I’ve been nominated by Beverley Lee to answer the following questions as part of the Siblinghood of the World Blogger awards. I answer 10 questions, then I pose 10 more questions to 10 more bloggers. Here we go…
Your favourite author is going to call you for a once in a lifetime chance to talk. You can only ask them one question. Who is the author and what is the question? Why?
I can’t narrow it down to one writer.
The more I grow as a writer, I realise we all share the same self-doubt and struggles with wrangling our stories. So the one question I’d like to ask all writers I admire is…
When did you feel like a “real” writer?
Which fictional character would you want as a friend, and why?
Which fictional character would you want as a friend, and why?
Nightingale from the Rivers Of London series. I want my own immortal magical mentor with impeccable pre-war dress sense. I imagine him being like Bill Nighy.
List three books you’ve read more than three times.
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
- Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
- The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.
How’s that for a weird combo.
Who would you say is your greatest writing influence in terms of your own style?
I think my influences are from the opposite side. I know what I dislike, so I avoid that type of writing. I have a background in the corporate world and business writing, so my style is simple. I don’t like overly flowery writing because I’m a lazy reader. The style is important to my reading pleasure. Some styles (and writers) do my head in and so I quickly switch to something cleaner.
What are you working on at the minute?
Starting today, I’m writing the next novella in my Evangeline steampunk series. This novella is about seances and spiritualists.
Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
She is in serious trouble of being typecast, but from the recent Dr Who episodes playing Ashildr/Me, I can absolutely see Maisie Williams as my character Alga from the Monolith series.
How important is a book cover to you? Would it influence you over the back blurb?
A good cover is so bloody important. There are some serious ugly covers out there, especially in the self-publishing world, but I’ll admit, often I don’t read the back blurb. There have been many times when I’ve been wowed by an early plot twist, then later on read the back blurb.
Before I buy or borrow (library love), I have to read a page at random. There are certain flowery styles of writing which I can’t handle (see above answer).
If you could live in one fictional world, where would you live?
China Mieville’s Bas-Lag world from Perdido Street Station. What’s not to like …aliens, steampunk and magic. Mieville’s world building is crazy detailed and luscious. I feel I could step right into the pages and live there.
Do you let other people borrow your books?
Absolutely. Words and books are to be shared. Share the love.
Books have some of the most wonderful quotes among them. Which is one of your favourite quotes, and why does it resonate with you?
Let’s go back to my favourite kooky melodramatic Canadian redhead.
It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.
Thank you Anne Shirley and L.M. Montgomery.
My Ten Questions
- When did you feel like a “real” writer?
- How do you overcome resistance?
- What advice would you give yourself as a wannabe writer?
- Do you prefer writing or editing?
- What part of the writing process do you struggle with the most?
- Do you Nanowrimo?
- What authors do you follow on social media?
- What’s more important to you; a good plot or beautiful writing?
- Do you take yourself on artist’s dates? What do you do?
- When friends and family ask “can I read your book?” What do you say?
theconstantvoice
Wow, I love your answers, Madeleine! I really approve of the first one and your question to other writers. I don’t think it matters if you’re just starting out or are on the bestseller list, it seems that every writer reaches that point in their book where they think it’s all awful. Creativeness comes with a sliver of self doubt.
I haven’t read the Rivers of London series but now I want to, because well, Bill Nighy, enough said 😉
And I agree about certain styles of writing not being for us. They might not be bad writing, they just don’t gel with what we need. Over description does that to me – it’s in one I’m reading now, and I’ll admit I’m struggling..
Thanks again for taking part, I enjoyed the read a lot 🙂
madeleinedeste
Excellent. Thanks! I got the chance to ask Patrick Rothfuss “when you feel like a ‘real’ writer?” the other day on a webinar. I’ll have to track down his answer. He said something along the lines of …when I wrote something I was proud of, not when I got published.
Thanks for the prompts!
theconstantvoice
Gosh, how exciting! And yes, that answer is round about perfect 🙂
My pleasure, Madeleine!
Nicolette Elzie
I loved reading this! And what an excellent response from Patrick Rothfuss. ^.^ Sometimes, on good days, when I’m really being true to what is in my heart and I am putting that on the page, I find that I am prouder of who I am as a writer, which in turn, makes me feel like a ‘real’ writer. Of course, I have bad days sprinkled among the good, *shrugs*. I love what you said too about how all writers struggle with self-doubt. I didn’t realize it before entering the blogging world how true that statement was, but now I do and it is a comfort to know I’m in good company. Great post Madeleine!
madeleinedeste
Thanks Nicolette and thank you for prompting the whole thing.
Nicolette Elzie
No problem! I was tagged into this one by another blogger, so I’m not sure who started this particular award though. The only one I’ve created so far has been the “Confessions of a Writer” tag, which I know you’ve already been a part of! ^.^