilty not a factor - what would it be?
1. Why do you think you're not a "real" writer? (Yes, I've been reading your posts. *g*) What's your definition of a real writer?
Well ... I'm not, am I? I guess my definition would be: someone who prioritizes writing, who makes it a focus, who writes well (though I realize this is subjective), and most of all someone who writes a LOT more than I do. Being published is not essential (although most people who meet the above criteria often seem to be either published or seeking publication.) People on my flist whom I consider "real" writers include: you (jassyskie), chaosmanor, lady_razzle, cynical_terror, willowwing ... and the list goes on and on. (If you're reading this and I didn't mention you, it doesn't mean I don't think you're a "real" writer, it just means I didn't want to take up the entire page with my list!)
In my time here on lj, I have seen many people who started out writing fanfic turn professional. Really, an amazing number, which I think is excellent. In my opinion, a lot of fanfic is at least equivalent in quality (if not better!) to a lot of published work (and I both read a lot and am fairly discriminating.) There are a couple of more well known fanfic authors, who are now publishing young adult fiction, like Cassie Claire and Maya in the hp world, and others who are writing original erotic works. It's all good. (Not that I like it all -- CC's Mortal Instruments trilogy really annoyed me by the end and of course there are many people who write in genres or fandoms that aren't my personal preference -- but I'm happy for everyone who wants to make a living at writing and is able to do so and/or who is published and thus able to share their work more widely as a result.)
I think it's VERY cool that fanfic is an arena in which to hone one's skills ... and I'm truly grateful for all of the talent here.
2. You wrote that you've been channeling Legolas. Which do you prefer - the movie or the book version, and why?
The movie version. :) Although upon re-reading the book, I get a big kick out of Legolas in it -- and especially his relationship with Gimli -- he wasn't one of my favorite characters (Aragorn, Eowyn & Frodo, btw) before the movie. I love the fact that movie!Legolas is a badass on the battlefield -- I get seriously turned on when he whips out his knives -- and I also love his relationship with Aragorn and the fact that he's very, very pretty. :D
I only wish he was a little less of a supporting character. Legolas is a Prince of the Elves, even though this is never mentioned, and he has to have been in command at some point in Mirkwood. But we never see any of this in him, in either the book or the movie. Now admittedly, he's out of his element, in entirely different and foreign surroundings, but that's an element I've tried to add a little of in my story. Tangent, sorry! I love Legolas ... and Aragorn/Legolas in the movie. :)
3. I know you really like your job, but is it your dream job? If not, what is?
Wow. This is an involved question, because the answer is both yes and no. I have never known what I wanted to be -- or what kind of job I wanted to have -- when I grow up and I still don't. In fact, I'd never even heard of my job or had any idea that it existed before I took it. At this point, however, I do have a better idea of my "core needs." My current job satisfies a majority of them, including:
- Solitude (time to think, plan, dream, organize) --> my work is abstract and intellectually challenging
- Connection (deep personal relationships, to be loved & valued, cherished, desired) --> in the case of work, this just involves working with other people ;)
- Independence & control: At the moment anyway, I have a ton of flexibility and autonomy; though this is not exactly official, I pretty much work where and when I want to. I direct both my own activities as well as those of others and I am well paid, which is important to me.
- Appreciation (recognition, competence, worth, talent, accomplishment)
- To make a difference (challenge, opportunity to use my gifts, contribute) --> My job involves doing something that I enjoy and am good at, something that I "am", and something I do in my spare time, for fun. My company's products help people -- literally millions of people use them --and I work on projects that directly contribute to the company's success.
I would also like to be famous, or to have achieved broad recognition, which is a subject for a whole other post, that I've already made. :P I'm not famous -- just in case anyone was wondering ;) -- and I never will be in this particular career. I'd like to be considered special, to have name recognition and for people to admire me and want to get to know me, ideally because of something I've done. But ... fame isn't a sufficient motivator in and of itself, and I also realize that I probably wouldn't like it if I were famous.
So, you know ... on the whole I feel very lucky and I enjoy doing the work that I do; at the same time, my job definitely doesn't meet all of my needs. I try to fulfill my spiritual and creative needs in other ways, but it gets difficult, among other reasons because of the amount of time my job requires. So ... my ideal job?
Would meet all of the above needs and I'd be able to perform it in 2-3 days / week. :D
4. And while we're talking dreams, what's your dream vacation?
Ooooh. In terms of specific places, I want to go on a LotR tour of New Zealand. I would stop at Fiji on the way down & stay in a luxury resort in a grass hut over the ocean and also visit Australia. I would travel with my husband, who is my favorite travel partner. :) As a close second, I'd like to take the Orient Express through Eastern Europe. I love travelling and have a very long list of places I'd like to visit, with little opportunity or means at the moment; I'm so not the kind of person who wants to cart the kids all over Europe in a van. :P It would be much easier to list places I don't want to visit than those that I do. :)
5. Finally, ultimate present you could give yourself, cost and impossibilty not a factor - what would it be?
Well, the thing that I want most in the world is to know that my boys will grow up to be healthy and happy and will live out their natural lifespan. But, I'm not sure that's something I could give myself, so I'm going to focus on the material. ;)
In which case, I'm afraid this one is rather boring. I would "finish" my house. We remodeled several years ago; it was a major effort and included updating our kitchen (from the 1930's!) and adding a second story. But we just didn't have the $$$ to finish everything. I know one never completely "finishes" working on one's house, but I have a specific list of things that we couldn't afford to do as part of the intial remodel. I'm tackling them one by one, whenever we have any spare money or time, but this is one case where I really don't want to "enjoy the process." I just want it done and I want to be able to actually enjoy my house in its "completed" state sooner rather than later. Another $200,000 should do it. ;) Seriously, my list includes (but is not limited to!): rebuilding our garage, paving our driveway, reinforcing the foundation under our living room (which is sinking ... ), adding a master bathroom ... some pretty major efforts.
As part of the process, I would also hire an interior decorator, rather than doing everything myself. I really care about how my house looks and the whole thing takes an incredible amount of time and energy that I'm tired of spending.
Maybe I am a writer after all ... that was certainly a novel! ;) Thank you, Jassy, and to anyone else that reads this. ♥