It's time for the GUTAA meet and great. Deanna has some questions about ourselves to answer and I'll try to come up with something interesting. If any of you have any questions about who I am or what I do feel free to ask them in the comments section. Otherwise here goes.
Where do you write?
Generally at my desk in the bonus room above the garage. I do carry a notebook around in my purse and sometimes I come up with some pretty good scenes while I'm out and about.
Sit down at your writing space and look to the left. What do you see?
Right now? A mess. I found a new cooking website and printed out a bunch of recipees so right now I have papers everywhere. Normally I'm pretty tidy though.
Favorite time to write?
I don't have a favorite time. With a two year old and a three year old I just get to squeeze it in whenever I can. If I waited for a favorite time I'd never get anything done.
Drink of choice while writing?
Again, I don't really have one. While I sometimes snack on chips I rarely drink at the computer. I'm way to clumsy and I'm terrified I'll end up dumping it on something electronic and important.
Music or silence?
Silence. Unless you count the noise of kids or whatever Hubby is working on. I'm pretty good at tuning those things out.
What was the inspiration for your latest Project?
The work I'm currently querying was inspired by the poem The Betrothal by Edna St Vincent Millay. It has always been a favorite of mine and while I was thinking about it one day one of my MCs, Paul, came up and introduced himself. It was like he was just waiting for me to find him.
Most valuable writing tip?
Just keep writing and don't give up.
Otherwise, I'm a wife and mother of two. I graduated in comparative literature with a minor in Russian. I was only two classes short of a second minor in horticulture but The Engineer was graduating at the same time and looking for jobs and I didn't want to say behind for a semester in case we ended up getting a job far away. I like quilting, gardening chocolate and family.
It's Labor Day! I'm going to go labor in my yard. See you later.
I love that you carry a notebook with you - I really need to start doing that!
ReplyDeleteIt's very important. You never know when an idea might strike.
DeleteI love that you were inspired by a favorite poem - it sounds like your MC will be wonderful. Have fun gardening!
ReplyDeleteGot half way through the project and it started pouring. The rain was too much to continue working and I've very vexed at having to leave the project half done.
DeleteLovely answers, Sara! I can't wait to read a snip of your shiny new idea. ; )
ReplyDeleteHopefully I'll have something I can use. Some of the stuff I've done so far may be throat clearing, still it's good to write.
DeleteI wish I could write in silence. I need me some noise!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's great that you carry a notebook with you. I do, too.
Every writer should carry a notebook.
DeleteSee you out and about at GUTGAA! I think I didn't see the part about "add a personal bit at the end." So I didn't. Oops. But my blog bio pretty much says what I would say. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think you have to add extra I just did because I felt like it. It's pretty basic stuff.
DeleteLove the description that your character came up and introduced himself!
ReplyDeleteHe did! He was fully formed with first name attached. Good times.
DeleteI love your degree! I also studied Russian and East European Studies, and would love to someday have an MA and Ph.D. in Russian history.
ReplyDeleteI was going to get a masters in Comp Lit or Russian Lit but never got back to school.
DeleteI too love chocolate! What's the name of the new cooking website you found?
ReplyDeleteSweet Pea's kitchen. Though I will warn you, I haven't actually tried anything of hers so I can't say whether or not I actually like her food. But she had a lot of recipes that sound good plus, they were either dairy and egg free or easy to adapt for my son who can't eat either.
DeleteI gotta read this poem... ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's a good poem, but then she's a good poet.
DeleteMy writing area is an absolute mess as well. I keep telling myself I will clean buuuuuuut...
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower! Very nice to meet you. :)
AA
http://anallegedauthor.blogspot.com/
Nice to meet you too, and thanks!
DeleteI love your enthusiasm -- never give up and continue writing! That's the best advice I received! I like music in the background when I write -- it gets the juices flowing. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't focus with music on. It's fun how everyone is different.
DeleteI wish I had a talent for cooking. I let my sister (who is also my roommate) do that. I've got the cleaning :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I won't say I have a talent for it, but with a hubby and two kids it's got to be done and I get tired of fixing the same thing over and over.
DeleteWow you sound like a smart lady. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I feel your pain with the 2 and 3 year old. That's just about the time I discovered I wanted to write seriously. And it was tough. Just wait til they're in school and it will all be so wort it.
Great to meet you! :D
Nice to meet you!
DeletePart of me can't wait until they go to school, part of me doesn't want them to grow up.
Mine are two and a half years apart. They're old enough now to entertain themselves so I can write. You have the right attitude. Just keep writing, lol.
ReplyDeleteMine are thirteen months apart. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to having them so close together.
DeleteHm, will have to check out this poem! And that is perhaps the best advice that anyone can ever give about writing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great poem. I should convert everyone to that poem!
DeleteGlad to know those things about you! I had assumed a couple of things wrong, as in I thought your kids were closer in age to mine. I have a five and eleven year old. Kudos to you for writing with little ones around- both of mine are in school full-time now!
ReplyDeleteNope, kids are still pretty young. We got a late start due to infertility and the fact that adoption just takes time.
DeleteI love it when my characters find me. It becomes an honour to write their story. Cheesy, but true. Nice to meet you, and see you around this month!
ReplyDeleteIt is an honor to write their story. I hope I did it justice and can find an agent/publisher so they can share they're story with the world.
DeleteGood luck with your querying!
ReplyDeleteI'm a lover of silence when I write as well.
Having your characters introduce themselves to you is fantastic. It's like they're just as excited to be part of your world as you are to be a part of theirs!
ReplyDeleteThat's how I see it!
DeleteI seem to have hit a thread of people who minored in Russian on this blog hop. An intriguing coincidence? Hmm....
ReplyDeleteIt's a great thing to study. Join in, you know you want to. :)
DeleteHi Sara, nice to meet you! I totally understand a fear of spilling liquids. My sons constantly spill things around my laptops. Freaks me out.
ReplyDeleteThus why no liquids are allowed near the computer.
DeleteYou've sparked my interest of the The Betrothal by Edna... I love poetry I'm just terrible at it. (:
ReplyDeleteYay, revolution, I'm converting a small section of the blogspere to Edna St Vincent Millay.
DeleteWow, a minor in Russian. That's pretty cool. Do you ever use Russian?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I don't have anyone to speak it with since we moved to middle Georgia.
DeleteI carry a note book in my purse too! Don't leave home without it. You never know when inspiration will strike :)
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteInspiration from a poem, neat. I love it when the characters suddenly pop up and introduce themselves and then compell you write about them!
ReplyDeleteIt's the best!
DeleteLove that inspiration story. I'm going to have to look up The Betrothal.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit obsessive with my notebooks. I have many, many notebooks around my house, in my purses, in my car, etc. Some day I need to gather them all together and consolidate into one notebook. Until then I will keep all my moments of inspiration spread all about. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, being surrounded by inspiration isn't bad.
DeleteYour manuscript sounds VERY interesting, Sara. :)
ReplyDeleteLets hope those agents think so too. :)
DeleteFun, Sara! I'm excited about your current project! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Morgan.
DeleteNice to meet you! Notebooks are great. My favorite time of year is when the back to school supplies go on sale.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE back to school shopping even though no one is going back to school.
Delete"Writing is hard, it's also brilliant and amazing, and I think the good times are even sweeter for having spent time thinking I've lost it all." Love this. :) Best of luck for GUTGAA.
ReplyDeleteKat,
http://beyondthehourglassbridge.blogspot.com.au/
Thanks,and nice to meet you!
Deletehere's to squeezing in writing time & notebooks in purses!
ReplyDeleteHere, here!
DeleteMy computer and two monitors are in the open concept area of the dining room. That way I'm not climbing stairs. And I'm close to the phone and the door. I also don't like to drink never my computer. In fact, I've got the rest of my family in accordance. Way too easy to spill something on my most favourite of electronic appliances. Hmm. Is a computer considered an electronic appliance? It feels more important to me than any of the other electronic things I own. Like the stove.
ReplyDeleteIt's more of a best friend, or family member than an electrical appliance.
DeleteOh! I took Russian classes at work!
ReplyDeleteI haven't posted my own questionnaire yet...
It's nice to meet more Russian speakers. If only I had someone local to practice with so I could actually remember it.
DeleteI'm still making the rounds on the Meet & Greet posts. I love how you said your character introduced themselves to you. I have a story like that I've started on but I'm trying to work on my current piece first. It sounds challenging to write while also parenting young ones, but I see a lot of blogs from women who are mothers and who write, so it sounds like a lot of others are in the same boat--at least you can find support.
ReplyDelete