4) Do you have any writing habits/rituals?
Probably. Definitely. I am very much a creature of habit. I can’t write without music, so I either need speakers or headphones. I need water and I prefer to start writing with coffee (I think it’s the aesthetic). The coffee goes on the right and the water on the left. I open the word document for the day on the right monitor, and I open the main document, plus any planning docs on the left. I always write in word, always fix the margins to be 2cm around, always change the font to calibri.
I can write on my laptop if absolutely necessary. I still need music. I still need water. I still need my multiple documents, though the screen real estate is a lot more limited on the macbook. What I listen to depends on my mood more than what I’m writing. If I’m in a good mood I’ll listen to whatever I want. If I’m fairly ok and just need some focus then I put on my “writing playlist”, if I need to get pumped up for it then I put on my “adrenaline” music. If I’m sad and struggling then I have music for that as well. I don’t listen to the specific music at any other time so it’s pretty strongly associated.
I have to be warm. I even have fingerless gloves for the winter if necessary. Oh and I track my stats fairly obsessively even if it’s not NaNo season. I record how much I write every day, and I separate it out per project (that’s what the daily documents are for). At the end of every days writing session I record the amount on the chart above my desk, and I add it to the months total on myWriteClub. At the end of the month I update my yearly total.
23) Most anticipated upcoming books?
Oh erm … *hides in box of shame* I have to be honest I don’t read books really. I know that’s terrible because I like to write books and so I should support other writers. I just don’t have any money and I don’t like going out, and I’m really picky about what I read. So I should probably go to the library and check books out, but I get much more enjoyment out of reading fanfic to be honest so I don’t have any incentive to bother. I could tell you about anticipated fanfic updates? Does that count? Probably not.
I really can’t wait for the next installment of RufeePeach’s Red Lights series. That series is just wow, I really identify with Gold and my jaw is usually on the floor every time I read because it’s so good. I’m eagerly anticipating the next chapter of All of Me by MarieQuiteContrarie. That fic is just perfection. I could go on and list a lot of writers but then I’m veering into dangerous territory because I don’t want to accidentally forget anyone, so I’ll leave it there.
41) Are there any books you feel have shaped you as a writer?
Hmm interesting question. My first complete stories were definitely heavily influenced by what I was reading at the time – Dale Brown and Tom Clancy. I know probably not what you expect an 11 year old girl to read. As I got older I lost a lot of the bad habits which plagued my earlier writing. So the heavy influence disappeared and so I don’t really have an answer for you. I can’t point to any specific book and say that it influenced my writing now. I’ve read answers to this question before and they usually say that a writers style inspired them, or that a particular book made them want to write. I’m afraid I don’t have any anecdotes like that.