I have been tagged a couple times now so here goes:
Rules: Answer the questions, add one of your own if you want, then tag five of your friends. (I am skipping that part because I hate tagging. You can tag yourself and say I tagged you if you want).
1. How old were you when the craft of writing called you to perform?
I wouldn’t say I was ever ‘called’ because that makes me think of being a priest and the thought of me being a priest is just so scary that I can’t handle it.
Although, it would be fun to wear the collar and maybe guest star in Evil.
The first thing I remember writing is a haiku in second grade for Mrs. Joyce Snearson. Her son now writes for Entertainment Weekly.
My haiku was posted on the wall because:
1. I understood what syllables were.
2. I wrote in just one sentence like she asked.
3. It did not involve Tonka trucks, Barbies or hunting.
I thought writing might be okay if you always got praise like that.
My haiku (for the record)
Spring is fun you see
Because flowers grow with rain
and robins come home.
My next big writing excursion was a Star Trek story for my brother. It did not go so well.
2. What’s your favorite writing outfit?
If I am dressed, I consider it a miracle.
3. What computer program do you use for your writing?
Microsoft Word
4. What’s the name of your most difficult character to write?
You know the random guy in the restaurant? The one who doesn’t do anything? He’s just background noise. And then sometimes he’s in the hall at the high school, or maybe at the gas station while stuff is going on?
Him.
5. When is your favorite time of day to write?
When I am fully awake. This sometimes never happens.
6. What’s your favorite genre?
Oh, I am a genre lover and I’ll do anything with a genre. Wait, you don’t even have to pay me, so that means……
I’m just easy.
7. What writers have inspired you the most in your career and why?
My teachers at Vermont College: TIm Wynne-Jones, Sharon Darrow, Kathi Appelt and Rita Williams-Garcia because they are:
1. Awesome writers
2. Pretty fine dancers
3. Unafraid to give generously to others
4. Cute
8. Do you think you’re smarter than a fifth grader?
I think that depends on the fifth grader, but in general – no.
9. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re stuck on a scene?
Walk the dogs outside and call it exercise when it’s really just standing around watching them smell things, pee on things and smell things again. All of that tugging on leashes makes me get back into that writer flow.
10. If you could give one piece of advice to your fellow writers, what would it be?
Ignore advice.
Fine. I won’t be snarky. Um….
How about:
Write the way you want to write. Write about what you want to write. Write like you, not like John Green or E. Lockhart or Angie Thomas or Miguel Syjuco or M.T. Anderson or Rita Williams Garcia or Jason Reynolds. Write like you.
CARRIE’S TEACHABLE CLASS!
I have a quick, pre-recorded Teachable class designed to make you a killer scene writer in just one day. It’s fun. It’s fast. And you get to become a better writer for just $25, which is an amazing deal.
HEAR MY BOOK BABY (AND MORE) ON PATREON
On one of my Patreon sites I read and print chapters of unpublished YA novels. THE LAST GODS and SAINT and now ALMOST DEAD. This is a monthly membership site (Hear the book chapters – $1/month, read them $3-month, plus goodies!). Sometimes I send people art! Art is fun.
On this, my second site, WRITE BETTER NOW, you can do a one-time purchase of a writing class or get two of my books in eBook form or just support our podcast or the dogs. It’s all part of the WRITING CLASS OF AWESOME.
It’s a super fun place to hang out, learn, read, and see my weirdness in its true form.
And I’m starting up a brand new, adult paranormal set at a Maine campground. You can read the first chapter here.
