For all writers - a few simple questions?

Question

For all writers - a few simple questions?

Answer 1

1. I try to plan the plot in as much detail as I think I'll need to prevent myself from wandering away from it or painting myself into a corner. I don't do much work on my characters in advance. Their personalities, such as they are, tend to emerge as I'm writing.



2. Fantasy and science fiction.



3. Mostly third person, sometimes first.



4. Alastair Reynolds, Patrick Rothfuss, Isaac Asimov... there are lots of people I think are good writers, but I'm not sure I'd say I look up to any of them.



5. I've never read any Ms Meyer's books. I'm about three times too old and the wrong gender to be in the target market. I saw the first movie and thought it was very average.

Answer 2

1) The overall plot, not the details though, and almost everything about the characters. Of course these ideas rarely remain as is, I change them as the story progresses on paper and in my mind.

2) I tend to write fantasy the most, I enjoy the freedom it gives me.

3) Either. Usually with girls I'll write in first, but I've got some female main characters from a third person point of view and a few male main characters from first person.

4) J.K. Rowling because of how amazing her writing is, and how she started off from such a low point. I also love that she gives a ton of proceeds to charity, unlike authors such as Meyer who only do so for publicity.

5) No, no I do not. I think she is a terrible author who needs to find a different profession because she only seems to be getting worse.

Answer 3

Okay. I love surveys that have to do with writing!



1. When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?



- Kind of in the middle about it. When I started out, I was someone who just sat down and wrote what came to them. I won't lie and say that didn't work. It did, and things turned out fine, but I've changed since then. Nowadays, I sketch out my plot and characters. Not so I'll have something to look at when I'm stuck or something to follow, but just because I don't want to forget what I've seen in my head. I only write down the ideas I like and would want to pursue/expand on in that story or another one.



2. What genre do you tend to like to write most?



- Fantasy, hands down. I love reading fantasy, and I love writing it. Second would have to be adventure.



3. Do you write in first or third person?



- When it comes to novels, mostly first person. I can count on one hand how many novels I've started writing in third person. But with short stories, I write mostly in third person. Again, I can count on my hand how many times I've written a short story in first person.



4. Which writers do you look up to?



- None. There's no one I aspire to be like or look up to when it comes to writing. I'm pretty independent. I just do my own thing and hope it works out. I do love some authors' writing styles, like John Steinbeck, Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, and Fyodor Dostoevesky.



5. Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?



- Honestly, I think Stephenie Meyer is a good *enough* writer. Does that translate to mean good in your book? I don't know. All I know is that she was good enough to get published, good enough to capture people's attention and sell millions of copies of her books, and good enough to reach the level of fame that many authors do not. Does that make her a good writer? I honestly can't say. I don't give that much thought.



6. How do you pick your character names?



- They come to me in prophetic dreams. Okay, I'll stop BS-ing you now. I can't count all of the ways/reasons I've come to name my characters this instead of that. There are so many reasons I'll give them this name instead of that one. I can say that I frequently use behindthename.com because that's, quite possibly, the best website when it comes to names in, like, forever. Seriously. I'm an addict.



I can also say that names are important to me because they give the reader a glimpse into the character, and when it comes to my main characters, I'm very careful about what name I give them. I go through this whole process and picture them doing everyday things with that name to see if it really fits them. One thing I hate when writing is having to change so-and-so's name when I've already put it down. I do pick names that aren't so common, but can still be pronounced and segue themselves into "acceptable, common, everyday" names, if that makes sense. So that when people look at the name for the first time, they're not like "What? She named him *that*?" But instead, they think "That's an interesting name. I haven't seen it before, but I like it. That's a cool name."



Uh...this may not be obvious by my verbose answer to your last question, but I like names. It's my favorite part of beginning a story. And is anyone else tired of me saying the word name?



Actually, thank you! I haven't done one of these little surveys in forever, and I enjoyed this one.

Answer 4

1) No, I almost never plan my plot before writing. If I do, I end up getting too stressed out and I never really get to writing, then. As for my characters, I'll create them up in my head, maybe putting their characteristics down on some sort of character sheet, then write about them. But later, if I feel like a certain character might fit into a different storyline better, then I'll take that character from their previous story and write about them again. =]



2) I love to write fantasy, and I can't really write anything else. Science-fiction is something that kind of ends up tying into my fantasy stories, and those stories end up being a little...dark, so maybe just a tad bit of horror, too.



3) I can write in both, but I find that when I write in first person, there's so much more emotion to the story and I, as a writer, enjoy it much more as well. But, when I write in third person, it's much easier to focus less on the characters and more on the storyline...



4) I don't really "look up to" a certain writer. If I did, my stories would probably be very influenced by that writer, and a lot of the time, that's not exactly a "good thing"..(especially for writers that look up to Stephenie Meyer...)



5) No, I do not think that she is a good writer. If you think about it, you don't even know what her characters look like. If you go back and look at her descriptions of Edward, you see that she mentions him being "perfect" and having "gold eyes" and other times "black eyes" or something to that effect, but you never do really get a clear, focused mental picture in your head of him.



Meyer also used so many descriptive words and adjectives in every single sentence that it was clear that she practically raped a thesaurus. That isn't a sign of good writing at all. The only good part about her writing was that it was marketable to some tweens and the majority of the teen audience (not including me, even though I am a teen.)



I personally think that one sign of a good author is that you can completely understand what is going on in a book if you don't even read the first book, like just starting from a sequel. I started Twilight with New Moon and I barely had a grasp on the situation at all. For a while, I didn't even know that Billy was Jacob's dad! I actually thought that Billy was Jacob's little brother, and that they were both African-American rather than Native American.



I truly do not think that Stephenie Meyer is a good writer at all, but her books did sell because it was just something that much of the teen/tween audience, along with some adults, would read and relate to in some strange way. Sorry for the long rant, but that's just my thoughts on Meyer being a good writer.

Answer 5

1) When I am writing a story, the very first thing I do is describe my characters on a piece of paper. I try to picture them in my head (because if the author can't picture her characters, 1, she's not and good writer, and 2, chances are the reader won't be able to picture them either). Then I think about what I want the plot to be. I may or may not write this down. Once I have a good, structurally sound idea for the plot, I don't forget it. Plot twists and conflicts that I don't expect at the beginning occasionally happen---this is good because it keeps me interested too! :)



2) I prefer to write fantasy and YA novels. I like YA because we can relate to the problems the characters are going through. Fantasy is great because you get to make up a whole new world! You can totally go crazy! :)



3) I write generally in third person. I'm not sure why.



4) I look up to Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak and Wintergirls), JRR Tolkien (author of The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings series), and JK Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series).



5) In my personal opinion, Stephenie Meyer is not a good writer. Edward is a total cliche of the "perfect guy" that every teenage girl wants. And somehow she has become famous because of her crappy saga.



You're welcome! :)

Answer 6

1.) Oh, yes. Finding inspiration and motivation to actually write a story takes a long time for me, sometimes up to a year after I first get the idea. By that time I'll usually have all my characters and my plot planned out in detail. Most of it is in my head; I'm not one for writing things down, although sometimes I'll write short history book/biography-style paragraphs about places or people in the story if I'm bored in class.



2.) I write all over the place. A lot of times the genre I write in is influenced by what I've read lately, but I really don't stick to one subject or style. I've written sci-fi, historical fiction, mystery, adventure, political satire, and memoirs, and now I've started on a fantasy. What I write depends on my mood.



3.) I write the first draft of all my stories in first person; I find it much easier for me to learn about my character that way. Once I'm through with the rough draft, I will sometimes go back and completely re-write it in third person if that's a better point of view for the story. But first person is the easiest for me, and is also my favorite perspective when I'm reading.



4.) I love Jane Austen's work; I think she was a fabulous writer with a great imagination. So sad she only wrote six books. I also love P.J. O'Rourke. He is very funny and has a great way of expressing his (very strong) opinions in a way that makes them seem indisputable. I don't agree with everything he says, but I like the way he says it.



5.) On a class trip, I had the first three chapters of Twilight read to me by classmates. Their theory was that if they could corner me long enough to force-feed me the beginning of the book, I would be hooked and I'd read the rest. I should have called the police: cruel and unusual punishment is expressly forbidden in the constitution. It was the most insultingly stupid, poorly written twaddle I have ever heard in my life.

Answer 7

1. Not really. I usually just start off with a sentence and then string words together. It's more of the writing than the plot for me. But I usually have a feel for the main character's personality at the beginning.



2. Mostly fiction -- realistic fiction, I guess. I'm terrible at writing fantasy, but I might give it a shot at some point. Non-fiction is cool as well but I like to add my own style. So mostly it's just about people and their interests. I have a love-hate relationship with people, but I love writing about them.



3. Mostly first. Third is kind of a challenge for me, but I recently started something that has multiple main characters and switches off from each one, and every chapter is in third person, which I think is interesting. But I'm mostly interested in what goes on in peoples' heads, so I like first person better.



4. It's not really individual authors, but the books that I like. I love Ellen Raskin and E.L. Konigsberg and Louis Sachar and Jerry Spinelli just because they write books for younger kids but that's what really got me reading. Plus I think that a writer who doesn't necessarily write "adult" books but more for children or teens, but who is actually a good writer, is amazing.



5. Not at all. I do kind of feel bad for her because so many people are bashing her, but seriously, she has no writing talent at all. I could go on for hours about how terrible the series is (which I did at my school -- multiple times), but I won't. I'll just say that she is poor at character development and making sentences, paragraphs, and chapters sound, well, pretty.







:D

Answer 8

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?

It takes me months to let a plot develop in my head. The same for my characters. When I sit down to write, I honestly have no clue where I'm going. My subconscious guides me. It knows plot twists before I even realize it. So I believe that is a yes, I do plan out my characters and plot.

I also have notes and papers scattered all over my bedroom floor.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?

I love romance with twists and turns mixed with fantasy. I also love the supernatural. I'm currently writing a book with all of those elements.



3) Do you write in first or third person?

I used to write in 1st person. I guess I wanted to do that to say I was the character. But I was all over the place, jumping to another character's thoughts.

My 10th grade English teacher told me 3rd person would give me universal control. That said, it made my mind expand. To this day, I only write in 3rd person.



4) Which writers do you look up to?

Vivian Vande Velde. She introduced me to vampires. She opened my eyes to a whole other genre I could write and what I'm writing now.

J.K Rowling. What she created is immortal to the literacy world. That amazes me.

Stephine King. For his mind-bending horror. I cannot imagine the thoughts that go through his mind.

I read a lot. A lot of authors inspire me. A lot of books inspire me.





5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?

I have read the entire series. It is overrated. From a writer's perspective, it's horribly written. There are loopholes everywhere. She breaks her own rules. Her grammar is horrible.

Edward is abusive.

Bella is boring.

Jacob was used as a rebound guy.

And yet, she made this into a happily ever after story.

If she was an excellent writer, Twilight could have been a twisted, dark love story with no happy ending and no Nessie.





6) How do you pick your character names?

Names usually just come to me. Well, at least for my main characters. I usually pick a site that I like, write down on a piece of paper my favorite names, and save it for later.

When creating new characters, I go to the list, and whatever pops, pops.

I have had trouble with two names. But that's it. I have them now.

I know it's the right name for the character. I get this feeling. And it feels right. =)

Answer 9

1) I normally plan the characters pretty thoroughly and I know where the plot is going. Sometimes I change details midway (sometimes Major details lol) but I stick with my basic plot.

2) Fiction and Mystery.

3) I usually write in third person. Whenever I try to use first person, 90% of the time I'm unhappy with the way that it sounds.

4) J.D. Salinger, Michael Chabon

5) I do not like her writing. She isn't a Bad storyteller but that doesn't necessarily make her a good writer. Or an interesting writer. Everything having to do with Edward was such a Big Deal that it made me roll my eyes and not want to read anymore.

Answer 10

1) Roughly, yes. It's important to have an idea of where you want to go and what you want to accomplish from the outset, but planning too much can spoil the idea.



2) I write a little of everything.



3) Third. I find first person awkward.



4) I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman, specifically his short stories. He has so many great ideas.



5) No, she is not.

Answer 11

1: I start out by giving a character a simple name( I always use Anna if it's a girl and Adam if it's a boy). I try writing from what I think their point of view is. I just write two pages, before deciding their name, age, and what they look like.



2: I like the supernatural and paranormal. But I write more about Fallen Angels and Hell.



3: I switch every couple of chapters.



4: James Patterson, Anne Rice, L.M Montgomery, and Lewis Caroll



5: I hate her Twilight books, but I did love 'The Host'. So I think if she stays away from the vampires, she's ohkay-ish.



6: Ever since I was allowed to name my baby sister when I was 7( I picked the name Alexiane), I've been obsessed with baby names. So I have a pretty long list to use for my characters

Answer 12

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?

*I always plan ahead. I feel I can't just make it all up as I go. I have a basic plot, the main conflict (not always a resolution though), the main characters, and an ending before I begin. It's just a simple outline in my head, but I have to know where I'm going with it before I can write it. I can't go somewhere I've never been without a map to guide me.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?

*Realistic fiction. (mostly teen and YA) I think far too rationally, and I struggle with elements that don't make sense. My sister is right opposite. She says I think too much about what I'm working on and can't just let things happen without reasoning it in my head. I guess I just try to make sure I always have an answer for any question that might come up.



3) Do you write in first or third person?

*I usually write first person because I love the emotional aspect of it. I love getting inside their lives and feeling what they're feeling, having their thoughts, seeing why they feel the way they do, etc. I'm slowly working my way into working with third person though because my latest idea doesn't work well in first person at all.



4) Which writers do you look up to?

*This is going to sound terrible, but I'm not much of a reader. I just find myself so anxious while I'm reading. I can't focus. Maybe I feel guilty for not working on my own stories lol. Here recently, my sister talked me into (okay, begged me*) reading The Gatekeepers series by Anthony Horowitz, and I absolutely loved it. Maybe in time I'll become a bigger reader.



5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?

*I haven't actually read Twilight. I've read excerpts, and from what I read, I wasn't thoroughly impressed. I wanted to take a red pen to it and fix grammatical errors. (Hence why I haven't sat down with the entire book) Regardless of whether her writing skills are that great, she did give teenage and preteen girls the obsession and craze that they needed.



6) How do you pick your character names?

*The characters usually pick their own names. The majority of my characters begin with a name that pops into my head. I rarely ever stress over naming characters. The name doesn't make the character; the character makes the name memorable.

Answer 13

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?

-I plan my main character and maybe two or three other characters. I have an idea of a plot line but I don't exactly have it written out.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?

-I write mostly within the paranormal/science ficion genres (ghosts, time travel, etc.)



3) Do you write in first or third person?

-I find it really hard to write in anything BUT 1st person.



4) Which writers do you look up to?

-Robert Frost writes poetry, but he's my all time favorite.



5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?

-I think Stephanie is a good writer for her audience. How could she not be with so many fans? I think her idea is a little askew but within the terms of her writing itself, it's not bad.



6) How do you pick your character names?

-My character names are usually something different that no one else would choose, but are relatively simple. I think names that are hard to pronounce and not relateable kind of make it hard to get into the story.

Answer 14

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?

Yes.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?

Adventure



3) Do you write in first or third person?

First



4) Which writers do you look up to?

I don't really know.



5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?

Yes.



6) Brainstorm

Answer 15

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?



No, not really. If an idea comes, it comes. I get a picture in my head of a random scene, and it usually ends up in the book.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?



Horror, psychological thrillers, a little romance and action.



3) Do you write in first or third person?



Both



4) Which writers do you look up to?



Stephen King, JRR Tolkein... that's about it



5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?



No. She tries way too hard.



6) How do you pick your character names?



I don't know really. They usually just... come.

Answer 16

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?

--No. I have a general idea of what's going to happen, and whom it will happen to. But I don't chart or anything like that.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?

--Life. Life is a little bit of all genres. I'm still trying to figure out how I'd market it though...



3) Do you write in first or third person?

--It depends on the needs of the story.



4) Which writers do you look up to?

--I look up to the writers who handle criticism with an open mind.



5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?

--I think Twilight was a good concept (since it's a bestseller) but Meyer delivered it in a controversial and less that desire able package.

Answer 17

1) When you are beginning to write a story do you plan your characters and plot and so on?

Yes, I create a detailed (or as detailed as I know so far) of what I want. When ideas come I add them in, but I try to plan out as much as I can.



2) What genre do you tend to like to write most?

Fantasy most definitely.



3) Do you write in first or third person?

I find first is easier to write for.



4) Which writers do you look up to?

J.K. Rowling! I've been a fan since I was little. I definitely look up to her.



5) Twilight is obviously a book of controversy, people tend not to like it because it is overrated, but put that aside, do you really and truly think that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer?

I think people on fanfiction.net can write better, and that's saying something.



6) How do you pick your character names?

Mostly they just come to me. Sometimes I'll use generic names until I find the perfect one. Naming websites like http://www.babynames.com or http://www.behindthename.com are helpful to naming characters as well.

Answer 18

1) I plan everything. I create character profiles and write the whole plot, including the ending. This is just as a guide so I don't get "writer's block," so nothing is set in stone.



2) I'm currently writing two sci-fi and one fantasy, and I have an idea for another fantasy. No merging of genres with my books.



3) Third person. Much easier.



4) R. L. Stine is my favorite author, but I can't say I see him as a role model. There are many author's who inspire me, and it's usually the ones who don't have a writing background and lucked into the industry, like Stephenie Meyer.



5) Actually, people tend to hate the book because it's poorly written, and then others jump on the Twilight hater bandwagon to be with the in-crowd. No, I don't think she's a good writer, and I have read Twilight. I have heard, though, that her last book, The Host, is MUCH better written than the Twilight series, so she seems to have grown as a writer. Even Stephen King thinks Meyer can't write worth a darn. http://omg.yahoo.com/news/stephen-king-on-twilight-author-stephenie-meyer-can-t-write-worth-a-darn/18406?nc



6) Amateur writers tend to spend a lot of time focusing on their character's names. I pick any names that come to mind and start writing. There's no need to spend a lot of time thinking over a name from the beginning, and it can always change at any time.

Answer 19

1) What happens is: I randomly get the idea. I write it down, and then create a plot/summary around it. Slowly, I'll start to plan out characters, and then write bits and pieces of the story to get into the feeling.



2) Sci-fi, Mystery, Christian fiction, and just normal fiction.



3) First! Third drives me insane, though I don't mind reading in it.



4) Meg Cabot I think is pretty good. Though I don't like her Princess Diary's books I do like a lot of her other ones.



5) She is okay. I'm not a Professional so I don't have much room to talk, but she doesn't research before she writes, and she over uses the thesauruses. But that's just my opinion.



6) I usually write a random name until it comes to me. Sometimes from movies, names I hear at the mall, or other stories I read.

Answer 20

1. Nope. I just come up with names and such as i go along. Otherwise, i forget my idea.



2.Fantasy. That's the only genre i read so it kind of fits.



3. First. It's easier to connect with the character that way.



4. J.K. Rowling, she is a genius. I also look up to Christopher Paolini and Terri Fields(author of Danger in the Desert and Bug Off).



5. I don't. Compare her to J.K. Rowling and she is horrible. i mean, i give her credit for making the werewolves shapeshifters but besides that, she can't write worth a darn. i can write better than her. Plus, her characters are so "perfect" it is really annoying. Well, except Alice, Jasper and Emmett who were the only reason i finished the series but besides that, her writing is horrible.



6. I either pick what comes into my head or I'll use a website, normally Behind The Name.

Answer 21

1.) No way. Stories are no fun to write if they're all planned out. It's like going on an excursion and having a map with you--it's not an adventure then.

2.) Young adult and romance. I write the books I wish were around when I was fourteen and confused about life and love.

3.) Both. Never in the same book, of course.

4.) John Green. His books are absolutely magnificent and have changed my thinking.

5.) I think she is a good writer, yes. But the Twilight Saga isn't her best work. The Host was SO much better. I think with Twilight she was writing her fantasy, what she thought would be perfect, instead of thinking, "Okay, is Bella a relate-able teenage girl? No? Teenagers don't have THAT expansive of a vocabulary? Okay, I should probably edit out a few words..." she thought, "HOLY CRAP SHE HAS TO BE PERFECT."



Happy writing.

:)

Answer 22

1) Yes. Things will be added as I go along, but without a basic plan, the story will just ramble on without direction.



2) I write about people, not genres.



3) I used to always write in third person. However, I've recently discovered that I enjoy the immediacy of first person.



4) Dickens, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Joyce, Kafka, Nabokov, Beckett. Amongst others.



5) I don't know; I've never read any of her books. I remember that similar things were said about JK Rowling when the first Harry Potter books came out. I think that a lot of the criticism is maybe based on jealousy. Very few writers sell as many books as Meyer has.

Answer 23

1) yes, I can't write a story without doing that



2) drama / romance, sometimes fantasy



3) always third, i find it easier



4) none in particular really



5) she's average. I think she's overrated. Though I enjoyed Twilight, I've read much better books with much better writing. I think the Host was written better by the way!



6) I write down all the names I like and then choose from there which names suit the character's appearance and personality etc

Answer 24

1: I never used to, but I do now because I've developed an obsession with planning! I like to know everything about my characters but however much I plan, I always discover new secrets of theirs.



2: I love writing realistic fiction because I can believe it; I find it so hard to write fantasy because I myself don't believe it so I can't write it.



3: I write in first person because it's more personal and that way it's easier to put across emotions, feelings etc.



4: I love Sophie Kinsella, Lucy Cavendish and Fiona Neill, because I love that genre.



5: From what I've read of the first book, and with the knowledge of what others think of it, I actually didn't think the writing was bad. I'm very critical, but I didn't notice anything that stood out. I'm a people pleaser though; I want to please the haters and the lovers, so with the haters, I'm like "oh, I still haven't finished the first one!" but with the lovers I'm more like "oh yeah I'm already half way through the first one" lol. Her writing is cliche, and copy-cat of some other works, but the actual writing itself isn't horrific.





EDIT

6: It's different for many characters really, some have an obvious name that just comes to me, but some need a lot more thinking time, some of them takes weeks to get the right name. I always try and use a name that fits the character, recently I was trying to find a romantic name for a slightly mysterious girl, and I tried out tons until many people suggested Juliet; it's perfect! I sometimes look at meaning; sometimes it's important because it gives depth to the name, for instance Tristan always stands out as a sad name, because it means sad; sometimes the meaning really affects the name I choose, if the meaning completely contradicts the character but on the other hand, if the name is great enough, I use it regardless of meaning.

Answer 25

1) No, but I do plan my characters. The plot just goes when I'm writing.

2) Horror, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Drama.

3) I tend to write more first person. When I write a romance, it's in third person.

4) A lot! There's Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Scott Westerfeld, Faye Kellerman, Virginia Hamilton, etc.

5) In my opinion, I personally don't like her stories.

6) I like unique names.Like Chance(which is the name of the main character in the story I'm writing now), Skye, Carson, Lane,Damian, etc.

Answer 26

1) Well, when I first started writing the novel I'm working on, I actually did plan the characters and everything, and then my computer crashed and I lost all the information about the characters. So, now I'm pretty much adding on to what I remember about the characters.



2) Honestly, I try to make my work sound realistic, and dramatic. So, I guess it would be dramatic? and romance as well.



3) Third person, it's just easier.



4) I don't look up to any writers at the moment, but, what inspires me to write is everything we learn in life, and things that happen everyday, like what a lot of people have gone through in their past. I have a friend, whose writing and stories she tells me about her friends past, keeps me motivated to write.



6) I've read all of her books, liked her way of writing and creativity but, it's just too overrated.

Answer 27

1) Yep. I used to do it without doing all that at first, but then I started to realize everything was much easier when you plan

2) Romance

3) First

4) I love Nicholas Sparks

5) Well, she's okay. I don't really think she's that great, it just happened to be a hit because it had some fantasy love in it. I think other books deserve more attention than hers, but what can I do

6) I really just look for something I think fits. For example, I'm writing about a girl with a younger sister battling leukemia and I have the name Tillie, short for Matilda, which means "strength in battle", but I don't always use meanings. Like Lily sounds like an innocent girl while Lilith sounds like the bad girl.



=]

Answer 28

1. I normally love to do little character profiles about the characters, then just write write write!

2. Angst/normal teen fiction, fairy fantasy, or Tudor historical fiction.

3. Um....idk if I do one more than the other...Probably third person though.

4. Jane Austen, Laurie Halse Andersen, Shakespeare.

5. I do. I liked the book when it first came out in like 2005, maybe 2006.

6. I just assign random names. The characters make the names, not the other way around :)



Hope I helped! :)

Answer 29

1.) ALWAYS. This is necessary! But I'll admit that sometimes I don't plan out the ENTIRE plot, because I like my characters to tell the story.. not me.



2.) Young Adult.



3.) First.



4.) Mary Shelly, Natalie Babbitt, JK Rowling and S.E Hinton.



5.) No, she doesn't know how to develop characters, think out a probable storyline, or even think up sensible adjectives.

- OCD

Answer 30

1. Mary is not a particularly introspective person. She only does any sort of deep thinking when she is prompted to do so, which could be at any time or place. But if she really does just need to think about something, she mostly does so lying in bed at night. 2. She has just turned eighteen and has recently graduated from high school. 3. She is highly spiritual. This is implied but not outwardly stated; I imagine the reader would infer this of confronted with a related question about her bevavior and/or mannerisms.

Answer 31

1) Sometimes, but sometimes I have to write first and make characters that fit.



2) I tend to write all over the place - fantasy, historical fiction, romance, realistic fiction.



3) I prefer 1st person.



4) Anyone who has written a book I like.



5) SM is creative, certainly, but I don't think she has talent.



6) I'm also addicted to baby names, and have plenty of favorites that I don't think I could ever use on my kids, so I use them on my characters.



(:

Answer 32

1. Usually, I did in the book I am writing now

2. ROMANCE

3. third

4. Catherine Palmer is just one of the many authors I admire and enjoy reading books by.

5. I didn't read Twilight and have no wish to.

6. I pick names that sound good for the character, and if I can I pick names that have meaning.

Answer 33

1- i plan my characters and plot but i let it stray off of that because once you have the characters they lead the story (well that's what it seems like to me)

2- realistic fiction

3- first it seems like i'm more in the story and i can get into the main character's head more, but sometimes i write in first person for more than one character and then combine the views

4- that's a hard one because i don't really pay attention to the authors just what they write because in the end that's all that really matters but if i had to say one it would be j.k. rowling because she wrote because she loved it and for one she inspired me to be a writer and two because she went from being dirt poor to being one of the richest people just by doing what she loved and that is what i want to spend my life doing and i don't even really care if i make money just like she didn't

5- i think her ideas are a little cliche (for twilight saga) but for the host it was more original so i liked that one her writing got better(style wise) as she wrote more all in all she's okay, not the best though

Answer 34

1. Most of the time I do have a plot in mind. It's easier to get to the end when you know where the end is.



2. Romantic fiction, in all settings (ie, historical, alternate world, sci-fi)



3. Prefer 3rd person limited



4. Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Margaret Atwood, Robertson Davies (hero!)



5. Never read her.

Answer 35

1) I always plan my characters, but I usually don't plan my plots. I wish I were able to, and it's something I'm working on, but I just have a simple, straight-forward idea, and then run with it.



2) Fantasy, fiction, and supernatural.



3) I try to vary it, but it usually ends up being in first person.



4) Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling.



5) I'm not a fan of Twilight, but I admire Smeyer for pursuing her dream. I don't think that she's a *bad* writer, but I don't think she's wonderful either. But, I agree, Twilight is very overrated.

Answer 36

1. Yes

2. Don't really have a single one. I've got a futuristic sort of Blade Runneresque thing going right now though.

3. Third generally. It's easier to get better sounding prose with it.

4. Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin, John Steinbeck

5. No, I can't get past the first chapter or so in any book by her.

Answer 37

1) Yes



2)I used to love writing romance and urban paranormal, but right now I'm enjoying writing Sci-Fi and adventure



3) First, I feel much stronger writing in first



4) Meg Cabot, Antoine Saint-Exuspery, Rick Riordan, Michael Grant, Ayn Rand, Harper Lee.



5) No, she's not. If she were a good writer then we Twi-haters wouldn't exist, her characters would much stronger as well.



6) I look up their meaning or if it sounds like it fits my character.

Answer 38

1) I have a vague image of what I want to write and am excited. I also daydream and know bits I want to have in (like cool scenes) so begin writing and move towards them, linking them all up. If things get bad I make vague outlines to not kill my drive to write it. Like a list of chapter names or writing bullet points of what has to happen in the next chapter; I don't want to plan too much -- for me, 'the fun is in the details'.

2) I generally write in fantasy; people tend to write what they like to read or what they're good at -- for me both of those are fantasy. Not like LOTR fantasy but anything from modern stuff to fictional worlds; howl's moving castle kind of thing

3)I write in third person, first person doesn't feel as serious sometimes

4) I look up to Philip Pullman and Cassandra Clarke. Philip, because his writing is amazing (he made me start writing, though I don't agree with many of his worldy opinions)

5) I definitely think stephenie is a good writer. If she was able to get this many fans then she's succeeded. She did it by playing on readers' feelings with the storytelling and it worked; never mind her writing, because she never claimed to be trying to write amazing prose. She had something to write and she said it. So it annoys me when people pick at her because a) a lot of people who run their mouths can't even write themselves, b) if you broke out and you never expected to do well you'd be over the roof; she's never bragged and c) i had another point but the pizza my family ordered has just arrived and this answer is going to end quickly

6) I pick whatever sounds cool, and if they're too similar (like all girls names ending with -ia or something) then I'll change them. I use what I think suits people; seraphine sounds kinder that desdemona

names really just come to me. i prefer using made up ones, also, as then i can make them fit my characters. unless it's set in modern day times, then i have to used something reasonably acceptable

Answer 39

1) Not at all. I start writing and allow the characters to develop and become a person.



2) I like to write ironic/darker stuff or more upbeat and fantasy.



3) It depends on the kind of story. It depends on how much I want readers to know about my characters and the plot.



4) Clive Barker, Jane Austen, and Seth Grahame-Smith



5) I like her stuff but it is very simplistic which why alot of people don't like it.

Answer 40

1) Not usually, I will sometimes just to challenge myself but I never get far when doing that.

2) Fantasy

3) Both, it just depends on what will make the reader connect more.

4) Kelly Armstrong is my idle

5) No, she lacks the fluidness that writers need to keep a reader interested.



6) I usually just pick a regular name or use one of my friends' names.

Answer 41

1. Always

2. Fantasy Fiction

3. Both, it depends

4. P.C and Kristin Cast, Jeanne Duprau, L.J. Smith

5. No, she is a horrible author in my opinion. But I don't get obsessive about it like some fans and even some haters do. I just prefer to not read her books.

Answer 42

1)uh... no. my books come to me in dreams, so the characters are pretty well defined



2) Fantasy



3) First.it helps me relate to the character the POV is in



4) Christopher Paolini, Edgar Allen Poe, and William Shakespeare



5) Nope.Its crap, i took a red pen to it and ran out of ink 1/4 of a way through. in my opinion,the way she writes is awkward, and very repetitive. I have read all of the books, and the writer in me nearly died.sadly my brain did. the plot is pointless, and the characters seem like they only have one interest. they show no personality. Seriously it may just be the editor but the red pen thing is true.And who describes eyes as "Honey Colored orbs"? i know its important to try to be poetic...but it makes me think of... *Shudders*







~Rozy

Answer 43

1) I always plan out my stories. It's my favorite and the easiest part!



2) Either romance, drama, history, or action. It tends to vary.



3) Both, depends on the story.



4) Poets and all the ones that are wonderful, I don't really have a favorite.



5) Yes, I do. She describes things wonderfully.





You're Welcome :)

Answer 44

1-yes

2-drama, or paranormal

3-first

4-shakespeare, stephen king, rowling and bronte.

5-i think she kind of is, i really liked the host

Answer 45

1) yes

2) fantasy

3) third

4) JK Rowling and DJ MacHale

5) no, I think that she is not, but I do like Twilight