The Gentleman was kind enough to answer the questions that Bel had posed to some of us. Here are his answers.
(I also find it hilarious all you writers claim to be notthewriters. Carry on...)
First off, I don’t consider myself a writer. A teller of erotic tales would be
the more apt description of me, *Smiles* But to those of you who believe I am, I thank you very much!
1. Do you outline?
Nope… Suppose I should, but…
2. Do you write straight through a book, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
I have yet to do a book, but as far as stories go, one scene at a time.
3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
I start a story with pen/pencil and paper. Once I have the general idea down, will switch to PC.
4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
First person, though I suffer from the ‘switching back and forth’ problem…
*Grins*
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
No.
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
I try to be creative in my names, so the “Baby Name Book” comes in handy.
7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your book as a television show or movie?
Sometimes. It helps me if I visualize the story as a movie to make sure the scenes are believable.
9. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
I usually know who the story starts and ends, it’s the middle I have problems with, *laughs*
10. Where do you write?
A futon chair and a laptop at home, mainly. Sometimes will make adds at work.
11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
Read someone else’s work, usually gets the my muse back on track.
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of word count, or as a percentage of the book as a whole)?
Three or four paragraphs at a time.
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
One, with MANY corrections.
14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
Not yet, but you never know.
15. Do you let anyone read your book while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
It helps if I let some one read what I have already done to point out mistakes,
typos and such.
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Place it on Writing.com and see what the reaction is.
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
Multiple, may be why it takes me so long to finish one story.
18. Do your books grow or shrink in revision?
My stories usually shrink in some places, grow in others.
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
Many of the writers on Writing do a fine job of critiquing what I write… so I guess that’s a, yes.
20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
Revising, that way I don’t have to start all over again, *grins*. Not that I am lazy or anything…
*********************************************************Tagged writer?
Thanks to Bel, I got tagged as a writer. Must say I love the compliment, but I don't merit the title. I hope one day I will, but it's fair to say that I don't deserve the title yet. Anyway, here I go.
1. Do you outline?
Not really. I have a sort of calendar where events I want to happen are, for lack of a better word, scheduled.
2. Do you write straight through a book, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
Book! That’s a laugh, although I guess Worthy is turning into one. With Worthy, I do have scenes I have written that haven’t occurred yet. But, I keep those in my “idea” journal. The computerized version is in order.
3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
I like both. I am more efficient on a computer, but I LOVE the feel of pen to paper. I have another story I am working on that is completely hand written. I like that it slows me down. In fact, people have asked to read that one, for me to type it up, but I don’t want to. It is sort of my escape.
4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
Well, I want to be God, but I evidently have Point of View issues. Give my readers whiplash. I am working on it.
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
Sometimes.
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
Names are the bane of my existence. I am inherently unimaginative and lacking in creativity. I used to name all my characters the same names. I also use names of people I know. So now everyone thinks I am writing about these people, which I am not. But, whatever. I am just so bad with names. I have a hard time remembering people’s names when I meet them. Bad. Bad. Bad. People were up in arms. Now I go online and find names, to appease people.
7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your book as a television show or movie?
I see my stories as a movie in my mind, but fantasize about my stories becoming films? No.
9. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
On the shorter ones, I usually do. I didn’t with Worthy but now I do. I don’t with the one in my hand written journal. I wait for inspiration to strike.
10. Where do you write?
I usually write in bed. I have now set up a desk area. I have also found, when I get stuck, if I go somewhere, coffee shop, pub, restaurant, I can get going again.
11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
I go somewhere, coffee shop, pub, restraint, I can get going again.
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of word count, or as a percentage of the book as a whole)?
Usually three to five pages.
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
They are all drafts.
14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
No. I will change all the names in Worthy, though.
15. Do you let anyone read your book while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
I have people who like to read scenes as I finish them. It helps me.
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Put it online and wait for feedback impatiently.
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
Multiple
18. Do your books grow or shrink in revision?
My stories usually shrink in some places, grow in others.
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
Yes. I have a friend who I will go see for her to edit. I also publish on writers' cafe and the writers guild and one other site, hoping for feedback.
20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
I do both simultaneously. I hate it when sentences do not flow right. Before a draft is finished, I've read the damn thing a gazillion times.
OK. Now, Bel has tagged all the writers I know except one, I will tag Kat and email the survey to The Gentleman. Hopefully he will not hate me and answer the questions. If he is kind enough to answer, I will post them here. It would be nice to get the perspective of someone who is about to be published. Maybe I can convince him it is his first interview. No? Well, I will try anyway.
Read My Writing at 