3 : Do you outline according to big ideas or small details?
A little from column A, a little from column B. Usually, I have the vague shape of the story in my head and, when I get into actually writing it, I get little scenes that just HAVE to be in the thing. For fanfic, the reverse happens. I get a Scene and the fic has to happen around it.
4 : Which do you prefer–line-editing or plot-revisions?
Can I say ‘neither’? I hate editing. It is the bane of my existence. I usually try my best to make certiain my whole story is coherent first before I write a line. That way I don’t have to re-tool a plot. Fixing minor errata is better by far.
8 : What author would you be most excited to be compared to?
Sir Terry Pratchett (GNU), Lois McMasters Bujold, Douglas Adams, and possibly Terry Nation. They’re my heroes.
17 : Do you make soundtracks for each story?
Nope. If I was that organised, I swear I’d be further along in my alleged career. Or I’d have more bonus content for my Patrons on Patreon.
1 : What age-group do you write?
Since I write swears and pseudoswears into my narrative [I’ve been cutting down though] I would have to say “young adult”… but I’d much prefer that everyone reads my stuff. If they happen to enjoy it, then my writing has no real age limit. [I do advise the grownups read first and judge as to whether their littles can withstand the contents]
2 : What genre do you write?
I can potentially write every fiction genre but Romance. There’s something about Romance as a genre that is largely dependant on all parties being inexplicably dense about things way too frequently for my liking. That said, I adore science fiction and keep returning to it like a bad smell.
16 : Would your story work better as a movie or tv show? Why?
Serialised television is kinder to the contents of the books than movies are, but… No matter what, there’s things you can do in prose that just won’t translate to the screen no matter what you do. If I were to pick, I would much rather my works be messed with by Studio Ghibli if they had to be a movie. Similarly, I’m pretty sure someone in Netflix-town knows what’s up.
20 : What book would you love to see adapted for the big or small screen?
I’d most like to see Clockwork Souls adapted. It’s something I’ve written, but haven’t passed through the editing cycle for lack of feedback. First: it’s the only actual novel I’ve written where my mother(nit-picker extraordinaire) has said she liked it. Second: 90% of the main characters are on one spectrum or another. Third: I really really really really [x 20000] want to see what folks would do with that noise. Mal-adaption or no, the end result would be entertaining as hell.
31 : What trope do you actually like?
I’m not too certain of the names, but I can give you the patterns in no particular order:
- Kick-ass ladygal - woman in a ballgown or other fancy duds rips through the opposition. Trashed ballgown post-fracas optional. [Heavily sexualised trashed ballgown is a no-no]
- Shrinking violet, hidden badass - formerly assumed milquetoast gets angry and goes Hulk on the opposition. Instantly resumes former innocent facade after the last villain falls.
- I’m made of weapons - Character is forced to disarm and produces increasingly illogical weaponry from increasingly unlikely places into an increasingly alarming pile. Bonus points for “All of your weapons…” followed by even MORE of the same.
- The Gilligan Cut - “What do you expect, [Highly Improbable Situation]?” [swish-cut to the selfsame situation].
- NARRATIVELY DEPENDENT PUNS - Gods bless you Sir Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and all of the Goons. I wish I had but a fraction of your artistry.
- Expecting an argument and getting an agreement - bonus points for half the counter-argument and a “Wait, what?”
- Rule of Funny - screw the established rules, if it’s funny, it wins.
- Musical Mayhem - fights with excellent timing and pop music.
- That Tribble Scene in Star Trek - if I could have more of that happening, that would be so much fun.
- The One Sane Person - The lunatics are almost running the asylum, but this person has to keep them running in the same direction. [See: Kermit the Frog in the Original Muppet Show]
- They Fight Crime - unlikely duo works like a well-oiled machine to fight and win against the bad guys. Good romance between them for super bonus points.
Yeah, I have lots.
Thanks for asking, I loved this.
It took me a while to realise what the heck this ask was about. So brace yourselves it’s STORYTIME!
I have a hoarder’s head. I save little factoids in the back of my mind in case they come in handy. Alongside this is the knowledge that MeMum was alive for a lot of interesting bits of modern history.
Including the change to decimal currency.
There was a catchy tune brought out to get people used to the idea that this was happening. To the tune of ‘Click go the shears’, which MeMum passed on to me:
In come the dollars, in come the cents
To replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence
Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix
On the fourteenth of February 1966
Nobody of my generation was supposed to know this. Flash forward to History Class when they’re covering the war and post-war era.
History Teacher: “Does anyone know when Australia switched to decimal currency?”
Me: (Raises hand so fast I nearly dislocate my shoulder)
HT: Anyone? Anyone…? …anyone else?
Rest of class: [Nope, don’t look at me]
HT: (Realising that this is a HUGE mistake) Okay, fine…
Me: (Sings) ON THE FOUR-OR-TEENTH OF FEBRUARY, NINETEEN SIXTY-SIX!
HT: (Sobbing) I only wanted to know the year…
And that, my dears, is how I managed to break my history teacher by being a good, good child.
So I was researching medaeval kids’ clothes because reasons…
And alongside this:
I found this:
So Angus’ fancy lad gear could have just as easily been a silk or velvet dress, braies [imagine that knickerbockers and pantaloons had a baby] and vividly dyed hose. [source] With lace, because lace was conspicuous consumption.
If you headcannon that Ango is Jewish, then he would be in dresses until his Bar Mitvah, when he officially becomes a man.
…so kindly stop drawing Ango in Victorian-era lad gear.