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‘Never Have I Ever’ Writer Tag – My Take on It
Hi, readers! I spotted this writer tag on C.G. Drews’ blog, and I thought I’d jump in too! đ This also helps readers see if any of us are guilty of falling into these stereotypes.
Photo by Hannah Grace on Unsplash
Let’s get started, shall we?
Started a novel that I didnât finish…
Who, me? đł Does having over 100 works in progress count? Dude, there’s not enough time in the world to get them all done, but I’ll do my best.
Written a story completely by hand…
Yep! Probably several. I used to be pretty old school, writing everything on paper. I still like to write some scenes that way, but I’m just as comfortable composing on the keyboard.
Changed tenses midway through a story…
Definitely! For my older stories, a lot were told from 1st person POV. Needless to say, it is so difficult to switch from saying ‘I’ to ‘He/She’. More in the sentence will be changed than you can even imagine, just for the whole thing to sound right. That’s why these days, I rarely ever do anything that’s not third person perspective.
Not researched anything before starting a story…
I’ve done both! Mostly, I am guilty of launching into a story full blast, and then getting caught up in the details somewhere. Then I must force myself to slow down so I can look something up and it makes more sense afterward.
Changed my protagonist’s name halfway through a draft…
Oops! That happens sometimes with the use of common names. My memory isn’t what it used to be either, so sometimes I have to really battle through the brain fog and check to see if I am reusing a name. Minor characters I don’t worry so much about, unless there’s some obvious confusion. But I don’t necessarily want to repeat a main character’s name.
Written a project in a month or less…
Actually, I did, with A Little Magick, a kid’s fantasy story and book two of The Magick Series. Since the tale is shorter anyway, it wasn’t too difficult for me to keep focused on it and finish it in two or three weeks. The editing went fast too.
Fallen asleep while writing…
đ Guilty! My stamina isn’t what it once was, plus you add in the side effects of medication, and you’re completely screwed. I just need to learn to start writing a new story idea a bit earlier in the evening, and not wait so late.
Corrected someone else’s grammar IRL/online…
Oh, I have, with both. Though it still drives me nuts to see mistakes anywhere, I’ve learned to curb the urge to say anything. Not everyone is a grammar freak like me. Now, when it comes to a manuscript? That better be as polished as humanly possible! đ
Yelled in all caps at myself in the middle of a novel…
I think I did, maybe a couple times. I don’t remember all the details clearly, but I recall writing this:
WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING HERE? CHANGE THIS!!!
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Used âIâm writingâ as an excuseâŚ
An excuse for what? Is there any other excuse? Since most of my peeps at home don’t take my writing all that seriously, I consider it a good excuse, but they probably don’t. LOL. Though, there have been times I meant to do editing or write a chapter on new project, and then I got too tired or sick to put much effort into it. A writer’s life can get exhausting! đ
Killed a character that was based off someone I know in real lifeâŚ
Hmm…do I have to admit it? Okay, I may have put some of my horrible ex in the villain, Lamonte, in book two of my historical romance trilogy. And a bit in the first book’s villain too! (Shrugs.) He was a major influence in how I developed as a person. Why wouldn’t that bleed into my stories?
Used pop culture references in a storyâŚ
Definitely! Sometimes I also do that to ground a contemporary work further in reality. The problem is that, as time passes, some references become outdated. For example, a newer generation may not recognize all of my comments.
Written between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.mâŚ
I’m a night owl, so I usually won’t let anything except absolute exhaustion slow me down if I’m on the trail of a good story.
Drank an entire pot of coffee while writingâŚ
Nope, not coffee. But I’ve been guilty of water and soda, maybe even large amounts of tea.
Written down dreams to use in potential novelsâŚ
Now and then, a dream will inspire a story. Not often, though, because I don’t always remember my dreams.
Published an unedited story on the internet/blog/WattpadâŚ
đŽ Unfortunately, yes. I do my best to edit my work as well as possible now. In the earlier days of this career, however, I just had no concept of editing my own work in various ways, besides doing one read-through. Now I cringe to think of the old stuff out there somewhere. This is another reason why I’m revamping my backlist (books released under former pen names) and re-releasing them in collections via this brand.
Procrastinated homework because I wanted to writeâŚ
Maybe now and then this happened while I was in school. But I had a pretty good work ethic, and I would push myself to the point of obsession to get assignments done. Only then would I stop to work on my writing. It was easier to do both when I had writing classes. I had so many that weren’t related to that. Even though learning about those studies made me a more well-rounded student and person in general, that’s why it took so long for me to finish writing the first book of my historical series.
Typed so long that my wrists hurtâŚ
YES! Actually, if I’m immersed in a story for long enough, my entire hands hurt. Bad. Of course, it probably doesn’t help that I have fibromyalgia (and arthritis is hereditary).
Spilled a drink on my laptop while writingâŚ
Definitely! And food several times. I am already a clumsy person, but I have to be careful having anything around my computer that isn’t, um…technology-friendly.
Forgotten to save my work/draftâŚ
OMG, yes. đĽ I’ve kicked myself several times for that bad habit. Now (after almost losing two full novel-length manuscripts), I try to make sure I save everything as often as possible, and have my drafts stored in a safe place.
Finished a novelâŚ
I have finished many, thank you very much. No one could ever call me a lazy writer, and it still boggles the mind why people assume every Libra is guilty of being lazy. That’s a silly stereotype.
Cried while writing a sceneâŚ
For sure! I haven’t done my job well until I’ve connected with a character on that level.
Created maps of my fictional worldsâŚ
I guess I draw the line at that. I have a vivid image in my head of how everything looks, but I can’t call myself an ‘artist’. Not only would it take forever (the Libra in me doesn’t have the patience for that crap! LOL), I just prefer to paint a picture with words instead.
Researched something shady for a novelâŚ
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Two research topics which I did for a couple projects that you might find disturbing:
What is the chemical makeup of said drug so I can use it to add a bio-weapon in my story?
How long does it take for a dead body to decompose in the water?
Not to mention I think I scared myself when I wrote from a killer’s point of view a few times…
Feel free to use the questions for your own blog! So, what about you? Ever researched anything questionable for the purpose of creativity? Ever written a story or novel so fast that you amazed yourself? Let’s find out everyone else’s angle on this…I look forward to reading your comments! đ
The Process: A Writer’s Perspective
Guest post by: Marie Lavender
It starts with the seed of an idea. For a writer, itâs one of the most exciting parts of the book process. Perhaps itâs the flash of a scene in your mind, stemming from current events, something you read or witnessed in life. Or an object caught your interest, a mere speck of dust from the comet streaking across the night sky.
Suddenly, a plant has begun to grow. Scenes materialize in fits and starts, gradually forming a loose storyline. If youâre lucky, you know some of what might occur from the beginning. If thatâs not the case, discovering each section of the whole is akin to the exhilaration of an archaeologist on her first dig. Soon enough, however, youâve accumulated sufficient knowledge to get an idea of the overall picture. If the writer has any hope at all of finishing the project, he orâŚ
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Here is my interview with Marie Lavender
Name: Marie Lavender
Age: 36
Where are you from
Iâm actually from the Midwest. I was raised in a family of five, with many extended relatives as well. In college, I majored in Creative Writing, and well, here I am.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
My latest news is that I have two books coming out in February. One is a story that will be featured in the Valentineâs first kiss anthology, Cupidâs Arrow, and then subsequently released on its own. The story is called The Missing Piece, and itâs a new adult romance. The second is Upon Your Love, a historical romance/family saga and full-length novel, as well as book three of the Heiresses in Love Series. I am very excited for readers to discover both of these books!
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing at the age of nineâŚ
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Marie Lavender, on Perseverance
A little about my author journey and some writing resources for fellow writers! đ
Below, see Marie Lavender, author and self-made success story, tell the tale of her rise in the writing business. Follow her at https://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/Â â
My Author Journey by Marie Lavender
When Jill Marie asked me to talk about my author journey, I wanted to approach it a bit differently than I had in the past. So, letâs really get into the mindset, the life of an author, shall we?
Being an author isnât about making the bestsellers list or tons of royalties or winning awards, though any of those are great. Itâs not even about meeting your publisherâs deadlines. The defining moment for an author is different for everyone. And we constantly evolve.
My first defining moment was when I received my first book contract in 2012. And when that historical romance novel, Upon Your Return, came out six months later, when I first held the paperback in myâŚ
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THE OWL LADY PRESENTS GUEST AUTHOR: Bestselling multi-genre author Marie Lavendar, Part 2
A guest article on Viv Drewa’s blog!
![mariealternate[1]](https://marielavender.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/mariealternate1.jpg)
People tend to ask writers where they get their ideas. I often have no clue how to answer that question. Perhaps it was the well-turned phrase of a dinner companion, an article I read, or even a film I watched. Maybe it didnât come from any of those sources. Itâs possible that I wanted to write about a specific topic, but I was waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. The dancing muse upon my shoulder whispered something in my ear, and then I had the audacity to shout, âEureka! Thatâs perfect!â
Iâm not the only writer who often sits back in awe of that miraculous crumb of a story. Where did it come from? It just appeared out of the ether. Maybe it crawled out of the corner of the wall there, from another dimension. Before I start to scare you, let me explain how the creative processâŚ
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Marie Lavender – Insights from Experience.
Welcome Marie and thanks very much for joining us on atime2write.
Q. You have over 19 books to your name, which is fantastic. When did you first publish your work? Was it self or traditionally published?
It was actually self-published at first. I published my first book in 2010. It was a literary fiction/poetry anthology titled Express CafĂŠ and Other Ramblings. I went on to publish two subsequent literary fiction/poetry anthologies, all of which will be revised and re-released as Miss Lavenderâs Anthology of Ramblings. So, look for that as a future release.
Q. So some of your work is traditionally published â how did you manage to get picked up by a publisher or agent?
Though I tried self-publishing, I held onto one manuscript for dear life, reserving it for traditional publishing. In 2011, I began submitting the manuscript to literary agents and publishers. In August ofâŚ
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Guest Post: Author Marie Lavender
Find out about my journey and writing process here on Michael Aronovitz’ blog!
My Note: Marie Lavender is a phenomenal writer of romance fiction. She is the consummate professional, and I am quite fortunate to have made her acquaintance. I find romance and horror to be strangely similar actually, first by way of structure. The hiding of things, whether for the purpose of seduction or suspense, plays similarly. Also, the biggest motivation for both genres is love, as romance stories tease with what you canât have and horror tales toy with what you are terrified to lose.
So Marie, I am proud to have you visit The Authorâs Graveyard, and I would ask that you pick a plot. Put up a marker. Etch something into the stone! Â Â
A Writerâs Journey and Process by Marie Lavender
Hi, readers! I met Michael when he stopped by my guest author blog, Writing in the Modern Age, for an interview early this month. Iâd like toâŚ
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Marie Lavender on Her Blood At First Sight Series: Clever Title! Clever Girl!
My author interview on Geri G. Taylor’s blog!
I want to all to meet Marie Lavender, the Bestselling Author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 19 other books. 2014 BTS Red Carpet Review Nominee. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014 MARSocialâs Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Readerâs Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 50 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.
Is she awesome or what?
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Marie has published twenty books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance/fantasy, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry.
Lavender just released Second Nature, a paranormal romance/urban fantasy, in December of 2014. She released Magick & Moonlight
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Marie Lavender- Multigenre Author 