Author Tag - 1

Author Tag – 1

Friends, I’ve seen a lot of YouTube videos on writer tags, and I thought each week I’ll do a writer tag for all of you. You’ll get to learn more about me, and if you’d like, you can do the writer tag as well. So, I found this writer tag on Kim Chance’s video on YouTube. BTW, she is awesome, and I will be sharing more about her and her amazing videos in another post. So let’s get to the questions.

Writer Tag Questions

1. What do you eat or drink while writing?

I’m a huge tea lover, and I’m always drinking a cup of tea. I’ll get a pic of my favorite tea mug soon. My favorite tea is Twining’s English Breakfast.

I rarely eat when I’m writing, but when I do, it’s either an Oikos Greek yogurt or some goldfish crackers (Yes, I’m SO addicted to these!).

2. What do you listen to while writing?

I need absolute silence when I’m writing, so I don’t listen to anything.

3. What is your biggest writing distraction?

Noise, especially music.

4. What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you while writing?

I was going full steam ahead in my current book, and for whatever reason my mind completely blanked. Like total brain fart! So, I just got up from the manuscript and went out to make myself another cup of tea, came back sat down, and thoughts began coming in again.

5. What's the best thing that ever happened to you while writing?

When I was researching books written during the Regency period and this one, particular author popped up. So I looked into her books, and I found one of her books that was perfect for not only my heroine, but it helped open up a conversation between she and my Hero about his deceased wife. So it fit perfectly and took the book in a new direction that I didn't intend it to go.

6. Who you communicate with or not communicate with while writing?

OK, this is odd, but I often chitchat with my cat. I’ll ramble out thoughts on my characters or where the book is going, etc. I prefer to write alone, so I don’t really communicate with anyone. I will talk about my writing with my family, but I don’t really communicate with them during a writing session as I need 100% focus.

7. What your secret to success and your biggest writing flaw?

Secret to Success:

I’ve not yet published a book, so I can’t claim TRUE success yet. However, in my own personal goals, I have had some success along the way. One thing I will advise you is to know your craft. I know it’s time-consuming and yes, can even cost money for books and/or courses, but invest in your career and delve deep into understanding and mastering your craft. Even when you get your book published, still continue to learn and master your craft.

Also, no matter how crappy your rough drafts might be and time-consuming life can be, dedicate a bit of time every day (at least 6 days a week, I understand taking a day off, and I always take Sundays off) to write. Even if it’s 50 words, doesn’t matter. Write something and keep at it.

Biggest Writing Flaw:

Oh many at this stage in my writing, but I’d say one thing I’m dealing with overcome at present is head hopping and hooking my readers. To solve these particular struggles, I’m going back and review all that I’ve learned thus far on head hopping and going through my manuscript and diligently changing any areas where I see this happening and trying to pinpoint why exactly I keep stumbling into doing this. For hooking (you, my readers), I’ve got an awesome book that is all about doing just that. So that’s on my reading list for this weekend!

Also, at least in my WIP, determining where to begin. Whether I should start with my H and h meeting for the first time or starting with when they are both faced with the fact that they must find a suitable mate by the end of the Season. To solve this problem, I’m diving more into writing craft and in particular “Starting your story, Do’s and Don’ts” and also conferring with a good writing friend to get her input.

8. What inspires you? Or what makes you productive?

A lot of my favorite authors have inspired me and continue to inspire me every day. Too many to name, but to name a few: Christi Caldwell, Vonda Sinclair, Lisa Kleypas, Lisa Jackson and Christy Carlyle. Also, when I got sick a couple years ago and realizing just how short life is, this just really inspired me to go for it and write. All my life I’ve written things off and on and yeah thought about being a writer, but also thought that wasn’t a “Secure” job, or it’s a “Pipe Dream.” However, I’ve realized that it’s my dream and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I just finally made up my mind that I was going to write. I love historical romance and have always wanted to write it, and so I’m going for it!

So on the same lines, this is what helps make me productive too. Another thing that makes me productive is creating a writing schedule/plan and also, listing my goals. Now, this doesn’t have to be set-in-stone, as life happens and impacts things. However, having a schedule/plan and goals gives me something to aim for.

9. What is one thing you do or other writers do that's annoying?

One thing I do that is very annoying, editing as I go. I MUST stop this. Yes, I am a professional editor, but I need to just write my work and edit later. This is so annoying that I do this. For my NaNoWriMo book, I wrote it all out in Word to know the word count, but ugh I couldn’t stop editing. So I came up with a plan, I’m going to write all rough drafts by hand in a three ring binder (NaNoWriMo will always be different as I need the word count). Also, another thing I do and I don’t know if it’s annoying per se, but I doubt myself A LOT, like I always think my ideas are stupid or nobody will want to read this and blah blah. I really need to work on this!

As for other writers, nothing annoys me. I’m so inspired and proud of all of you for going for your dreams and giving all of us such wonderful books to read!

10. Are you willing to share something you've written?

Yes, absolutely and I will be sharing an excerpt from my NaNoWriMo soon. Once I get more of my first Wexford Sister’s book written, I will share that with all of you too.

So there you go. This has been a lot of fun, and if any of you have any more questions for me, please send them my way. You can message me on FB (Marie Greaves), email me at authormariegreaves@gmail.com or comment below. Also, any of you wanting to do this tag, have fun!