5 Questions Meme

[xerinmichellex]

Meme-slapped by rhoda_rants

* Leave me a comment if you wanna play.
* I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity.
* Update your journal with the answers to the questions. Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions.


1. When did you start taking writing seriously, in terms of wanting to actually be published?

I wish I could say ever since I was four and held my first pencil, but the truth is being a published writer didn't hit me until a year after I graduated high school. Now, I'd always been a "story-teller" whether it came to my Barbies or playing the Sims on the computer; and I wrote two horrendous "plays" in 7th grade. I never thought I could be a writer until I was much older; or the only writing job I could have was in journalism. Finishing my first, real novel at nineteen was the turning point where I decided I didn't want to be anything other than a published writer. Three years--and numerous manuscripts--later, I still have that passion. Even if Query Hell sucks.

2. How did you come across Emilie Autumn?

Short Story: iTunes

Long Story: I was browsing through the Dresden Dolls catalogue on iTunes when a few viewer mixes popped up--specifically one entitled, "Playlist for Wayward Victorian Girls." Interested in all things victorian, I checked the playlist out and there were a few songs by an "Emilie Autumn." The one song, "The Art of Suicide" attracted me based on title alone, so I looked it up on YouTube. By the end of the week, I'd heard all the songs on Opheliac (references to Hamlet make my heart sing). I was HOOKED! I tend to get obssessive when I find something new, so I learned everything I could about Miss Autumn...and that snowballed into me buying her CD's and becoming a loyal muffin. So, it's an ingredient of her music, her visuals, and who she is as a person, and only if she suddenly turned into a murderer I might not like her as much. Or maybe I would...

3. Last book you read that really, truly blew your mind?

Columbine by Dave Cullen. I distinctly remember how I heard about Columbine. It wasn't on TV, or that day at school, but a few hours after it happened. I was at Burger King with my father and brother, and I remember this elderly man saying to me, "It's terrible what happened to those kids today." Having no clue what he was talking about, I just smiled and nodded my head. (As you do with the elderly.) When I got home, I found out what he was talking about.

Columbine, for some reason, has always stuck with me, and I'm glad that Cullen took the story and dug deeper into what went wrong. He dispelled all the rumors and speculation, where even one of the killers turned into a victim of a callous, psychopath. Columbine represents something more than a terrible school shooting, and too few people realize that.

4. DC or Marvel? Be honest.

Jeez, why didn't you just ask me which are cuter, puppies or kittens? Um...I have more DC comics/graphic novels. (Though, if we want to get technical, Dark Horse outnumbers the DC ones.) While everyone watched the Looney Toons, Spiderman and X-Men were my Saturday morning cartoons growing up. But I also watched Batman religiously. I was even Michelle Pfeiffer!Catwoman for Halloween one year. The Dark Knight has to be one of the best superhero movies. But Tobey Maguire IS Spiderman. Oh, I know! Watchmen was published by DC, so DC. But overall I think I'm a Dark Horse girl.

(I should mention most of my "comic book" knowledge comes from the Batman, X-Men, Spiderman cartoons--so I don't think I'm that great an authority on judging who has the better comics. Just sayin'...)

5. Last movie you saw in a theater?

ARRRGGG!...the last movie I saw in theaters was the Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Yeah... Come next week, though, I can say Toy Story 3 and retain some of my pride.

Comments

thanks on Columbine

[dcullenwriter.livejournal.com]

Erin, how cool to see my book pop up in your list. Thanks for that. I really appreciate it.

There's lots more info at my Columbine (http://davecullen.com/columbine.htm) site.

I just created a Students Page, several videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/davecullenwriter) and a Discussion Board (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=8413&post=147830&uid=91337378185#!/board.php?uid=91337378185). For schools and book clubs, I'm going to offer to skype in for 20-30 minutes this fall/summer.

Thanks.

19

[dcullenwriter.livejournal.com]

BTW, 19 is really impressive to finish your first novel.

Query hell is truly awful. Have you tried looking at agents' blogs? I can recommend some good ones. They offer insights, and also a way to get a sense of their personality (to see if they might be right for you).

Re: 19

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

My Google reader is filled with agent blogs from Kristin Nelson, Nathan Bransford, Janet Reid...just to name a few. You're right, they are totally helpful, and they help me stay with writing even when Query Hell seems like a dark abyss.

And thanks for the above links too!

[dcullenwriter.livejournal.com]

Wow, you are really ahead of the game. All great choices. I'd also recommend my agent's site, Betsy Lerner, and Rachelle Gardner. But sounds like you've got it well covered.

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the other sites! I'll be sure to check them out.

[saraholutola.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna have to do this when I have the time. I love these.

I loved Tobey as Spiderman but I'm also excited to see what they do with the next movie installment. Hopefully they won't go too emo-kid with him.

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

I think it's just weird that they're rebooting Spiderman, when the first one came out, like, 8 years ago! Marc Webb's suppose to direct, so I have really high hopes.

When you have the time, here are your questions:

1. What inspired you to write PERSONIFIED?
2. Other than being a writer, what job/profession would you want?
3. Doctor Who or Star Trek?
4. If you could visit any time period, which would it be?
5. What's the last movie that made an impact on you?

[jack-rowen.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way bb. Writing as a career option didn't hit me until I was 16. I had been developing characters and stories before then, but it was mostly to satisfy my muse, this "itch" that wouldn't go away until I began to write something.

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

I know! Some of it had to do with my upbringing, where the only "acceptable" writing career is journalism. Plus, I always had this mentality that becoming a full-time writer happened after you retired from your profession.

If you want to play, here are your questions:

1. What comes first for your stories, the plot or your characters? (Usually)
2. If you were stranded on an island--and electricity wasn't a problem--what three items couldn't you live without?
3. Pixar Animation or Dreamworks Animation?
4. What super-power would you want?
5. What's the last movie that really scared you?

Incoming.....Long Rant

[jack-rowen.livejournal.com]

You know what really irritates me though? Everyone I know doesn't take my career choice seriously. They all seem to think that writing a book is easy and only takes a few weeks. The same with getting an Agent and then actually getting published.

Every time I see someone the conversation usually heads into what I'm currently doing with my life and I'm like, "I'm still writing my manuscript", and I get this response, "Really? Oh okay..."

People can not grasp that it's a long and grueling process. And getting published is not a sure thing, you have to factor in all these variables. The market you're writing for, how long you want your novel to be, if it's a series or a trilogy or a stand alone.

It's as if everyone is waiting for me to pick something more "respectable" or "Realistic". The same goes for my screenwriting and filmmaking aspirations on top of my author choice. I know the chances, I know how extremely difficult it is going to be, I know all the factors that will be working against me.

But I'm going to pursue them because this is what I have chosen, these are my passions, these are my dreams and I will not give them up simply because it's hard. And despite you voicing your support for me, in the back of your minds I know you're all thinking that I can't do it.

Re: Incoming.....Long Rant

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly...which is why I always refrain from saying "I'm writing a novel" whenever anyone asks me what I do. It's bad enough my mother doesn't think I do anything. She really has no idea what the publishing industry is like, and I'm afraid if I sit down and talk to her about it she still won't understand. So, yeah, it sucks, but if anyone asks what I'm doing, I always say, "Oh, y'know, trying to figure things out..."

I swear, I think whenever people say, "I want to be a writer" people hear, "I want to be a prostitute." It's like this tainted word people think they know, yet they have no idea.

Even if I just get an agent, I'll feel more comfortable with saying "I want to be an author" because that's a HUGE step towards getting published.

Have you joined Absolute Write? It's a large writing community and it's nice to be around people who understand exactly what you're going through.

Re: Incoming.....Long Rant

[jack-rowen.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I actually am on there! Have been for about a year I think. My username is Happy-To-Write, what's yours?

Re: Incoming.....Long Rant

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

Mine's erin_michelle

I'm more of a lurker, but if I happen to see ya I'll say hi!