Over the weekend I was nominated by Dronstad for the Real Neat Blog Award. Thank you, man!!

(I’ve been so busy with and mentally drained by summer classes that I’ve written few posts this semester [You’ve probably noticed]. This week, a part of me wanted to whip up a short, no-brainer post. But a bossier, more determined part of me refused to post something over which I hadn’t properly pondered, edited, and agonized. Aside from giving me a much needed smile, this award’s questions helped me loosen up, break out of that research mindset, and think more creatively without the pressure of coming up with completely original material. Again, thanks, Dronstad!)

Here are the rules for the “Real Neat Blog Award” (feel free not to act upon them if you don’t have time; or don’t accept awards; etc.):
1. Put the award logo on your blog.
2. Thank the people who nominated you, linking to their blogs.
3. Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
4. Nominate any number of bloggers you like, linking to their blogs.
5. Let them know you nominated them (by commenting on their blog, etc).
6. Ask your nominees 7 questions.

1.) What got you into writing?

I began writing fiction in elementary school, not sure what year exactly. During car rides or lulls in classes, I’d daydream fun stuff with favorite/invented characters. The problem arose when I wanted to re-live those same stories hours or even days later (I could never remember exact details, or everybody’s lines verbatim, etc. which prevented re-daydreamed adventures from ever being the same twice; that was a problem because I wanted reruns!). Thus, I started writing them down. My stories were amusement for me.

2.) Who is your favorite author and genre? 

Author — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Sherlock Holmes collections (I have them in 2 massive volumes) are the books I’ve reread most and would read again at the drop of a hat. Style and content, A+++.

Favorite genre to read? Historical fiction. (Hands down.)

3.) What is the main reason as to why you started the blog?

Blogging is one of my confidence projects. (Virtual public speaking?!!?! What kind of voluntary horror…)

4.) What motivates you to write? 

Emotion. Human connection. You see, clever plots, crisp new topics, and amazing settings are nice and interesting but alone they can’t move my pen. I have to feel something. And when a character and I feel the same thing, there’s no stopping a story.

(e.g. When I dreamt up the most recently posted scenes Evil’s Plan and Evil’s Gesture, I envisioned that Dr. Volkow adopted the role of supervillain “Blueshift” because he believed the world was crumbling; destroying itself; a place where the heroes were becoming dark, villains darker; where hope and goodness had been reduced to hollow anthems that don’t actually save anyone. If the heroes behave as though the world’s beyond saving, why should anyone else try either? How could they? And that was his dark reality.)

(And then Volkow learns about Eric (superhero “Waveform”) who cares about both the good AND bad guys, and is relentless in standing up for his principles. Eric is that speck of hope of which Volkow, either consciously or subconsciously, had been previously convinced didn’t exist. He’s proof that hope/goodness is not just a myth — it’s real, it’s amazing, and if you ask Volkow to prove there’s good in the world he can physically point to it.)

(Now, Volkow doesn’t regard himself as worthy of being like that refreshing, unlikely phenomena that is Waveform — which he accepts to a degree. And, despite accepting it, he remains acutely aware that Eric’s goodness is rare and therefore precious. Dr. Abram Volkow might rob a bank with you but if you damage what he considers the world’s last physical manifestation of hope, he’ll probably throat-punch you. The emotion that propelled those scenes? HOPE.)

I love that.

5.) What’s the meaning of writing to you?

Currently, my writing is like theater performance is to an actor, or ballet/tap/contemporary/etc. to a dancer. It’s my art. It’s how I process my immediate world and express myself. Writing is my expression, my art.

6.) List your goals for writing?

Ha! You know, I have no idea. I finished the last courses for my Masters Degree this past Friday (yeeeeessss!!!!) and my brain is still slightly melted. But, because Dronstad asked for a list, THERE WILL BE A LIST. Here we go. Goals:

• Edit Villainy to completion.
• Resume normal posting schedule at 1-2 posts per week.
• Write the next “Evil’s [Enter Noun Here]” scene (I have an idea where it’s going; it’s not finalized; needs more simmering. Maybe a bay leaf.).
• Have a stupid amount of fun running through the 1st draft of Bottom of the Inkwell
  • I’ve gone through several scenes already, even shared one with Megan.
  • It cracks me up.
  • So, it’s either actually funny, or I’ve reached that wonderful state of exhaustion where everything is hysterical.
  • That’s my favorite state of exhaustion.
• Sort through my rough drafts/stories/scenes.
• Write a full story based on one of the short fictions in my “Scenes” Category.
• [These goals actually sorta make sense. Yay goals!]

7.) What would you say to the beginners in writing?

Read as much as you can, write more, and stay humble. There’s always more to learn.

Nominations!! I nominate these awesome fellows:

1. Paula Pederson: Stories of Immigrants, Expatriates, & Family Evolution
2. Jennifer Hilty (River Writings)
3. J. O’Brien (Writer. Teacher. Philosopher.)
4. Powered by Robots (The incredible Mr. James Pyles. This man writes some amazing short fiction. If you haven’t read at least one of his stories, get over there and get to it!)  

My Questions to the Nominees: 

1. What is the main reason as to why you started blogging?
2. Tell us about your favorite author, book and/or genre.
3. What motivates you to write?
4. If you could spend a day with anyone (alive, dead, or fictional), who would it be and why?
5. What makes you happy?
6. If you could travel anywhere, where would you like to go?
7. What’s your favorite quote?