The Interview Meme Rolls On!
Having finished and posted the second chapter of my third BSG fic, "Gods' Gift" (you can check it out on adama_roslin), I'm taking a short breather before the next SuperMuse onslaught to answer these interview questions kimbari gave me. If you would like to field some questions, just respond with a comment that says "Interview me". I'll come up with some questions for you, which you'll answer and post to your own livejournal. Fair enough?
In the meantime, welcome to my brain. There are some freaky-deaky sights in here!
Okay, Kim! I'm all yours! B^D
1. Who's your favorite author?
There are so many authors that I love, and the list is constantly growing. For the queen of them all, however, you need look no further than the quote with which I opened "Gods' Gift". Lois McMaster Bujold is so superb and balanced with both her plotting and characterization, she's the most re-readable author I've ever met. Everything I've read by this woman has been a gem. Others must agree with me, because she's won more Hugo awards for the novel form than anyone except Robert Heinlein, as well as a pile of Nebulas and other awards. To learn more about her, her Vorkosigan series (scifi/space opera with incredible characters), her Chalion novels (fantasy, but not a cliche in sight!) and her other works, go to The Bujold Nexus.
2. Do you try to write like that author?
No. I could never do Lois one-tenth as well as Lois does, so there's no point. She does have certain techniques that I find work very well with my own writing, but I apply them in my own voice. One of my favorite maxims of hers is "Never make things easy on your characters!" She has found many a superb storyline by asking herself "What is the worst thing I could do to this character right now?" You have to tailor the situation to the character, of course ... we're not talking about gratuitous abuse. So when I decided to hit Laura Roslin with a vision in "The Last Dance", I also decided to put her in a hideously embarrassing situation to receive that particular vision. You've read the results. ^_^
I also share Bujold's very deep respect for the symbiotic relationship between the writer and the reader. The writer plots and describes, but the story is not finished until some reader takes it in and fills in the blank areas. Ideas and characters only truly come alive when someone gives them brain space and feeds them with their mental energy. I crave feedback because not only do I want to know if what I wrote worked, I love to find out what my readers bring of themselves to my stories.
Having said all of the above, I must add that I probably have been channeling Bujold a little more strongly than usual as I write my Adama/Roslin fic, simply because her Cordelia Naismith and Aral Vorkosigan are such a stellar example of a romantic relationship between an older couple.
3. You're a consummate writer. Do you plan to/have you ever published professionally?
Let me start by saying that "consummate writer" is an honor coming from you, Kim. I have not yet been professionally published, though I would love to be. I am searching for the original stories that I most want to write. I need to bite the bullet, pick one of the character combos currently brewing in my head and on my hard drive and just start doing some serious work. I also need to learn much more about the process of getting published. Unfortunately the need to earn a living complicates the situation ...
And hey, if they need anyone to write BSG books or do book adaptations of the series, I am so there. B^)
4. What do you want more than anything? (Please don't say world peace. >:)
Experience and learning. I want to see as much, do as much, learn as much and be as much as I possibly can on this mad trip through life. Of course, once again, the need to be A Responsible Adult can be a real P in the A, but that's part of the learning experience too.
5. Describe your favorite kind of day.
My favorite kind of day has time for me to do whatever I feel like doing in whatever order I feel like doing it. It will probably contain reading, writing, a little shopping, cooking and/or baking for my husband and other friends, good conversation sprinkled with DVDs, music and/or board games with my husband and other friends, and will most likely start, end or both with--yes, I will say it--sweaty sex with the man I married and love to distraction. And if we fit a little extra sex in before the friends come over, so much the better. ;^D
In the meantime, welcome to my brain. There are some freaky-deaky sights in here!
Okay, Kim! I'm all yours! B^D
1. Who's your favorite author?
There are so many authors that I love, and the list is constantly growing. For the queen of them all, however, you need look no further than the quote with which I opened "Gods' Gift". Lois McMaster Bujold is so superb and balanced with both her plotting and characterization, she's the most re-readable author I've ever met. Everything I've read by this woman has been a gem. Others must agree with me, because she's won more Hugo awards for the novel form than anyone except Robert Heinlein, as well as a pile of Nebulas and other awards. To learn more about her, her Vorkosigan series (scifi/space opera with incredible characters), her Chalion novels (fantasy, but not a cliche in sight!) and her other works, go to The Bujold Nexus.
2. Do you try to write like that author?
No. I could never do Lois one-tenth as well as Lois does, so there's no point. She does have certain techniques that I find work very well with my own writing, but I apply them in my own voice. One of my favorite maxims of hers is "Never make things easy on your characters!" She has found many a superb storyline by asking herself "What is the worst thing I could do to this character right now?" You have to tailor the situation to the character, of course ... we're not talking about gratuitous abuse. So when I decided to hit Laura Roslin with a vision in "The Last Dance", I also decided to put her in a hideously embarrassing situation to receive that particular vision. You've read the results. ^_^
I also share Bujold's very deep respect for the symbiotic relationship between the writer and the reader. The writer plots and describes, but the story is not finished until some reader takes it in and fills in the blank areas. Ideas and characters only truly come alive when someone gives them brain space and feeds them with their mental energy. I crave feedback because not only do I want to know if what I wrote worked, I love to find out what my readers bring of themselves to my stories.
Having said all of the above, I must add that I probably have been channeling Bujold a little more strongly than usual as I write my Adama/Roslin fic, simply because her Cordelia Naismith and Aral Vorkosigan are such a stellar example of a romantic relationship between an older couple.
3. You're a consummate writer. Do you plan to/have you ever published professionally?
Let me start by saying that "consummate writer" is an honor coming from you, Kim. I have not yet been professionally published, though I would love to be. I am searching for the original stories that I most want to write. I need to bite the bullet, pick one of the character combos currently brewing in my head and on my hard drive and just start doing some serious work. I also need to learn much more about the process of getting published. Unfortunately the need to earn a living complicates the situation ...
And hey, if they need anyone to write BSG books or do book adaptations of the series, I am so there. B^)
4. What do you want more than anything? (Please don't say world peace. >:)
Experience and learning. I want to see as much, do as much, learn as much and be as much as I possibly can on this mad trip through life. Of course, once again, the need to be A Responsible Adult can be a real P in the A, but that's part of the learning experience too.
5. Describe your favorite kind of day.
My favorite kind of day has time for me to do whatever I feel like doing in whatever order I feel like doing it. It will probably contain reading, writing, a little shopping, cooking and/or baking for my husband and other friends, good conversation sprinkled with DVDs, music and/or board games with my husband and other friends, and will most likely start, end or both with--yes, I will say it--sweaty sex with the man I married and love to distraction. And if we fit a little extra sex in before the friends come over, so much the better. ;^D