Writing Tag

1. What was your first-ever piece of writing? My first ever story was a plagiarism of the story of Rapunzel. I think it was called "The Princess in the Tower" or something. I still have it...somewhere...
2. How old were you when you first began writing? 9, I think, is my first documentable attempt. I didn't enjoy writing until I was 11 or so.
3. Name two writing goals. One short term & one long term. Short term is to finish this Omnibus paper. Hehe. Long term--work on revising some of my short stories and possibly write a novel (I doubt the latter will ever be accomplished). 
4. Do you write fiction or non-fiction? the work I'm proudest of is non-fiction blended with enough fiction to keep it from being offensive to the main characters. Delicate work, that.
5. Bouncing off of question 4, what's your favorite genre to write in? I love writing fantasy--I blame that on too many Percy Jackson-esque books--but to to quote Mr. Knightley, "I'm not good at it." Reading LotR kind of discourages that...there's no way I can even develop a tiny bit of the detail Tolkien puts in his world in my so-so scribblings. Did I mention that I'm somewhat of a perfectionist? On the other hand, I love short stories--I don't have to work as much on plot development and can concentrate on the characters. Plus I hate writing endings and conclusions, and in a short story often I can put a weird twist at the ending in a way I couldn't in a novel. As I'm writing this I can't help but think of Jane Austen's play "The Mystery"  for some reason.
6. One writing lesson you've learned since 2013 began. Don't ever password protect your files without writing down the password. It's not fun to stare at that little blue box with the blinking cursor wondering what on earth the password is--after trying the title, all the main characters' names, places, themes, and random words. I shouldn't have to hack my own computer!
7.  Favorite author, off the top of your head! Jane Austen, because...well, she's Jane Austen--lighthearted, clever and very, very funny.
8. Three current favorite books.  Let's change this to "some enjoyable things I've read recently." Some of the stories I've read from the  Decameron, The Girl on the Boat, Only a Novel 
9. Biggest influence on your writing {person}: A person?  Hmm. Probably Dad and Mom. I have some fond memories of novel sending and editing with some of my friends quite a while ago. 
10. What's your go-to writing music? For schoolwork/studying I always listen to Orla Fallon's "Distant Shore." I have the Braveheart soundtrack and FotR and RotK complete recordings that I listen to when I want to feel epic.  For other writing, Celtic Woman's Believe and A New Journey is nice. And the TSP musical if I need to be distracted.
11. List three to five writing quirks of yours! Little habits, must-haves as you write, etc. Um. For one, I pull a Bilbo and never allow people to read things until they're somewhat finished ("Finished for what?" "Reading!"). I only use fountain and G2 Pilot pens if I can possibly manage it. I can't ever bring myself to work on something a little bit for a long time--I hole up with a notebook and don't emerge for several days or so.
12. What, in three sentences or less, does your writing mean to you? It's amusing and makes me think. When I start writing just what I think others will enjoy I'm usually not happy with the results.

Linking to Every Good Word

There's a Hedgehog on my Head...

I suppose I should 'pologize for not posting in a long time. Sowwy.

Now that all's forgiven, I can proceed in introducing my NEW PET. 

Thanks to *TSP*, I've been studying Georgian fashion. It's been interesting. Regency is all about columns, long vertical lines, flowy gowns, and Greek statuary, but Georgian...quite simply, Georgian is all about the POOF. So POOF it is. 

I've discovered the method of curling my hair--insert squeal--why aren't you squealing?--perhaps we need some backstory.

Catie's Tragic History of Trying to Curl her Hair  

by Catie

Once upon a time there was a 10-year-old girl named Catie who thought that the epitome of hairstyling was a smooth, bump-free (usually greasy) ponytail on the back of her head. She wore this for several months, until her best friend convinced Catie to allow her to curl Catie's hair for the LPCC concert. Catie allowed it. After 45 minutes, when the heat of the curling iron had removed all of the humidity from the air in the bathroom, a curl was born. It was not just any curl. It was a Nellie Olson curl. Catie was excited. Catie ran to show her mother. As she opened the door, the curl realised that there was humidity outside the bathroom. It died.

Catie often tried again to curl her hair, but it never really worked. After her sister Jess bought the best curling iron ever, she could get a few Romantic wispies, but they never stayed long. Catie gave up in despair and cried in the dark, cobwebby corner.

  

 All right, I made up the last part. You get the point. I was reading the other day, however, about paper curls. I tried it. It worked. I kept waking up at odd hours, but it worked.
Back to the new pet. It is called a hedgehog, and you can see some examples of it here. Mine is semi-historically-accurate. That is, I didn't feel like following instructions, so I pinned and pulled and twisted until it looked right--that is to say, frizzy.

 I am enormously proud of the thing. Now for an almost-semi-historically-accurate construction. I managed to get hold of Gabbi (actually, she volunteered) at a sleepover. The results?

hehe.hehehe. POOF.

I had to climb on a chair (while she was sitting down) to reach it. Part of that is that I am short (according to Jessie). Part of that is, quite simply, POOF.

I think it is time to cease my incoherent rambling about hair--in the meantime, if you haven't read/watched The Scarlet Pimpernel, go do so. For your own good. :D