I promised y'all bookish photos, so I'm giving y'all bookish photos!!! On top of that, I'm doing not one, not two, but THREE tags!!!
Beautiful People's Author Edition Linkup/Tag
Stolen from Jen @ Living Outside the Lines
1. How many years have you been writing? When did you officially consider yourself a ‘writer’?
I first began writing when I was about nine or ten…but I didn’t officially consider myself a writer until I was twelve—when I started on what would later be my first completed novel. So, you could say I’ve been writing for almost seven years, but it’s really only been closer to four.
2. How/why did you start writing?
Tough question. Mainly because writing was like an on-again, off-again relationship for a couple years (ages nine through eleven), my reasons for writing changed over time. At first, I wanted to write just because I had this one story idea I wanted to get down. Then, as time went on, I realized I wanted to write for enjoyment, because I had myriads of ideas that I needed to pen at some point in time, and mostly to impact others with my writing.
It wasn’t until I was twelve that being a writer became not just a possibility but a likelihood, since it was then that I really felt called to write.
3. What’s your favorite part of writing?
All of it. And yet...none of it? I don’t know. That’s hard to answer, because my favorite part of the writing process—writing itself—is bringing a story to life and falling in love with characters and worlds. But my favorite part of being a writer is hearing from readers—be it in a review or a personal email. I love knowing that God was able to bring joy or inspiration to someone through my writing!
4. What’s your biggest writing struggle?
Again, all of it. Mainly time management. I can never seem to organize my time for blogging, chatting with my fellow writers, researching, editing, plotting, designing, reading, reviewing and everything else I do to make time for actually writing.
5. Do you write best at night or day?
Night, without a doubt. In part because I usually get most of my virtual chores during the day, but it’s also quieter and calmer when everyone’s asleep.
6. What does your writing space look like? (Feel free to show us pictures!)
Writing space? Pfft...right now, my space looks like my kitchen counter (trust me, you don’t want pictures) and my bed (which looks fifteen times worse than the counter, so you’re definitely not getting pictures). I could be making use of the laundry room as a mini office, but y’all. We don’t have AC in there, and here in South Georgia, you need AC. Even the winter. So I’m sticking with the kitchen and my bed for now.
7. How long does it typically take you to write a complete draft?
Ah, it’s time for my deep, dark confession. I don’t draft (I really need to write a blog post explaining that, don’t I?), but instead write as best (and slowly) as I can to get a perfect only draft. I do edit it, though, and my current WIP, Bound and Determined, will require a LOT of editing and trimming once it’s finished.
Anyway, as for how long it takes me to write a manuscript...that depends. One short story took me an hour; another one took me six months. An 18k novella took me two weeks; my two novels took me six months; and my currently-157k-long WIP has taken me two years (or something like that) to get to where I am now.
We’ll just average it as six months.
8. How many projects do you work on at once?
Ah, it depends. Whilst writing Prisoner at Heart, I worked solely on it. But during my work on BAD, I wrote a few short stories, a novella, and my blog serial. As of right now, I think I’ve dwindled it down to just BAD…oh, and a collab project I’m doing with a friend of mine. I try to stick to one at a time, but you know how inspiration is!
9. Do you prefer writing happy endings, sad ones, or somewhere in between?
HAPPY ENDINGS ALL THE WAY! Unless we’re talking cliffhangers for series, in which case my endings can be very, very, very sad. (Just wait ‘til y’all—and I—get to the end of Bound and Determined. Hehehehe...)
10. List a few authors who’ve influenced your writing journey.
Julie Lessman
Roseanna M. White
Jody Hedlund
Jane Austen
Jerry B. Jenkins
Melanie Dickerson
The list goes on…but those are the main ones, I think. Jerry B. Jenkins was my first favorite author, Melanie Dickerson prompted me to start writing, Roseanna M. White and Jody Hedlund opened me up to new styles and stories, and Julie Lessman has just inspired and influenced me in innumerable ways!
11. Do you let people read your writing? Why or why not?
Well, that depends. I don’t usually let anyone—family, friends, fellow writers—read my writing until it’s completely finished…but I have be letting a friend of mine read over BAD, which has been the most amazing blessing. (Thank you, Sophia!!!) I do share sneak peeks on my blog or a first chapter with some folks every now and then.
12. What’s your ultimate writing goal or dream?
My ultimate writing goal? Sheesh. I dunno, really. I mean, of course I’d like to write a lot of books (I have so many ideas, I doubt I’ll live long enough to write them all!) and in some respects, I would like to become somewhat of a household name within my genre—er, genres.
But, most importantly, I want whatever God wants for me and I want to glorify Him in all I write, say, and do!
13. If you didn’t write, what would you want to do?
So. many. Things. Honestly, I’m glad I decided to be a writer, because if not, I wouldn’t be able to decide on what I’d want to do! Anything from a dancer to an interior designer to a photographer to a graphic designer to a marketer/influencer to a baker…yeah, the list goes on.
The main things, though, which I suppose are more of what I want to do while writing rather than instead of, are being a stay-at-home wife and mother and a missionary. I feel called to be all three, I’m just not entirely certain of the order!
14. Do you have a book you’d like to write one day but don’t feel you’re ready to attempt it yet?
Y’all, I have approximately 8,000 books I want to write but don’t feel ready to. The most notable would be my Lady Samantha series (which has neither individual book titles nor an actual series name at this time), which is almost like Regency-era rom-coms/chick lit...but not. I don’t know, it’s such a strange mix of genres and Lady Samantha is just too fun of a character for me to butcher her stories with my subpar writing skills.
And...then there’s my Edwardian-era British mystery series...now that I can’t wait to write, but I know I’ve got a LOT of work to do before I’m ready for a full-out mystery!
15. Which story has your heart and won’t let go?
Oh, gosh. 80% of all the story ideas I’ve ever come up with falls into that category…
I will say that anything with Rina in it has basically carved a permanent place into my heart. She’s like the Iron Man of the GLU (Gracie’s Literary Universe)...everything starts and ends with Rina. Every story is Rina’s story (just don’t tell her I said that; it’ll go to her head).
But there’s also my Darren family (which has grown into the Darren/Cannon/Billingham family). They began with Beyond the Inner Storm, my first completed novel (or writing project of any kind, actually), so that story and those characters will always have a place in my heart! They’re actually due for a comeback eventually...but no spoilers!
Bree Dawn's Never Have I Ever Tag // Writer's Edition
Also stolen from Jen @ Living Outside the Lines
The Rules
Link and thank the blogger who tagged you. (Thank you, Jen!)
Include the graphic somewhere in the post (or make your own!)
Answer the questions truthfully and honestly.
Tag 3 bloggers.
Never Have I Ever...
…started a novel that I didn’t finish.
Um...haven’t we all? Because if not, then I’m in trouble. I rarely finish 99.99% of the novels I start.
…written a story completely by hand.
Thank God, no. I couldn’t survive that. Diary entries give me hand cramps, you guys. I did write a few chapters by hand...way back in the day. But I don’t write anything more than notes nowadays.
…changed tenses midway through a story.
Haha, hate to admit it, but yes.
…not researched anything before starting a story.
Wait. I was supposed to research before I started writing? Oops. Seriously, you guys, that’s how it is for almost all my novels. #pantser I research while I write.
…changed my protagonist’s name halfway through a draft.
Yeah, actually. In the very beginning, when I was writing Beyond the Inner Storm by hand in a sketchbook and transcribing it onto my mom’s computer, I went through my first and only major name change. Let’s just say Cade was originally Ryan before I realized I shouldn’t name my character after the hero in the book that inspired my book...
…written a story in a month or less.
YES! I’m pretty proud of it, in fact! I wrote my 18k-word novella, The Gift of Her Heart, in two weeks!
…fallen asleep while writing.
Nope. I have to force myself to go to sleep, so...
…corrected someone’s grammar IRL/online.
Yep. #grammartroll
…yelled in all caps at myself in the middle of my novel.
Uh, no. I would never dirty up my pristine manuscript in such a manner. #perfectionist To be perfectly honest with you guys, I might have done this once, but I don’t remember. If I did, I’ve since backspaced it.
…used “I’m writing” as an excuse.
Been there, tried that. Didn’t work.
…killed a character that was based on someone I know in real life.
I don’t base characters after people I know (at least, not intentionally), so no.
…used pop culture references in a story.
Um...maybe? I don’t write a lot of contemporary fiction, plus I know next to nothing about popular culture, so the closest I’ve gotten is mentioning Alicia Keys in Daylight.
…written between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Really? Dude. No. And whoever does needs help.
…drank an entire pot of coffee while writing.
I’m not a huge coffee drinker (unless it’s iced...with lots of sugar...and whipped cream), so nope.
…written down dreams to use in potential novels.
Uhhhhhh...my dreams are waaaaay too freaky to use in a book, trust me. Like, y’all don’t want to know.
…published an unedited story on the internet/blog/Wattpad.
Yep! Every installment of Reign was unedited...and woefully so.
…procrastinated homework because I wanted to write.
#homeschooled All work is home work. But, yes, I guess I have.
…typed so long that my wrists hurt.
Lord have mercy, no! Probably should, though.
…spilled a drink on my laptop while writing.
Thank God, no, I have not. I did spill sweet tea near it once, but I’d just finished writing and shut it off. And my brother spit water on my laptop screen once...suffice it to say that was not one of my best moments. At all. …forgotten to save my work/draft
Nope. My writing software reminds me before I close it out. Thank you, LibreOffice!
…finished a novel.
I should hope so, or else I’d have a lot of unfinished novels running around Amazon.
…laughed like an evil villain while writing a scene.
MUAH HA HA HA!!!! This is a huge yes for me.
…cried while writing a scene.
I teared up. Once. I think. Maybe. Don’t ask me when.
…created maps of my fictional worlds.
Yes...but let’s just say I’m better at drawing roses than maps. And that I don’t know how to work those online map making thingamabobs.
…researched something shady for a novel.
I’ll put it like this...I still don’t know how to make a bomb. There are literally no resources about bomb-making on Google. WHAT IS AN AUTHOR TO DO???
The Tagees
Issabelle Perry @ Into My Writing Journey
Kads @ Your Writerly Friend Kads
All About You Around the Blogosphere Tag
Tagged by Teen Writers' Nook and Joelle Stone (Yes, I was actually tagged! Twice!)
The Rules
Answer the questions below on your blog.
Tag at least a couple other bloggers.
Have them answer these questions!
The Questions
What’s your favorite book/book series and why?
WHY?! This is SUCH a hard question!!! Plus, I don’t think I can pick the Daughters of the Seven Seas series, can I? Yeah...probably not.
Anyway, maybe the Unblemished series by Sara Ella. Maybe the Daughters of Boston or Winds of Change or Isle of Hope series by Julie Lessman. Maybe...AUGH! I DON’T KNOW!!!
As for specific books...ooooyyyyy...well, Pride and Prejudice, for sure, A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman, A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman, and The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz - just off the top of my head, that is.
Who is your favorite author?
M’kay, y’all, this is even worse. My favorite authors at the moment are Julie Lessman, Jane Austen, Tamara Leigh, and Laura Frantz. And that’s just the short list.
What is your favorite food?
All of it. Okay, not really. I have preferences. Anything with sugar.
Seriously, I love Mexican food (particularly queso blanco...aaahhh) and Italian food (or, rather, Americanized Italian food served at a restaurant commonly known as Olive Garden), PIZZA, seafood, and peach ice cream.
What gives you inspiration for your books?
Oh, all kinds of things. Mainly the Holy Spirit—He inspired Held Captive, that’s for sure. Music. Other books. TV shows and movies. Stuff like that.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
SCOTLAND.
Nuff said.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I am an introverted extrovert, and no, my MBTI type does not exist. I am a rarity among people.
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Warning: Contains high levels of eccentricity, an increased percentage of useless facts, and more than your daily value of sarcasm. Not approved by the FDA. Consume at your own risk.
(That seriously took me, like, five minutes to come up with.)
The Tagees
Seriously, y'all, I am the only person who hasn't done this tag yet...
Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus
Chelsea @ An Ordinary Pen
YOU MADE IT!!! I know this was a long post, but I had a ton of fun sharing all this with y'all! I hope you enjoyed learning more about me as an author and blogger, and taking a peek at some of my recent reads! Which of these tags have you done? Which picture was your favorite?
#blogtags #abouttheauthor #abouttheblogger #neverhaveiever #allaboutme #authoredition #writersedition #photodump #bookishness