Meme time!
Wanna play? Comment to this post with "resistance is futile" and I'll ask you five questions that you can answer in your own blog.
rarelylynne asked:
1. Describe one guilty pleasure that you love to pieces, and no one else understands why.
Hmmm. I looooove not taking a shower for a day. Usually it's during the weekend, and I call it either "Slimy Saturday" or "Slimy Sunday" for obvious reasons. Sometimes social obligations get in the way and I have to be clean and groomed all weekend, but I get to lounge around in my own grime enough to keep me satisfied.
2. Tell me something that you've promised yourself you will do before you die.
Becoming a published novelist. This still might never happen ... but the optimist in me thinks it will. Once it does, my new "do before I die goal" will be to travel to Europe.
3. What's your favorite travel experience?
Seeing Niagra Falls. Eating at the revolving restaurant at the top of Seattle's Space Needle is a close second.
4. If you could meet anyone in all of history for dinner, who would it be and why?
Oh, jeez, a history question. Did I mention I suck at history? I'm going to go modern here and say Stephen King. He's my rock star. Spending a few hours talking about writing with him would be a dream come true. If he were unavailable ... Marilyn Monroe. I'd love to have the opportunity to peek into the enigma.
5. What was the first book that you read that really stayed with you, and why?
Deenie by Judy Blume, probably because it talked about masturbation without making it seem dirty or wrong. Actually, anything by Blume stuck with me: Tiger Eyes for death, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret for religion, Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself for periods and bras. Everything a girl needs to know about life she can learn from Judy Bloom.
michaeldthomas asked:
1- What's more important to you as a writer: selling lots of books or winning awards?
This is actually a pretty hard question. Would I rather have recognition from my peers or from my audience? While winning a Hugo or a Newberry or something would be truly amazing, I'm going to go with selling a bunch of books. Not because I want the money or fame--although those would be a nice perk--but because of what the numbers represent. If I've sold lots of copies (especially if I've sold lots of copies of multiple books) it means a that there is a whole group of people to whom my writing speaks. They get it. What I've written means enough to them that they're willing to shell out money for it. I'm getting chills just thinking about it.
2- What do you love most about conventions?
Hands down, the people. Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones recharges my batteries. And, as we all know, writers with full batteries write more words than writers whose cells are empty.
3- Have you ever been disappointed by literary hero?
I was disappointed when Robert Jordan died before finishing Wheel of Time. Not disappointed with him, really ... just sad that he didn't get to see his massive epic through to the end.
4- What's your favorite thing about East-Central Illinois?
The topography. (I kid, I kid.) I was born and raised in the midwest, and so the corn- and soybean fields are a part of my tapestry. My favorite part about living where I do is the dichotomy that exists. There's a swanky wine shop four blocks from a cornfield. I can watch a broadway play and go deer hunting in the same day. At the library I'll see someone wearing Seven jeans standing next to someone in camo overalls. It's a mix of urban/rural that fits me well.
5- What's more important as a writer: talent or persistence?
Hands down, persistence. Talent will only take you so far; you've got to have a stubborn streak a mile wide to really make it. You've got to know deep down in your soul that you have something worthwhile to say and be willing to work hard enough to learn how to say it well.
rarelylynne asked:
1. Describe one guilty pleasure that you love to pieces, and no one else understands why.
Hmmm. I looooove not taking a shower for a day. Usually it's during the weekend, and I call it either "Slimy Saturday" or "Slimy Sunday" for obvious reasons. Sometimes social obligations get in the way and I have to be clean and groomed all weekend, but I get to lounge around in my own grime enough to keep me satisfied.
2. Tell me something that you've promised yourself you will do before you die.
Becoming a published novelist. This still might never happen ... but the optimist in me thinks it will. Once it does, my new "do before I die goal" will be to travel to Europe.
3. What's your favorite travel experience?
Seeing Niagra Falls. Eating at the revolving restaurant at the top of Seattle's Space Needle is a close second.
4. If you could meet anyone in all of history for dinner, who would it be and why?
Oh, jeez, a history question. Did I mention I suck at history? I'm going to go modern here and say Stephen King. He's my rock star. Spending a few hours talking about writing with him would be a dream come true. If he were unavailable ... Marilyn Monroe. I'd love to have the opportunity to peek into the enigma.
5. What was the first book that you read that really stayed with you, and why?
Deenie by Judy Blume, probably because it talked about masturbation without making it seem dirty or wrong. Actually, anything by Blume stuck with me: Tiger Eyes for death, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret for religion, Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself for periods and bras. Everything a girl needs to know about life she can learn from Judy Bloom.
michaeldthomas asked:
1- What's more important to you as a writer: selling lots of books or winning awards?
This is actually a pretty hard question. Would I rather have recognition from my peers or from my audience? While winning a Hugo or a Newberry or something would be truly amazing, I'm going to go with selling a bunch of books. Not because I want the money or fame--although those would be a nice perk--but because of what the numbers represent. If I've sold lots of copies (especially if I've sold lots of copies of multiple books) it means a that there is a whole group of people to whom my writing speaks. They get it. What I've written means enough to them that they're willing to shell out money for it. I'm getting chills just thinking about it.
2- What do you love most about conventions?
Hands down, the people. Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones recharges my batteries. And, as we all know, writers with full batteries write more words than writers whose cells are empty.
3- Have you ever been disappointed by literary hero?
I was disappointed when Robert Jordan died before finishing Wheel of Time. Not disappointed with him, really ... just sad that he didn't get to see his massive epic through to the end.
4- What's your favorite thing about East-Central Illinois?
The topography. (I kid, I kid.) I was born and raised in the midwest, and so the corn- and soybean fields are a part of my tapestry. My favorite part about living where I do is the dichotomy that exists. There's a swanky wine shop four blocks from a cornfield. I can watch a broadway play and go deer hunting in the same day. At the library I'll see someone wearing Seven jeans standing next to someone in camo overalls. It's a mix of urban/rural that fits me well.
5- What's more important as a writer: talent or persistence?
Hands down, persistence. Talent will only take you so far; you've got to have a stubborn streak a mile wide to really make it. You've got to know deep down in your soul that you have something worthwhile to say and be willing to work hard enough to learn how to say it well.