I did a book meme a few days ago, so, I've decided a writing meme is a good follow-up to that. I've had a couple of meme's that were sent to me a while back, haning around my saved mail bin, so I thought I'd do something to occupy me till' bedtime.
What’s the last creative thing you wrote?
A short poem called, "Anonymous," that I posted on my creative writing blog.
Was it any good?
No, it was pure rubbish, which is why I didn't bother to publish it on here.
What’s the first thing you wrote that you still have?
I have some notebook paper somewhere, one of my journals from my teenage years--only a few pages, that my late mum saved, for reasons of her own.
Write poetry?
Sometimes, not often...my poems are utter tosh.
Angsty poetry?
Sometimes, but more often it was of a pastoral nature
Favourite genre of writing?
I don't have a favourite, but I suppose I lean towards westerns, historical mysteries and some sci-fi/fantasy. I don't really care for real-life based writing...mainly because I've had real life shoved down my throat, and when I want reality, all I have to do is wake up in the morning.
If this question is intended for my own writing, I like writing Dr Who fan fiction, and also plays, prose and essays.
Most fun character you’ve ever created?
Original character? Not sure, I liked them all...but I thought the snake people in a Dr Who story I wrote, called "Rain of Terror" were a bit of a challenge for me. And then there was the Plasmavore couple in Dark Holiday. Really, I think I suck at creating characters, that's why I don't write many short stories or plays. And there was a ghost couple in a play I wrote quite a few years back, called, "The Guest." I think that one's partially lost, now.
Most annoying character you’ve ever created?
Hmmm--that's hard to say. I wrote a play once, for class, and one of the characters was a right-wing southern televanglist TV preacher.
Best plot you’ve ever created?
I totally suck at plots!!!!! I don't know. I tend to flouder halfway through all my stories and plays. I liked the plot of of a Dr Who story called Dream Weavers, but I don't think it was all that hot. I HATE PLOTS!!!! I am so glad sometimes that I gave up my dream of being a writer, I would have been grossly disappointed, no one in their right mind would ever want to publish any creative writing I could ever come up with. I SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK as a creative writer (and damnest thing is, is that is the type of writing I enjoy most). No one likes my creative writing, and rightly so.
Coolest plot twist you’ve ever created?
Oh, screw this, this is getting stinking depressing.
How often do you get writer’s block?
It's not a regulated thing. I don't really get writer's block per se, so much as sometimes, I just more or less lose the thread of the story, or simply, I am not happy with it, so I drop it. I've gotten stymied by a plot once or twice, but it was more me not being any good at figuring out plotting...I never studied creative writing, so I probably have some horrible habits, creatively.
Write fan fiction?
Yes, that's the only type of fiction I write, just Dr Who stories.
Do you write stories out, or type them?
I can't write well, due to a combination of arthritis and develoopmntal coordination disorder. I HAVE to type. And, even typing can get uncomfortable, sometimes.
Do you save everything you write?
Yes and no. I've lost reams of stuff over the years, but sometimes I save things for years, as well...it's just the luck of the draw, what gets saved and what gets lost.
Do you ever go back to an idea after you’ve abandoned it?
Yes, sometimes. I abandoned the Dr Who story Dark Holiday in June of 2008, went back and finished it in Nov. 2008.
What’s your favourite things you’ve written?
Dr Who: Rain of Terror, Grave Danger, Mad Country and The Perpex Prison. Plays: The Guest, Cheez and Mabs (unfinished) and Masks, my first play.
What’s everyone else’s favourite story that you’ve written?
I rarely get any feedback on my stories ('cos they're CRAP), but some people seem to have enjoyed Dark Holiday, Grave Danger and The Perspex Prison.
Do you ever show people your work?
No, never. Oh, I post it online, on my Wordpress blogs (and sometimes on here), but person-to-person, no, never. Few people like them, so why embarrass someone by showing it to them, and making them feel they have to comment on it?
Did you ever write a novel?
Hell no. I'm not the novel type. I was told by a couple of professors I was more of a sit-com, Saturday Night Live skit type of writer....don't think they meant it as a complement.
Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?
No, gag me! I mean, if I was asked to, I might give it a go, but really, I don't see me writing about relationships--that's like asking someone who's never been in a war, to write about life in the trenches. I've literally never had a sexual relationship, so I don't think I would be very good writing about it.
What’s your favourite setting for your characters?
I like using both outdoor and indoor surroundings--the weather, nature, buildings, etc. to help create the mood. For a claustrophic scene I might incorporate a dark old building, or a foggy morning, etc.
How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Nothing. I'm thinking of doing a bit of editing. I've two unfinished Dr Who stories and an unfinished play, but I'm not even feeling like blogging overmuch (hence the memes) at the moment.
Do you want to write for a living?
I used to, but that's not at all practical. I have to live in my world now, and there's no room for stupid dreams like writing. Truth is, I somewhat dislike feature writing and reporting--I don't hate it, any kind of writing is better than not writing at all, but, it's not exactly my idea of a good time...and unfortunately, if I ever did get a job writing, it would most likely be dull reporting (school board meetings, etc.), or features.
Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Well, I got a letter of commendaton from my community college, for my voluntary pre-graduation writing portfolio.
Ever written anything in script or play format?
Yes, I took playwriting in college. I wrote, co-produced, and directed a pre-recorded 20 min. radio skit in college, and, I had to write (and record in-studio) some timed news broadcast scripts and interviews for my broadcast writing course.
What are your five favourite words?
Hot-damn I won the lottery! 
Do you ever write based on yourself?
Well yeah, I sometimes put my own angsts, fears and dreams into my stories and plays, and sometimes my own experiences, too.
What character have you created that is most like yourself?
Maybe the woman in the play, The Broadwalk, or maybe Cheez in Cheez and Mabs.
Where do you get ideas for your characters?
Well, the Dr Who characters are already established--they belong to Russell T. Davies. The other characters...well...I'm really a "write-as-I-go" type of writer, and seriously don't spend reams of time fussing over characters--partly, I take original characters from myself, partly from people I know or from types of people I've encountered, and sometimes I let the story itself tell me what the characters will be like. There's no formula to how I develop a charcter, I just do it.
Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Yes, Cheez and Mabs was written entirely based on a dream--I even dreamed the title. Mind you, all I've written is the first few pages, so it wasn't a very lucrative dream, I guess. I wrote Rain of Terror based on a dream I'd had.
Do you favour happy endings, sad endings or cliff-hangers?
Oh, I like a happy ending...it all goes back to that feeling that I have about having reality shoved in my face. I am a bit jaded with reality, and I like a happy ending, cos' there's so few of them, in real life, isn't there?
Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen?
Yes, I wrote a poem based on a funky art work I'd seen of an eyeball on a slice of gammon steak.
Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Yes! That's why I get so frustrated with my writing lately, and why I've more or less stopped writing creatively, 'cos I'm not catching my errors. I mean, I'm not anal about S & G, but it is very important to me, yeah.
Ever write anything in chatspeak (how r u?)
God, I hate text/chat speak in regular writing. It's like writing in pig latin...what's the point? Yes, I might say LOL, but I wouldn't be caught dead using chat/text speak in a normal situation, conversationally or creatively. If you are too lazy to write properly, than why bother in the first place?
Text/chat writing in a non-text/chat situation, is for people who should be scratching themselves and grunting.
Does music help you write?
Sometimes music can set a mood for me...especially if I have a somewhat emotional or intense scene to write.
Post something you’ve written. An excerpt is fine.
This is from "The Doctor Walks into A Pub," which I wrote in 2007 for the Accord Hospice 100 stories/100 days fundraiser;
The Doctor was visiting Slyther’s bar on Exostashia. He sat on a barstool, moodily staring into space. “What’ll it be?” A short, hairy humanoid asked. “Martian martini–shaken, not stirred,” The Doctor replied absently. “Troubles?” The bartender inquired.
Sipping his drink, the Doctor sighed. “It was only a genetic transfer! Humans! I mean, a little full-frontal osculation, and suddenly you’re practically engaged! You know, the average human spends over 350 hours of their life, kissing? And what is a kiss? Just an exchange of uni-sexual biological bacteria!” The bartender snorted. “That’s what my ex-wife used to say, about my snogging.”
