The Writer's Tag

I found this on Hayden Wand's blog, A Singular and Whimsical Problem, and it looked like so much fun that I'm filling it out myself.

1. What genres, styles, and topics do you write about?

For the last few years, I've written mainly westerns, but in the past I've also written a lot of fiction set in WWII, as well as several novels set in modern day.

I like to think of my style as "conversational."

As for topics, I gravitate toward interpersonal conflict a lot, especially within families.  I love exploring family relationships, and I also write about "found families" quite a bit.  I'm also fond of coming-of-age story arcs, as well as people "proving themselves."

Bonus points if you know what movie this is from.

2. How long have you been writing? 

Since I could read.  So since I was 5 or 6.  But I've been actively learning to be a writer since I was fourteen, so twenty-three years now.

3. Why do you write? 

Because God has given me a talent for using words, and I am trying to use that talent in ways that honor and glorify him and also benefit my neighbor.

Also, there are stories in my head that no one else is going to write, and I want to read them, so I have to write them.  Believe me, if there was a way for me to transfer my stories directly from my brain to a book, I would.

4. When is the best time to write?

I write best in the morning, before my brain gets cluttered up with thoughts about the day.  But for the last few years, I do most of my writing at night after my kids are in bed.  It works.

5. Parts of writing you love vs. parts you hate.

Hahaha!  In which Hamlette gets to rant.

Okay, so my favorite thing to write is dialog.  Most of the time, I just have to take dictation.  Characters talk in my head and I write down what they say.  It's glorious.  My fingers fly.  Pages add up with astonishing rapidity.  Give me a good argument where people say all kinds of things, emotions and motives are laid bare, hearts rip and mend and rip again -- fiendishly delightful.

I hate writing action scenes.  Now, if you were paying attention above, you'll have noticed that the two genres I write most are westerns and war.  And action is kind of expected in those two settings.  Lots of actions.  Gunfights and battles and skirmishes and attacks.  Hunting and raiding and patrolling and -- yeah.  And I hate writing action scenes.  I'm not bad at it, because I've had tons of practice, but I don't enjoy it.  And my best friend and writing mentor will tell you I whine about this a lot.

Why do I hate writing action scenes?  Because it takes so blasted long.  I get very frustrated with having to write out who is where doing what, and when and how they do it.  It reads quickly, but it writes sloooowly.

So basically, I'm lazy.

They're headed for trouble, and they know it.  I know it too.
I just don't want to have to write about it!

6. How do you overcome writers block? 

Change the music I'm listening to, that's the first step.  Sometimes, that's all it takes.  If that doesn't work, I play a game of solitaire on my computer -- but only one.  I play a lot of solitaire while writing because something about finding the patterns with part of my brain frees up the other part to see what's happening next or work through a problematic scene, etc.

But I don't tend to get blocked for long.  I might lack motivation, but I can make myself write anyway.  I think what most people call writers block is just an absence of desire to write, and that's something you either have to learn to manufacture or do without.

I don't sit around waiting to feel inspired, because when most of my writing happens at 9:30pm after a long day of parenting and homeschooling and trying to keep the house from being consumed by dirt and messes... I ain't got a lot of inspiration left.  But that's okay.  If I just start putting words down, more words will come.

There's also this.

7. Are you working on something at the moment? 

Of course.  Many things.  I'm nearly finished revising my western Little Red Riding Hood, "Cloaked."  I'll then turn this draft over to my editor and spend a month or so lavishing attention on something else.  I might start afresh on a western that I started earlier and stalled out on.  I might start writing a western Beauty and the Beast.  Haven't decided yet.  I've got three novels and three western fairy tale retellings in my head that are just waiting for me to have time for them.

8. Writing goals this year?

I'm going to independently publish "Cloaked" -- a first for me!!!  Looking at August for the release right now.

I also want to dig into research on the Exoduster migration for my western Snow White.  And I plan to start writing either that or my western Beauty and the Beast -- kind of depends on how long my research takes.

Who shall I tag?  My writer friends who haven't done this already!  Specifically:

Cordy at Write On, Cordy!
DKoren at Sidewalk Crossings
Eva at Coffee, Classics, and Craziness
Heidi at Sharing the Journey

And if you're a writer and haven't done this tag yet, by all means, have at it!